Learn to Teach - A leadership Lesson from The Teacher

Well I am always late, see I wanted to right something for teachers day and here I am after so many days.. I think I am true to be an “Indian”. Let’s face it we are never in time no matter how pressing the matter would be... Check out with our politicians and so called busy people, not to mention some of our own leader. They never come in time, when I asked one of my well known leaders “he rather spontaneously responded “If you are early, you have no important work at all, and your importance would diminish by half of your stature”...  

Do we always go by the amount of importance others should and will bestow us? Why should we expect others to treat us with importance, as I was travelling in a train from Kundapur (A small and rather beautiful city in the south Karnataka) to my own hut which is in Bangalore? I came across couple of thoughts then I realised I just missed one important person who taught us the values and qualities of a great leader.

Today I humbly want to bow down to that wonderful teacher who taught many and many. To be a great leader you need to be a great teacher!!. Hold on!! I haven’t yet completed. Some might agree with the afore mentioned point “A teacher can be a leader, but can a leader be a great teacher? (Ask yourself “when is the last time you taught someone”)..

Yes!! He needs to be a great teacher; you cannot be a leader if you do not teach. Teaching can be done in many ways; it can be coaching one of your peers, subordinates or training him to be a better person and a great leader. “One of the most talked about traits of a leader is to groom new leaders”.

Teachers day in India is celebrated are intended to be special days for the appreciation of teachers, and may include celebrations to honour them for their special contributions in a particular field area, or the community in general. “Manier times we learn and emulate more not from our parents but from the kind of teachers we had when we were young and wild!. India gave us one man “who made teaching profession lovelier than ever and that is none other than “Sir Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan”.

He was an academic, philosopher and a statesman, he was considered as one of the most recognised thinkers of modern India. Let us quickly discuss the some of the qualities of great leadership which are practiced and taught by “Sir Sravepalli Radhakrishna”.

Intuition:

Intuition is an “integral experience”. Radhakrishnan uses the term “integral” in at least three ways. First, intuition is integral in the sense that it coordinates and synthesizes all other experiences. It integrates all other experiences into a more unified whole. Second, intuition is integral as it forms the basis of all other experiences. In other words, Radhakrishnan holds that all experiences are at bottom intuitional. Third, intuition is integral in the sense that the results of the experience are integrated into the life of the individual. For Radhakrishnan, intuition finds expression in the world of action and social relations. (Source: http://www.iep.utm.edu/radhakri/)

How can intuition help you to be a better leader or why do you think intuition is important for a leader? There are times when whole world which you dreamt of leading feels otherwise. You need stand by your intuition and make wise and not so favouring decisions. There are tough decision a leader makes every day, every second, data can be misleading. And one wrong decision changes the destination and leads to disastrous. There is not second chance to be a leader, like there is no second life.

Although “Data and people do influence the day to day decision but a leader must and should have strong intuition to decide which is the best for one and all, remember leading is not a destination its a journey sometimes you fail but those failure can be stepping stone for better tomorrow”.

Religious pluralism:

Radhakrishnan’s hierarchy of religions is well-known. “Hinduism,” Radhakrishnan affirms, “accepts all religious notions as facts and arranges them in the order of their more or less intrinsic significance”: “The worshippers of the Absolute are the highest in rank; second to them are the worshippers of the personal God; then come the worshippers of the incarnations like Rama, Kṛṣṇa, Buddha; below them are those who worship ancestors, deities and sages, and the lowest of all are the worshippers of the petty forces and spirits” (HVL 32).

“Religious pluralism can be comprehended in many ways, for our current purpose, let us assume that Religious pluralism means “Respecting, accepting and appreciating everyone, no matter, which creed, caste, religion he/she belongs”.

As a leader of modern world, we must and should understand that Diversified workforce not only brings the best of skills, but also varied experience. And great leaders capitalise on the varied experience and skills of everyone by nurturing, accepting, respecting and appreciating unique qualities. As an old saying goes “If you want to walk fast go alone, if you want to walk for walk together”.

We have already stated above that leadership is not walking fast and alone, its walking far and together.  “”It’s a journey not a destination mind you”..

That’s for now. “A wise man once said “Live one moment at a time” !! So learn, comprehend & practice and repeat!! “Do never worry about cleavage and let people assume” (Deepika!!! It’s not for you, but a simple suggestion lady!! When know you have a cleavage why worry about others assumption”)...

Blessed learner...Until we meet next time, I would like to thank you for taking time to read this blog!!... May Leadership bless you with all the qualities!