After a long time I am writing something. Actually one video on Leadership was forwarded by my friend which was from Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. I liked this video very much, so thought I should share some points from this video.
Manekshaw was born on 3 April 1914 in Amritsar to Hormusji Manekshaw, a doctor, and Heerabai. The fifth of six children, he acquired his school education at Sherwood College, Nainital. Thereafter, he returned to Amritsar for his studies at the Hindu Sabha College. In July 1932, he joined the Indian Military Academy as part of its first batch. It is believed that he did this as an act of rebellion against his father who refused to send the young boy to London to study medicine.
In January 1973, the month of his retirement, Manekshaw was appointed as Field Marshal — a largely ceremonial rank, but reflective of his stature in the Indian armed forces history. He was the first Indian to be awarded this rank.
One of the chief architects of India’s 1971 victory against Pakistan, Manekshaw is most famously remembered for bluntly telling Prime Minister Indira Gandhi that the Indian Army wasn’t ready for war in April 1971.
I know we all leaders verbally follow this when we need to explain somebody. But in reality, we never follow this by heart . There are very few Leaders who followed this and got success in his life like Manekshaw. We cannot recognize leaders by their money or by his followers, it forces followers to follow leader because of fear or for any specific reason. They are called “YES man”. Leaders are surrounded by YES man. Verbally they encourage NO man. But if they listen “NO” , somewhere in their heart this touches them.
Manekshaw Leadership lesson.
1. Take a decision and accept full responsibility for it. If you take a decision late, you will lose money.
2. When we reach to the power/top we think we are the repository of all knowledge. Whereas it is not like that.
3. You should have the professional competence to be a leader.
4. You should have moral and physical courage. Moral courage is the ability to distinguish right from wrong. You should have the courage to stand up and say your piece, irrespective of what your superior or Subordinates/ College think.
5.YES man is a horrible man. We must shun him. He is a disgrace. He may rise very high. He can become a minister. He may become Field Marshal. But he will never become a leader. He will be used by his superior and he will be disliked by his colleges and subordinate.
6. Fear is natural phenomena like hunger and sex. Anyone who says he is not frightened is a liar except perhaps Gorkha (An Indian troups). It is one thing to be frightened and quite an another to show fear. Leadership is to control our fear.
7.We all expect loyalty from our subordinates, do we give loyalty to them? Loyalty is a two-way thing. we expect loyalty we have to give loyalty. In leadership, if you expect loyalty you got to give loyalty.
8. Leadership is nothing else, just management of men and resources. If they misbehave you have to deal with them very, very firmly. Attitude is more important than hard work. On other side we should not forget, men have a problem, human problem. Therefore the leader must have a human touch. He must have a sense of humor.
9.Knowing yourself is leadership. You should know yourself , your capabilities and never forget what your team has given you. You are leader because of them.
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