7 Leadership Lessons From The Great Leader Himself
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
The “MISSILE-MAN”, the “PEOPLE’S PRESIDENT”, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s sudden demise has left the entire nation in a state of distress, leaving a void that is irreplaceable.
Dr. Kalam was a great leader who has dedicated his entire life in the nation’s welfare, working everyday towards a bright future and we all have witnessed that during his 5-year tenure as “The President”. His speeches have inspired millions of us and his teachings will keep on inspiring us, no matter how many years pass away.
He has even once said that,
“Don’t declare holiday on my death, instead work an extra day, if you love me!”
From a person like that, so passionate about his work, there’s a lot to be learned. Here are 7 great quotes by the great leader himself, Dr. Kalam which taught us Leadership Lessons that we must learn and adopt in our lives.
Be Prepared Always
“Don’t take rest after your first victory because if you fail in second, more lips are waiting to say that your first victory was just luck.”
Like Dr. Kalam said, a leader must always be ready to face any challenges. No matter how hard you try, failures happen and are very hard to avoid. An ideal leader needs to be well-prepared to deal with any kind of situation and create a win-win environment by staying calm and thinking logically according to the individual specific situation.
Be A People’s Person
“It is very easy to defeat someone, but it is very hard to win someone”
Any good leader understands the importance of developing the skills of people around him/her. It is important that the right talent is recognized and given a proper boost so that the skills never get wasted. This will also help in increasing their morale which will be beneficial for the entire organizational growth too. Remember, you will get their loyalty and respect if you do the same with them.
Be Ready To Acknowledge Contribution
“All of us do not have equal talent. But , all of us have an equal opportunity to develop our talents.”
The ability to get everyone working and pulling them together is a crucial characteristic of a great leader, but it is equally important that the contribution is recognized. The 80 to 20 rule applies here, where 20 percent of your people contribute to 80 percent of your results. Thus, a proper acknowledgement and recognition is extremely important for better results.
Have Integrity & Transparency
“Thinking should become your capital asset, no matter whatever ups and downs you come across in your life.”
Whatever ethical plane a leader holds onto; when he/she has the responsibility of a team then it’s important to raise that bar to a higher level. The business and the employees are a reflection of a leader. If a leader makes honesty and ethical behavior as their key values, then the team will definitely follow the path.
Be Innovative
“All Birds find shelter during a rain. But Eagle avoids rain by flying above the Clouds.”
There are some decisions which are not always clear-cut. There are times when leaders are forced to set a course and make decisions on the fly. This is where their creativity will play a vital role. In crucial situation, the team looks onto its leader for solutions, thus, a leader must always be ready with an innovative solution that caters to the problem with extreme effectiveness.
Have A Vision
“If you want to shine like a sun. First burn like a sun.”
When a leader leads a team through unfamiliar waters, there is no exact roadmap on what is to be done next. Almost everything is uncertain, and the risks are very high, so is the pressure of producing results. This is where the leader’s natural instinct kicks in. With the past experiences and the leader’s gut instinct, better decisions can be made which will be good for coming future too.
Be Goal-Oriented
“Be more dedicated to making solid achievements than in running after swift but synthetic happiness.”
Great leaders always focus on the company needs according to the current and specific situations. They focus more on results rather than avoiding taking risks in the present. Everything that they think or do in the present has a significant effect on the future and try to make the effect positive in every sense.
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s has been an exemplary leader and his teachings will always motivate us at different phases of our professional as well as personal lives. At organizational level, if every individual tries to adopt his lessons and work on those principles, then success is bound to be achieved!
RIP Dr. Kalam…
