logic + intuition = exemplary leader
HUMAN FACTORS
INTERNATIONAL Having grown from the
position of an intern to be the managing director of Human Factors India Pvt.
Ltd. (a fully-owned subsidiary of Human Factors International, Inc), my
leadership journey helped me derive valuable learnings.
As managers grow and transition into leaders, it is pivotal for them to understand the difference between the two roles. This understanding is the starting point of being a leader. There is a big distinction between the two, and understanding that distinction is one aspect that separates a good leader from an exemplary one. Primarily, a manager manages people and it's often their job to build consensus. Leaders don't necessarily do that. They create a compelling vision for the future, believe in it and follow it, and inspire others to do the same.
To be able to build that vision for others in the team
to follow, the leader's belief and passion in their line of work is of paramount importance. Only if you have an integral core belief in the purpose of your work and an ardent passion for it, will you be able to lead others in it. HFI is a pioneer in User Experience and has been involved in revolutionary work for clients the world over. It is the value that User Experience creates for our clients, their customers and the ecosystem at large that motivates me to work each day. When I experience the joy in my work, I can inject that same enthusiasm and enjoyment into my team. The basic tenets of User Experience and successful leadership are very similar in nature - empathy and deep understanding of your stakeholder's needs.
Organisations today are riddled with challenges on all fronts, and more and more, a leader's role is no longer limited to achieving business goals. We have to constantly prepare, adapt, and innovate offerings in order to ensure success, even during turbulent times. At times like these, a leader's resilience and their steadfastness in steering the company through those troubled waters are most required traits. One of the most important leadership lessons that I have learnt in my journey this far is that effective decisionmaking comes from leveraging the combined power of logic and intuition, especially in uncertain times.
We have recently launched a knowledge-sharing platform called 'Livewire', using the philosophy of 'gamification'. Through this initiative, we wish to motivate employees to contribute and share knowledge not only at a technical, but also the cultural level. Employees will earn points for their contribution, which will in turn, be converted into funds by HFI for CSR activities, thereby making this a unique way to foster a rich organisation-wide culture. Yet another aspect of exemplary leadership is the passion and pride towards making a positive contribution to the society at large.
The leaders must keep alive a culture wherein individuals thrive - not only as professionals, but also as 'people'. Divergent points of view must be encouraged and every team member must be empowered to act. These are the mantras that I adhere to.
As a final word of advice to the young and fastpaced leaders of tomorrow, emphasis should be laid on the importance of stability to rise as a leader. It is not only important to find the work that you love doing, but also to pursue it for a sustained period of time. Switching jobs quickly might lead to financial growth; however, to mature into a successful leader, one needs to be persistent and build equity in one place over time.
As managers grow and transition into leaders, it is pivotal for them to understand the difference between the two roles. This understanding is the starting point of being a leader. There is a big distinction between the two, and understanding that distinction is one aspect that separates a good leader from an exemplary one. Primarily, a manager manages people and it's often their job to build consensus. Leaders don't necessarily do that. They create a compelling vision for the future, believe in it and follow it, and inspire others to do the same.
To be able to build that vision for others in the team
to follow, the leader's belief and passion in their line of work is of paramount importance. Only if you have an integral core belief in the purpose of your work and an ardent passion for it, will you be able to lead others in it. HFI is a pioneer in User Experience and has been involved in revolutionary work for clients the world over. It is the value that User Experience creates for our clients, their customers and the ecosystem at large that motivates me to work each day. When I experience the joy in my work, I can inject that same enthusiasm and enjoyment into my team. The basic tenets of User Experience and successful leadership are very similar in nature - empathy and deep understanding of your stakeholder's needs.
Organisations today are riddled with challenges on all fronts, and more and more, a leader's role is no longer limited to achieving business goals. We have to constantly prepare, adapt, and innovate offerings in order to ensure success, even during turbulent times. At times like these, a leader's resilience and their steadfastness in steering the company through those troubled waters are most required traits. One of the most important leadership lessons that I have learnt in my journey this far is that effective decisionmaking comes from leveraging the combined power of logic and intuition, especially in uncertain times.
We have recently launched a knowledge-sharing platform called 'Livewire', using the philosophy of 'gamification'. Through this initiative, we wish to motivate employees to contribute and share knowledge not only at a technical, but also the cultural level. Employees will earn points for their contribution, which will in turn, be converted into funds by HFI for CSR activities, thereby making this a unique way to foster a rich organisation-wide culture. Yet another aspect of exemplary leadership is the passion and pride towards making a positive contribution to the society at large.
The leaders must keep alive a culture wherein individuals thrive - not only as professionals, but also as 'people'. Divergent points of view must be encouraged and every team member must be empowered to act. These are the mantras that I adhere to.
As a final word of advice to the young and fastpaced leaders of tomorrow, emphasis should be laid on the importance of stability to rise as a leader. It is not only important to find the work that you love doing, but also to pursue it for a sustained period of time. Switching jobs quickly might lead to financial growth; however, to mature into a successful leader, one needs to be persistent and build equity in one place over time.
Leaders must
keep alive a culture wherein individuals thrive – not only as professionals,
but also as ‘people’
-
SAURABH
GUPTA, MD, HFI INDIA
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