LEADERSHIP SPECIAL...What’s your individual style?

LEADERSHIP What’s your individual style?

‘Individuality’ allows a leader to flourish in his/her unique manner and drive the team towards a common goal

    Individuality is one of the most important and prized traits in a leader. It is a quality that is essential if one wants to make his/her own mark upon the work being done in the organisation. It allows the leader to flourish in his/her unique manner and to likewise inspire all the subordinates working in the team. As a result of individuality and the persistence to maintain it, the leader’s behaviour adopts a consistent and sincere character, which brings about trust in the team. Let us understand its numerous other advantages and how it can be inculcated in oneself.
    What are the indicators of a leader possessing the quality of individuality? CK Kumaravel, MD and co-founder, Groom India Pvt. Ltd answers, “The individuality in a leader can be identified through the following: High on new ideas and innovation; Possesses self-belief and persistence; Tries to create one’s own style of leadership within the group; Is a star performer; Is a good strategist and has a tactical bent of mind; Has a good understanding of the business and people; Earns the respect of his/her peers at every possible opportunity.”
    There are numerous other qualities that one could consider vital for good leadership. What is it about individuality that makes it so important in a leader? Kalyana Raman S, GM, Trivitron Healthcare answers the million-dollar question, “Individuality becomes important in a leader because the team is often composed of a maze of people who live a ‘thrown’ life, and find themselves caught up in different situations without ever really calling the shots. In such a scenario, individuality helps the leader towards reinventing a new and unique style for achieving the desired goal, thus adding value to the larger group, society and organisation. Individuality also enables him/her to become charismatic, wise and self-confident; someone who is at ease in any situation.”
    Anisha Singh, founder & CEO, mydala.com, tells us how a budding leader can inculcate this essential trait of individuality and use it to his/her advantage, “A budding leader needs to be honest and lead by example and watch how others respond to him/her. The realisation of the fact that his/her values and integrity will play an important role in shaping the perception of the team and in bringing out their individual attributes can be a huge motivational factor in encouraging a budding leader.” Any working professional’s good work is distinctively defined by one’s uniqueness and individuality; it heavily influences how
his/her colleagues and seniors perceive the efforts. Ketan Kapoor, CEO, Mettl, explains, “An attempt to clone one’s acts necessarily leads to dismissal of uniqueness and individuality, as our expectation of others to do as we do, to think as we think, and be as we are, comes at the exclusion of many other talent out there – ones that may lead to achieving the same goals, but through a different and unique path. Respecting individuality gives rise to the skill-set that is greater than the sum of its parts – a collective skill-set that makes a unique team, in turn, unique and exemplary work.”
    Thus, it is highly critical that good leaders try to develop and fruitfully practice their individuality in their work.

Palak Bhatia ETHF130226