I recently went through a flurry of managerial and leadership trainings. What I like about them is they make you introspect..a lot. Not that I don't do it otherwise, but judging yourself as a third party always helps. As we all know, we have most of the answers within, and listening to them requires some level of detachment yet empathy to ourselves. Each one of us is a blend of so many unique traits, that being just another common person is also uncommon. While we classify several of them as strength and weakness, they are inter convertible. The fact that we are passionate about a vision also makes us defensive and a little irrational about them once in a while. The fact that someone is determined and resolute also results in stubbornness. If some one is stoic and calm, they can come across as too boring or uninspiring at some occasions.
However, what doesn't get covered and is the most difficult part of leadership --relentless drive towards excellence. The reason is perhaps that it is not a formula, and no framework or 2/2 matrix can ever explain excellence. In fact, that again is very perception driven at times. People have very different ideas of how to define excellence and examples of people who have lived up to those standards. It is not an easy answer, but a personalized view. However, that is the most critical aspect which will determine our final coordinates. Is it driven by wisdom, influence, successful career with numbers, personal effectiveness in balancing life, gaining respect and love or path breaking ideas or brilliant implementation of ideas that were floating all around?
One key aspect that I see important in defining this, is that it is a moving goal post, and you decide the destination. It cannot be static. It can be governed by the external environment, or your own aspirations, but it has to be dynamic. People whom I find inspiring in different areas have redefined their spaces and influenced so many lives just by putting their best in whatever they did. We definitely cannot change the entire world single handedly, but somehow I have begun to believe that if we play our role with utmost dedication and commitment, it snowballs into touching so many lives without us knowing. If the intent is to make a difference and refine ourselves everyday in how we do our work, it does make a difference not only to ourselves, but to millions of people around us. The deal is- we need to set new standards for ourselves and continue working for them like a student of our skill. The day we deem ourselves to be bigger than our art, the reverse loop may set in.
When Sachin showcased His prowess on the cricket field, he created a whole new generation of cricketers in so many homes, and so many people were inspired with his humility, his dedication and how reliability became a virtue we wanted to stand for. So many times we were given his example by my father- sachin's father told him, "do whatever you want to, but be sure that you excel" . It became our quote. I can say the same for the shooters, wrestlers that have won medals as well. One such person has the capability to influence a generation and also as the mass builds, need to facilitate it increases. This to me, is excellence.
Thee is one clear difference between success and excellence in terms of how they are referred to. Both are revered and loved, but statistics is usually the measure used to define success while excellence is measured by the impact it creates and how the art went through the transformation itself. Be it Steve jobs, Sachin, Rafi, Amitabh Bachchan, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Tata, they transformed the space in which they worked and touched the lives of so many people and continued with humility of best servant to their art and not masters. I cannot say the same for everyone who is successful, mainly because they chose to live in the past glories or couldn't accept stardom as mere effect of their perseverance.
However, what doesn't get covered and is the most difficult part of leadership --relentless drive towards excellence. The reason is perhaps that it is not a formula, and no framework or 2/2 matrix can ever explain excellence. In fact, that again is very perception driven at times. People have very different ideas of how to define excellence and examples of people who have lived up to those standards. It is not an easy answer, but a personalized view. However, that is the most critical aspect which will determine our final coordinates. Is it driven by wisdom, influence, successful career with numbers, personal effectiveness in balancing life, gaining respect and love or path breaking ideas or brilliant implementation of ideas that were floating all around?
One key aspect that I see important in defining this, is that it is a moving goal post, and you decide the destination. It cannot be static. It can be governed by the external environment, or your own aspirations, but it has to be dynamic. People whom I find inspiring in different areas have redefined their spaces and influenced so many lives just by putting their best in whatever they did. We definitely cannot change the entire world single handedly, but somehow I have begun to believe that if we play our role with utmost dedication and commitment, it snowballs into touching so many lives without us knowing. If the intent is to make a difference and refine ourselves everyday in how we do our work, it does make a difference not only to ourselves, but to millions of people around us. The deal is- we need to set new standards for ourselves and continue working for them like a student of our skill. The day we deem ourselves to be bigger than our art, the reverse loop may set in.
When Sachin showcased His prowess on the cricket field, he created a whole new generation of cricketers in so many homes, and so many people were inspired with his humility, his dedication and how reliability became a virtue we wanted to stand for. So many times we were given his example by my father- sachin's father told him, "do whatever you want to, but be sure that you excel" . It became our quote. I can say the same for the shooters, wrestlers that have won medals as well. One such person has the capability to influence a generation and also as the mass builds, need to facilitate it increases. This to me, is excellence.
Thee is one clear difference between success and excellence in terms of how they are referred to. Both are revered and loved, but statistics is usually the measure used to define success while excellence is measured by the impact it creates and how the art went through the transformation itself. Be it Steve jobs, Sachin, Rafi, Amitabh Bachchan, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Tata, they transformed the space in which they worked and touched the lives of so many people and continued with humility of best servant to their art and not masters. I cannot say the same for everyone who is successful, mainly because they chose to live in the past glories or couldn't accept stardom as mere effect of their perseverance.
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