Many think that leadership only comes with power and that only top executives require this quality. This is one of the most popular myths that people carry about leadership. The truth is, you don't need a 'title' to lead. Anybody can lead irrespective of the role they play in organizations, and leadership is one quality which not only gets you noticed, but will also help create a long-lasting impression amongst your colleagues, bosses, and in the society at large. You can initiate a new business idea, you can do something different from your regular job, or you can simply suggest new ways of doing the same work—these all point towards your ability to lead. If you closely analyze both successful and unsuccessful organizations, you will come down to one main reason behind the company's success or otherwise—either it has a good leadership or there's a leadership crisis there.Let me take you through to the current situation we've been facing here in Nepal. The trauma of the great earthquake hasn't left us yet, and during this period of a month, while many have left Kathmandu considering their own safety, many have chosen to stay back and offer their help in whatever little way they can. Many individuals in various commercial organizations also joined hands and extended their support.
Now here is a situation for you to show your leadership. Relief work hasn't been mentioned anywhere as part of your job description, but just imagine, you come up with an excellent CSR campaign plan about how you could provide relief to the earthquake victims. You convey the same to your boss. At the outset, your boss isn't quite convinced. "We don't have budget, and our little contribution won't mean much," he may say. You then stress that it's more about connecting the dots of your vast network and getting directly involved in rescue work.
Then you take the first step and start contacting people in your network and within no time, you've accumulated quite a reasonable amount of resources. In the meantime, your colleagues join in. Soon enough you're ready to distribute your first instalment of relief items. You, along with your colleagues, successfully reach to the earthquake victims. This is an example of 'leading from the front'.
To put it in small words, leaders don't wait for others to do things and take their own initiative. As a good leader you should never bother others for something you can do on your own. Take the first step with confidence and the rest will simply fall into place.
The current time is really challenging for each of us, and this is when your leadership skills are tested. If you can prove your worth in such moments of crisis, you'll come out much more confident, and with time you'll become a successful person. These are also the times when a leader will see great scope and opportunities in front of him.
Remember, leadership does not come with the role you play. It comes with your inner instinct, your inner voice and your attitude. You don't need to wait for the perfect time to show your leadership skills, instead you can create such situations yourself.
If you see around yourself, you will see many individuals who are good talkers. Especially in the last few weeks, I came across a lot of people who would talk a lot. But when it was about doing, they simply fizzled out. That is why it is rightly said, leaders don't simply talk – they walk the talk.
Now go, walk the talk and lead from the front.
The writer is Chief Operating Officer at LCCI Nepal, an International Training and Certification Company. He can be reached at roshan@lccinepal.com.
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