What leadership qualities are most important for driving team success, especially in today's dynamic business environment?
The core leadership qualities are timeless according to me. Ability to inspire, organise, align, delegate and coach continue to be the most important. What has changed is how there is increasingly demand of the team to be listened to and understood and the need for innovation in every aspect of our work. The boundaries between personal and professional have been blurred now and increasingly we want to bring the complete self to work. In this scenario, there is an added responsibility on team managers for integration of personal needs with professional requirements in a way that benefits both the organisation and individuals. I call it creating a balance between empathy and performance.
Please share a significant leadership lesson you have learned throughout your career journey.
That leaders need to take unpopular decisions sometimes and need to get over their own need to be liked. At the same time, even the toughest decision when communicated with compassion and clarity, can land well with the team.
How do you strike a balance between empathy and accountability as a leader when guiding your team through challenges and opportunities?
I work in the not-for-profit space. Starting from the interview, clear expectations are set on what is expected from the team. Complete transparency during recruitment, clear setting of expectations and communication of consequences of not meeting expectations has helped, along with frequent reinforcement. My message to my team is often clear, we are meeting in the context of work. Difficult questions can and will be asked of anyone working in the team including me. Definition of empathy is clear - it is about understanding each other's perspectives and not being 'nice' all the time.
Reflecting on your personal journey to this award, what obstacles did you overcome and what advice would you give to aspiring leaders striving for excellence in their careers?
As a young passionate but ruthless social entrepreneur, I once asked my mentor - 'How do I make my people believe I care about them?' His answer was simple - 'By truly caring about them’. I think I would pass on that same message - genuinely caring about work and the team helps us find the right balance in our context. Also, making mistakes is ok, we should not let perfection be the enemy of the good.
