Leadership Lessons to Young Aspirants : how to hold a vision and see it
through — whether it’s by giving themselves the freedom to make mistakes
or sticking to principles despite challenges. “There will always be challenges
and opportunities to do better: 30% will always be in flux and that is okay.
You need to make sure you get the other 70% right.” says
It’s a Marathon, not a Sprint
Don’t be impatient. Be humble; use every opportunity to learn. There are no short cuts.
There is no escaping discipline and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Be in it for the long
haul. And while you’re at it, don’t play it safe. Experiment. Embrace failure. As Steve Jobs
said, ‘Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life’.
Be a Good Coach
Find the right mentors to guide and inspire you. Next, pass it forward. Be a great coach
yourself. Surround yourself with great team members. Obsess about their success more
than your own. You will truly win if you can get the best out of your team.
Shun Shot-Cuts
It is important to have a clear vision and then go about executing it with focus, passion and
commitment; the results will invariably follow. Know thyself. Work smart with a clear
understanding of your strengths and weaknesses.
Apply your Knowledge
We enter our working life armed with degrees and all the knowledge we picked up along the
way. But the true test is in application. While some of our learning comes from taking or
getting good advice, a lot of it comes from making mistakes.
Motivate People
Invest in people as you go forward. Keep them engaged and passionate about what they do.
Never tried to be a ‘boss’ that people are terrified of. There is nothing better than having a
team that is self-motivated.
Zero in on your Goal
Identify the things you love to do and that give you the most satisfaction. Use this information
to find the objective of your life. It’s much easier to chip away at your goal if it is something
you enjoy doing.
Identify Skills
If you want to be a good banker, it is very important to understand industries, business and
credit cycles, and analyse balance sheets. Also, be prepared for failure. What will reshape
you is how you pick yourself up after a fall.
Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish
Listen, Study, Understand, Learn, Respect — think of yourself as a sponge. Successful people
are never embarrassed to ask for help. Often, this takes them on a path of self-discovery – one in which the journey is just as important as the destination.
Focus on People Development
An organisation is driven by the right people with the right skills. Thus, it becomes important to
attract and retain talented employees. Always strive to make their lives better, promote wellness
of the workforce, and most importantly, invest heavily in training and development. Foster a
healthy dialogue with your team through multiple channels and maintain an environment that
promotes open communication.
Follow a Code of Business Ethics
Leadership isn’t just about achievement; it is also about how you have made the world and
environment a better place.
Understand Strengths & Weaknesses
Recognising strengths and compensating for weaknesses represents the first step in achieving
positive self-regard. It also helps in taking the right decisions, besides purposeful delegation.
Never Compromise on Integrity
You will be faced with situations that challenge your integrity many times during your career.
Do not ever give in. Keep distance from colleagues, leaders and companies that lead you
down this slippery slope.
Stand Up and be Counted
A key attribute managers look for in their team members is initiative. Never hesitate in
volunteering for assignments — the tougher the better. Similarly, never hesitate to express
your opinion when asked, especially in public forums.
Gain Exposure Across Functions
It will help you learn more about your company, customers, competitors, and most importantly,
help you build relationships with colleagues across the organisation and hierarchy. These
relationships will stand you in good stead.
Periodic Staff Training plays a key role to increase job satisfaction which leads to higher
productivity. IRIS-Corp has a dedicated cell for training of Staff to provide various Learning
and Leadership development opportunities to add value to their existing technical and
professional skills and also to learn something new which would make them more versatile.
