Ethical Leadership - The Foundation of BR’s Ideals
People are more likely to follow a leader who respects others, demonstrates exemplary conduct and shows integrity. Values, vision, voice and virtue help a leader champion the importance of ethics and synergize their own well-being, the team's energy and the organization's health for the benefit of everyone. BR Specialities, knowing the importance of Ethical Leadership that’s been passed on to us by our founding fathers through generations, had arranged a thought-provoking lecture on ‘Ethical Leadership’.
We’d like to appreciate and immensely thank Mr Sekharendu Gupta for a wonderful and inspiring session. The significant takeaways from the session on how to practice Ethical Leadership are recorded below.
Steps to Become an Ethical Leader
1. Embrace Objectivity
The first step towards leadership is to become objective. Objectivity is a result of Intellect controlling the mind. Mr Sekharendu pointed out that all human beings have three equipment: the body, mind and intellect, each responsible for different tasks.
- The body helps to take action.
- The mind generates feelings and emotions.
- Intellect helps to reason and think.
Out of these three, the intellect must be used at its best to control the mind in order to remain objective.
2. Nurture Intellect
Understanding the difference between ‘Intelligence’ and ‘Intellect’ is crucial to controlling one’s mind and action to make them work in harmony.
‘Intelligence’ is the mere information gained by an individual through textbooks, newspapers and other media while ‘Intellect’ is the ability to reason and think. It is important for one to work on the ‘Intellect’ to be able to utilize their ‘Intelligence’ to its fullest potential.
‘Intelligence’ in the absence of ‘Intellect’ will not be productive.
3. Work for a Common Ideal
Next, comes the importance of choosing an Ideal. An ideal is one’s ultimate goal or purpose. According to Mr Sekharendu, one’s ideal should be beyond his/her selfish or self-centred interests. The higher the ideal, higher is the enthusiasm.
4. Plan Backwards
Setting an ideal, setting realistic goals and then planning backwards will make a difference. We all have the tendency to plan forward. But if we knew our goals for the next 5 years, 5 months, 5 weeks or 5 days, we will produce abundant energy which will make us look forward to something for the next day and the forthcoming days.
5.Adopt a Charitable Disposition
The spirit of service and sacrifice is the key for a leader. That is, the attitude of a leader towards their actions should have a service mindset.
We all have to act. Action is mandatory for all human lives. But our actions are usually governed by a spirit of selfish interests. We are tied in the race of getting more money, power and position. Yet no one is happy. Do we wonder why? A person with a billion dollars, the best house in the city, at a position of influence - is (s)he at peace or happy?
A person with selfish interests will never attain happiness. Only a spirit of service and sacrifice gives a sense of fulfilment.
6.Listen and Keep Listening
Practice the Art of Listening. As a leader, one needs to be accessible to all. Listening to our peer group, our juniors and seniors gives a sense of belongingness to the team. The team should always feel that they can communicate their thoughts to the leader. There are times when the team member might be going through some rough patch. It is very important to keep discussing and understanding their thoughts.
Moreover, listening brings a sense of positivity and belongingness within the organization.
7.Identify with Everybody & Everything
Identification is the feeling of oneness. Most of us are stuck with the identification with our own self, thus leading to merely being obsessed with selfish interests. This leads to utter dissatisfaction most of the time. A leader needs to rise higher in the circle of identification by moving from One’s Own Self → Family → Organisation → Community → Country → Humanity → All Beings.
Identification generates a spirit of service and sacrifice for that particular group that one starts identifying with.
8. Lead the Way
Lastly, a leader needs to lead the way. Any change a leader wants to bring about must be implemented on himself/herself first. Words have no relevance if the leader just speaks about the change but can’t implement the same in their own routine.
This power-packed session with a number of intriguing inputs gave an energetic boost to our BRiskers. The session made us look at Leadership through a different lens which led to more connection, introspection, balance and contentment.
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