Of Leadership, and other inexplicable management 'funda's

I want to study management, and evidently, I need to learn some 'funda's. Fundas are basically jargon, simple concepts in complex terms. Like 'coming up to speed' (reaching a level of understaning) or 'touching base' (making a courtesy phone call to apprise someone about something) or getting a 'ballpark figure' (an approximate number). But this is one 'funda' that wasn't all jargon with no substance.

Credit goes to the speaker, his enthusiasm was so over the board, that I then realised what they mean by 'drilling it into your head'. He was speaking/screaming/yelling so loudly, that my own throat started hurting in sheer pity and empathy. But, he got his point across.

And so he went on... and on... and goaded us to think, ask what is the purpose of our existence. Try and find it out. And that has given me sleepless nights. I'm losing sleep over this very question, which to many might seem trivial and stupid even. But I now want to find it out, not for the sake of answering this in an Interview, but because I need to know. I, myself, need to know.

It was about leadership. What he said is, that all management institutes try to teach you Leadership. At least that's what they claim. Harvard says so, and so does IIM Ahmedabad. But thats untrue. Simply because none of these institutes of repute, have a tiny rat's ass of a clue as to what leadership is.

The man went on to explain what his own little understanding of leadership was. I won't ramble around as he did, because I can put down what he said in 3 distinct points.

1. Leaders KNOW what they want to do.

Obviously, a Leader is supposed to 'lead'. So s/he must know exactly what s/he wants to do. And mind you, that isn't childs play. Your destiny isn't a 35mm screen that plays out in front of your eyes one night, and you just know what you want to do. So, a sure sign of a 'Leader' is someone who knows the purpose of their existence. It could be absolutely anything; what is important is that a 'leader' is identified by that purpose, and a burning desire to achieve it.


2. A 'Leader's purpose of existence is not linked to monetary gain.

This clears any doubts that might arise from the previous issue. Heck, most people know what they want. Its the 'hari patti', be it "rupaiya, dollar ya pound". It's all about money, honey. No, it's not. A true 'Leader's goals are not governed by the monetary profit that comes out of it. They do not think in terms of fiscal defisit or year-end profits. Those are targets for managers. The Leader looks concrete, practical and tangible achievements, whose value does not fluctutate with time, unlike money.


3. A 'Leader' is born.

What that means is this: You cannot create a leader. They are just born. So whatever claims these management institutes make of creating, moulding and transforming leaders is quite plainly, hogwash. A Leader is born that way, different from peers. You cannot find create one, nor teach someone to be one. That works for managers. Managers are appointed, Leader's emerge.