4 leadership success mantras to embrace today, from industry leaders

The last year or so might have been a bolt from the blue, but leaders from across industries have admirably and remarkably reworked organisational and business models as they steer the ship towards sustained success. This by itself will not suffice though; in an age of flux, leaders will have to be ready to rethink their operations on the fly, and maybe even question all they knew to be normal. In short, leaders of India Inc. will have to press pause and take stock before hitting a great reset, if they haven’t already.

Here are some takeaways from 4 conversations with influential business leaders that have scaled the summits of their respective industries.

Reimagining business as normal

Speaking about his outlook, Rohit Ohri, Chairman & CEO, FCB Group India, says he doesn’t have a success mantra to abide by, before going on to explain, “Having a mantra signals a sense of following one set path. The pandemic has thrown the book of mantras out of the window, drawing leaders into the unknown. The answers we seek are no longer available in black and white. Masterful navigation of the greys is what will define successful leaders today and in the future.”

“Consequently, I believe that a leader should be ‘never finished’. Always learning, always growing and always adapting. One needs to take oneself out of autopilot and move into a mindset of continuous awe, curiosity and wonder… and explore bravely.”

Teamwork makes the dream work

As one of the organisations at the frontline of this pandemic, Dr. Sanjay Arora is all too aware of the toll this takes at a personal and organisational level, and the Founder & M.D of Suburban Diagnostics defines success at the healthcare major as “having worked as a team together with a shared sense of purpose.”

Clearly, navigating the contours of a changed reality isn’t easy, but Dr. Arora lauds the team that eased the transition. “Being an agile organization has helped us navigate change and respond productively and quickly without compromising quality. The opportunity to add value to humanity in a time of need was the purpose that connected everyone, and it evolved in their roles, catalyzing our success.”

Leaders as the organisational bellwether

Driving a challenging and ambitious goal inspires and energizes the organization and a leader has to set that up, as Sourav Sen, MD & CEO, Eirich tells us. “It’s important to take decisions on time, using a mix of data and gut feel may be a smart approach. A leader should guide and support the team to deliver with less direction. Being consistent and objective helps win the trust and respect of the team. A leader should keep plan B ready for all critical tasks. Focusing on the big picture helps find answers to many complex topics.”

“Finally, one needs to stay humble and keep the fire in the belly burning, it helps cover that extra mile.”

Tech with a human touch

Tech holds the potential to help us realise our full potential, and as Aditya Arora, CEO – Teleperformance India, tells us, it lies at the heart of creating something truly special. “The key to creating exceptional customer and employee experience lies in our ‘High-Tech, High-Touch’ approach - combining forward looking technology with human interactions. We are committed to deliver Simpler, Faster, Safer and more cost-effective services to world’s leading brands with our people-first approach and focus on cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforce. We believe that each interaction matters.”

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