Walking a tight rope
Indian Management|July 2020
Effective leadership demands empathy, but make sure it is used in the right measure.
DR ASHUTOSH KUMAR
Walking a tight rope

Traditionally, the world of business and the world of ethics were considered as being wide apart, with the overwhelming notion that the former is profit-driven whereas the latter addresses humane aspects—that one is growth-oriented and the other concerns the avenues of human happiness.

Robust mechanisms of profit conventionally governed the world of business and, consequently, instilled a sense of hierarchy in the minds of managers and their co-workers. The manager exercised his authority over those low in the organisational ladder—the way bureaucracies have also been functioning in other fields. However, lately, with the many transformations in the socio-political sphere (such as anti-patriarchal movements, globalisation, and the celebration of a pluralistic ethos), the paradigm of the business world has witnessed a revamp. The hierarchical model has made way for the concept of a more equitable workplace that demands attaching value to collective efforts. Rather than being just ‘bosses’, business heads have started pondering on the ways to become effective leaders—those who are visionaries, can inspire their team members as well as other employees, and are more communicative, thereby abandoning the age-old notion of authority.

Also, the business world has started considering concepts that were earlier sidelined as being in the domain of ‘soft skills’ and hence were not considered as essential for business excellence. Leadership in the business world has become a much discussed and deliberated topic, and, in this new millennium, there is no denying the fact that managerial leadership is one of the most challenging trajectories that is inviting more and more nuanced insights each day.

This story is from the July 2020 edition of Indian Management.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the July 2020 edition of Indian Management.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM INDIAN MANAGEMENTView All
Trust is a must
Indian Management

Trust is a must

Trust a belief in the abilities, integrity, values, and character of any organisation is one of the most important management principles.

time-read
6 mins  |
July 2023
Listen To Your Customers
Indian Management

Listen To Your Customers

A good customer experience management strategy will not just help retain existing customers but also attract new ones.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2021
The hand that feeds
Indian Management

The hand that feeds

Providing free meals to employees is an effective way to increase engagement and boost productivity.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2021
Survival secrets
Indian Management

Survival secrets

Thrive at the workplace with these simple adaptations.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2021
Plan backwards
Indian Management

Plan backwards

Pioneer in the venture capital and private equity fields and co-founder of four transformational private equity firms, Bryan C Cressey opines that we have been taught backwards in many important ways, people can work an entire career without seeing these roadblocks to their achievements, and if you recognise and bust these five myths, you will become far more successful.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2021
For a sweet deal
Indian Management

For a sweet deal

Negotiation is a discovery process for both sides; better interactions will lead all parties to what they want.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2021
Humanise. Optimise. Digitise
Indian Management

Humanise. Optimise. Digitise

Engaging employees in critical to the survival of an organisation, since the future of business is (still) people.

time-read
5 mins  |
August 2021
Beyond the call of duty
Indian Management

Beyond the call of duty

A servant leadership model can serve the purpose best when dealing with a distributed workforce.

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2021
Workplace courage
Indian Management

Workplace courage

Leaders need to build courage in order to enhance their self-reliance and contribution to the team.

time-read
5 mins  |
August 2021
Focused on reality
Indian Management

Focused on reality

Are you a sales manager or a true sales leader? The difference, David Mattson, CEO, Sandler® and author, Scaling Sales Success: 16 Key Principles For Sales Leaders, maintains, comes down to whether you can see beyond five classic myths that we often tell ourselves about selling.

time-read
5 mins  |
August 2021