The True Leader

In every organization, political, industrial or commercial, secular

or sacred, in every institution, the real fire in them is supplied and
maintained by its leader. He is the Captain and he is the one in the
top cabin, steering the ship and has, due to his position, a better
vision of what lays a head than those who sweat and labor in the
belly of the ship in its machine-room.

The leader must look ahead and steer the ship clear of obstacles,
put the sails up when the winds or most advantageous and safely
take the ship to its destination.

A true leader should give his serious attention continuously to

foster a spirit of team work. Selfishness in members breaks the
collectivity and their soon arises personal groups, based on caste,
creed or native place. These interested groups bring into the
organization continuous conflicts.

When we look around with scientific detachment, we can clearly

see three main types of organizations: An institution based entirely
upon power, strength or the wealth of executives; they dictate
terms and often such institutions do grow and quickly expand –
these are autocratic institutions. The top soon gets into a crazy
sense of “self importance”, and their arrogant attitudes and
dictatorial efforts are felt by the others below as insufferable
tyranny. The institution crumbles!

The other type of the organization is what is very popular with

people of our times – often heard but rarely seen – democratic
institutions. Here the organization is fabricated to fulfill certain
demands and desires of its members, and so long as the members
are satisfied, they limp on, making lot of noise but rarely
accomplish anything great, except, of course, satisfying the
demands of the members. The moment a fair section of the
members are dissatisfied the enemies within scream and destroy it.

All long surviving institutions are organized on the basis of mutual

love and respect for the leader, essence of reverence for the very
programme for which the institution works. Here the organization
is based upon harmony and this sense of harmony and
cohesiveness can arise only when the members are truly inspired
with the goal of the institutions and work in a dedicated manner to
achieve it. Such organizations alone can stand firm against all
external pressures, because within we have a team of hardy
members holding together and functioning as many hands but one
head-and-heart.

The members and office bearers, as executed, work in such an

organization in a common spirit of joyous excitement, from which
unity of purpose, tireless enthusiasm, cheerful pursuit and such
other virtues arise. This is called Karma yoga in the Geeta-
functioning in yagna spirit. It is the ego and its selfish desires in
our hearts that compel us to break the homogenous harmony and
the joyful rhythm in the day to day working of the institution.
Unless the dedication of the members to the idea for which the
institution strives is firm and faithful, the best in them cannot
stream forth to enrich the total achievement of the institution.

What we have so far discussed gives us a clue to know what causes

the continuous progress of a flourishing institution, under taking
stupendous tasks and in the end spreading great blessing all around
for the members and for the community. A mere volume of rules
or the spectacular performance of an individual (or individuals) in
an organization cannot by themselves help the organization to give
a long lease of service to the community. And when that
organization is serving and managing only for the profits, large and
quick, the institution never survives for a considerable length of
time; like weeds they spread and flourish, and are gone with the
seasonal rains. There must be a unison of objectives and ideas.
Each must know what he is striving to achieve, and in that scheme
of achievement, which exactly is the part each is responsible for.

If an individuals objective or ideal is not harmoniously in unison

with the organization, he will be unhappy and if he is not eased out
of the organization he may wreck the melody of the work within
the institution. His idea may be great; he should be allowed to go
out and work it out to its entire fulfillment outside the organization.
In case the objectives and ideas of the members are harmonious
with the aims and the objectives of the institution, the place
becomes the temple of joyous work and the end result will be
perceptible glowing blessings upon all. In many institutions
discard starts mainly due to lack of proper and effective
communication. It is indeed a delicate art. Secretive manipulations
spread fears and discontentment, but to open a system of
communication is also dangerous for the growth of an
organization.

The panchatantra beautifully expresses this art of communication.

It says:
Some things a man must say to his wife.
Some to his friends, some to his sons. All these are trusted people-
but he should never tell everything to everyone!

We must use our discrimination at all times, in communicating

information. The leader has to be alert and aware of all these
communication channels and set the trend with positive and
healthy communication.