Monthly Archives: May 2013

Why I adopted Coaching as a route to Leadership Development ?

(‘Justplainandsimple™ Coaching and Leadership Crucibles’)

….. also, a good Leadership Behavior/Style to have !!

Over years, as a student of Coaching and Leadership, I observed and experienced many leadership styles. The spectrum has those with total ‘uninterested abdication’ to the highly pushy and aggressive varieties. While the former just ‘let go’, the latter have various shades of ‘push’. Either of these leave a lot to be desired.

Even the widely professed ‘Situational Leadership Influence Behaviours’, to have real positive effect, have to first pass the test of ‘genuine intentionality’ as a necessary condition. However, Leadership behaviour very often ends up becoming disguised ‘manipulation’ and a euphemism for ‘push, directing, fear, coercion, ordering’. I have known Leaders who are aware of and openly accept and acknowledge that Leadership Assessment Tools have shown them to be ‘Destructive Personalities’ and still live happily with that knowledge !!

True Leadership, by definition, should have ‘willful following’ and basic elements of ‘genuine intentionality’ and ‘influence’ are necessary conditions. The interface has no ‘force’ or ‘impact’ but a very smooth ‘flow of thought and energies’….. with Purity, Beauty and Grace ….. and mind you, this requires a lot more Inner Strength and Maturity.

The Leader has to first develop his/her own self and be already operating from a ‘higher self’ for anyone else to come and willfully ask for a ride or seek to be a fellow traveler in this journey of life. Jim Collins says, “Level 5 Leadership builds enduring greatness through a paradoxical blend of personal humility & professional will”. These are the qualities that lead to the development of a ‘Servant Leader’. Leadership has a Spirituality about it. Leaders are meant to help others become the people God created them to be. In other words, to help others become who they are meant to be, to fulfill their unique purpose here on planet Earth. .

The engulfing of both the Leader and Follower in A Wave of Smooth Energy Flow can be a very healthy, effective and efficient process. There is a Harmonious Influence of Energy Fields. No one forces or tells anyone to do anything. Both ‘genuine intentionality’ and ‘influence’ operate out of ‘Free Will’ leading to ‘Successful Outcomes’ that are a lot more enduring and lasting.

Coaching, as a process for Leadership Development, allows the Coach and Coachee to have a Graceful Rythmic Dance in a Positive Energy Field !! No pushing, no coercion, no directing, no ‘absent mindedness’, no persuasion ….. Justplainandsimple™ Helping Realise Potential by partnering to enable development of self owned, fully acceptable solutions and plans.

As per Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, “Spirituality is ingrained in the Indian polity. Since ancient times rajgurus have guided & counselled rulers & in turn rulers have supported religious & spiritual leaders. Rama’s guru was Vasishtha & Krishna’s guru was Sandipani. Jainism & Budhism flourished under the patronage of the rulers of their time. Shivaji gave patronage to Samarth Ramdas.”

Leadership is based on a spiritual quality; the power to inspire, the power to inspire others to follow ~ Vince Lombardi, Legendary Football Coach

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