Leadership Role in tough times , in fact at any time

According to a study, Indian employees continue to be the most engaged in Asia-Pacific, but with the current downturn it has taken a toll with the employee engagement dwindling –ref Watson Wyatt’s Work Asia survey for 2008-09

What are the reasons?

• Need for accountability /deliveries
• Pressure on bosses/ owners to demand deliveries at any cost .As a result they are also getting caught in a trap of reacting rather than evolving
• Lack of transparency at all stages
• Stress increases ,as employees get younger, more intelligent ,and their bosses /owners at such times are left handling changes in organizational structures.

All of this leads to reduced respect that employees have for the place where they work.

This is where the role of leaders at all levels comes in .NR Narayan Murthy says in his book “A Better India, A Better World “

• what is the task of a leader in energizing his people? It is creating a grand vision – a purpose which is noble, lofty and aspirational. It is a dream that should excite and energize everybody on the community /corporation. The leader has to craft and articulate a vision in which everybody sees a better future for himself. The vision has to be powerful enough to make every tired mind and body that leaves the office in the evening come back early the next morning saying “ I am proud to belong to this company and I will work hard to make it a better company “
• When the company was being formed I said – I want this to be the most respected software services company in the world, if you seek respect, you will not short change your customers, you will be fair to your colleagues in the company, you will be transparent with your investors, you will treat your vendor partners with care and understanding, you will not violate the laws of the country you operate and you will live in harmony in whichever society you operate in. My conviction is that such a pursuit will bring revenues,jobs,profits and market capitalization"

How many of bosses, owners are able to say this? Practice this with a hand on their heart? How many , have the courage to talk like this and walk the talk..This is a a true example