A world within the world!

“Few individuals significantly alter the course of history. Fewer still modify the map of the World. Hardly anyone can be credited with creating a nation-state. Mohammad Ali Jinnah did all three.” (Jinnah of Pakistan by Stanley Wolpert - ISBN: 978-0-19-577462-7).

Ever wondered what made Jinnah achieve this…? He was a LEADER, in its true meanings. I feel unlucky that I didn’t live in times of either Jinnah or Bhutto, but I certainly live in a time of another person in whom I have noticed same attributes as these two leaders, i-e Imran Khan. I want to share certain attributes of a leader, in my viewpoint.

The scope of field might be different, as it was for Jinnah & Imran, but certain properties are integral and common among true leaders; they are “No Fear” & “Identification of the Right Path”. Had Jinnah had the fear of losing all his efforts, we would have been living in “Hindustan” today (just imagine!). Similarly, had Imran had the fear of losing the World Cup, we would have been without that great title still today. Jinnah took the responsibility of the whole Nation, and in some context, Imran did too.

It’s a natural phenomenon that by the time a certain individual reaches the time when he/she can lead a group of people, his/her thinking has already been drafted/bent/moulded by certain unwanted factors. The charisma itself of being a “leader” tends to deviate the individual from the real task of LEADERSHIP…! So, this question was in my mind for long time - “What are the attributes of a True Leader…?”

As both these personalities say, “Don’t fear the results” - it means a lot of things. For having no fear of the result, you have to be sure that you are on the right path. For being sure of the right path, you have to have the identification of the right path, & for this, you have to have the knowledge, the vision, the courage & the confidence to take the “first step”. After this, a leader should know how he can convince, motivate and move the masses.

In Telecom World, we put the label of a leader normally on positions like Team Lead, Manager, National Manager, Director, CTO and CEO. The very first position, of a Team Lead, in most organization is offered atleast after 2 to 3 years of experience. Why…? What has an individual gained in 2 to 3 years that organizations only depend on him for leading a team…? Is it confidence, knowledge, exposure, all or none…? Other than the technical expertise one gains in 2 to 3 years, organization believes him/her to have gained certain level of managerial/leadership skills as well. But do all 2 to 3 Yr Exp people turn out to be good LEADERS…??? I would say “NO”. Why…?

In my view, the role of a leader is a really complicated, challenging & interesting recipe - a recipe that contains skills, sacrifice, patience, calm nature, elderly brotherly affection, confidence, decision making power and fore vision as its ingredients. As they say, one might be a super champion of a certain game in his times, but may not be a good leader at all. This happens, mainly because people are more self-oriented, which is an opposite word to “leader”. One might be able to display all his skills and powers in a perfect way, groom and build extra ordinary skills, and achieve anything he/she can “individually”, but when it comes to grooming a team’s skills - well, it requires much more than that.

In our Telecom World, a World within The World as I say it we come across a thousand moments when someone has to take a hard decision, and stand stern on that. For example, a certain city’s frequency plan is not so good, and you feel you should give it an all new plan; when and how will you be able to take such a decision all on yourself…? I believe I will be able to take this decision when I know that I have equal courage to take the responsibility of this decision as well, when I know that my team will support me, and that I will prove their support fruitful.

To take a decision and lead, recall the attributes I mentioned earlier, I will go in reverse way:

1. Courage and Confidence to take the First Step:

The first step would be to spread the word and convince by facts, that we need a new plan. I will make the analysis myself, and only after that, I will prepare my team to join me in this. First, I have to show them that we are going in the right direction; otherwise, my team will never achieve the confidence that’s required.

2. Knowledge & Vision:

Not only that I should know why am I doing this, but my team should also know this. I must have the vision that this plan, once implemented, will be an example in itself, and will be used in other cities as well. With this new plan, I and my team will discover a lot new features of the network, that will be helpful in guiding for future plans. Also, I should have the knowledge of what an exemplary frequency plan can be. I should be aware of all the ins and outs of factors concerned with a frequency plan, and should make sure my team knows and/or is learning this as well.

3. The Right Path:

Why am I deciding to make a new plan anyway? Is it the right time, is it the right way - no matter how much I produce as my evidences, if I am a leader, I am not on the right path if its myself alone, who is walking on this. I can walk to any distance on the right path alone, but then, I am on the right path, but not a leader…! I have to have my team realize the fact that this is the right way and the right time.

4. Above All - Moving the Masses:

When do people follow someone…? Masses move only when they have no fear. People follow someone only when they know that this person is true in his words, deeds and has a vision. They see a leader in a certain person only when they are convinced that he/she has this ability to move them towards the better. They have this belief that with his/her success is their success, that when this person will achieve certain rank, he/she will call it a credit of all of them…! For this, the leader has to convince the masses with his deeds, words and vision. In addition, he/she has to make them realize that if something bad happens, he/she is there to protect them, that the Success is everyone’s success, and failure will only be his/hers.

In Telecom World, I believe a true leader is the one whose decisions are supported by his/her team, the team has this confidence that this person is representing exactly what their targets/expectations/visions are, that this person will guide them when they fail, and will encourage them when they succeed, that this person will not limit his/her skills to own self, but will transfer them to the team so that tomorrow, one of the team members can take his/her place. Such people gain respect in “masses of Telecom World “

In the end, I would again mention Jinnah’s, when he addressed a remote village before 1947, and was accompanied by Liaqat Ali Khan and a British. All the audience was illiterate, and by no means could understand English. Jinnah started in Urdu, and later started to speech in English. The audience kept on replying in great zeal to every sentence he said till the end, which was a big surprise to the British.

He asked Khan, “Why are they replying with such zest, when they don’t even know what Jinnah is saying to them…?!?”

Liaqat Ali Khan replied, “They don’t understand what Jinnah is saying, but they recognize his face and know that this person is Jinnah, the Great Quaid…!”

Such was the confidence this Nation had on that great leader - and he proved that Nation’s confidence was worth it…! He was a true leader.

Eiraad Khalid [+923008491006]

7th January 2004 - 21:30 - JAM Tea Stall - Model Town Lahore…I was enjoying routine gup shup with my friends. It was drizzling. Abid Butt, a really old and good friend of mine (now National MS Manager in Ericsson, PAK), was there with me and we were discussing UET

I was hiding a lot of feelings there. He had got job in ZTE and I was still jobless. I was happy for him, but didnt wanna tell him that I am extremely worried and depressed. It was 3rd Week when most of my friends had got jobs (ALL IN TELECOM), while I was still looking for one. It was kind of becoming a big load on me. I was also a bit depressed as I had this impression that SAFARISH, RELATIONSHIPS always occupy all the vacancies, and I had no such thing with me.

All of a sudden, my mobile rang. It was Ahmed Younis - my senior since school - and then a Mobilink RF Planning Engineer. He called me to tell me that there is going to be a test in two day’s time for hiring in his department - so I should get ready and appear in that exam. I shared the info with Butt, and we both decided to prepare and sit in the test.

Well - 3 months from that time onwards were like a ROLLER COASTER RIDE for me. Butt was dropped after 2nd Interview, I carried on till the last one and got through. One of my best friends, Fahad Munawar (now Consultant with LCC Pak) was also walking by my side in all these times.

Interestingly, both of us were at opposite poles with the THEETAAs of UET Lahore. Both of us had got 1 to 2 “Supplees” in University as well. But both of us were strongly of the point that University Exam System means NOTHING…! It never tests your actual abilities. We believed in this, and Alhamdolillah, we proved it very soon.

Finally, we got into Mobilink RF Planning Department - Lahore. Room # 306, 4th Floor, Eden Center, Jail Rd Lahore was the launching pad of our careers. We were welcomed by the GURUS like Nasir Mahmood, Ahmer Arsalan Zahid, Usama Munir Gill, Ahmad Younis and above all - ASIF HUSSAIN and SYED AHMED KAMRAN.

I now had a very clear way ahead. I had to make VERTICAL progress. I had to make my self be HEARD. I wanted to make a difference. As expected, there was certain favourism as well, but I had to accept it and face it with courage. Only after 3 months of my job, I was selected by National RF Planning Manager (Ernest Isaac) as the sole representative of RF Planning Department (Mobilink) during the special project of NPI from Motorola (NPI: New Product Introduction, this included Half Rate Deployment, DCS Implementation & GPRS).

First 3 weeks after I got this assignment were very difficult, as expected. I had no prior experience, I was afraid of making certain decisions, I was hesitant to talk to seniors about different things, I was taking too much pressure from Asif Bhai (Asif Hussain). It was there when Ahmer Bhai sit with me, and told me some really useful tips regarding the management of one’s tasks. I count those tips as among the most useful ones that I learnt in last 4 years.

After that, there was no stopping. I developed really good and sincere relationships with MOTOROLA Teams (specially with GURUs like Ahmad Maklad, Osama Tawfik, Mudassir Malik & Adeel Ahmed). I started learning stuff that was OUTSIDE my domain of RF PLANNING. I went out for BSC Commissioning, Site Commissioning, MW Link Commissioning - all for the sake of learning. First project was HR Deployment, and was completed successfully within the timelines. I mark my success with the appreciation given to me in written and verbal as well in front of the whole team, by Sir Jafar Khalid, then Director, Access Network, Mobilink.

Why am I mentioning all this…? My objective is to highlight the fact that MOST OF THE SUCCESSES ARE LYING AROUND US - ITS ONLY THAT WE NEED TO OPEN EYES AND LOOK FOR THEM…! Believe me, THINGS in life are much EASIER, we make them difficult and then impossible merely by our THINKING. So, think straight, think GENUINE, think deeper - and you will see things moving as you wish them to move…!

Finally, I want to drop here this note that in TELECOM Industry, the one I belong to, its a CONSTANT drive. You can never STOP. Even if you are on the right track, you cant keep standing there…you have to move on quickly as otherwise, someone driving faster from behind will run you over…!

I will end with one of my own quotes:

“Since my childhood, I have always loved to Challenge myself, then Defeat myself and finally IMPRESS myself…!” (erry)