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]