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Gyan Gurus - Leadership

Leadership: Standing out in the crowd   (View Comments)

Vibhuti Jha is the President for the Human Potential Project, specialists in establishing Performance Based Culture in work place by instituting practices of commitment based management. He is also a faculty member in McDaniel College, Baltimore , in their graduate program "Leadership in Global Enterprise".

Posted On Wednesday, June 09, 2010 at 11:31:13 AM

Everybody wants to make an impression regardless of the crowd they are in – and that is the truth. The cricket player and the cheerleaders both attract attention with their performances on the cricket field, so we can easily theorize that standing out in a crowd is a function of your performance in your chosen field of endeavor. The external elements like height, color, clothes etc are what they are – external to your personality but, nevertheless, a very important element when it comes to grooming yourself for the occasion.

We all possess qualities that enhance the elements of our personality. Trust me when I say  that an unusually tall person attracts as much attention as a midget in a party and the Indian Prime Minister will stand out far more than any famous actor in the same crowd regardless of the looks , style and impressionable fashion following that star. However these people stand out for the value of their position of authority be it in any field of endeavor. The real challenge lies for ordinary people like us – how do we stand out in the crowd? 

The desire to be noticed is inherent part of human nature – it is part of our total being and it is related to what we can be and what we are in relation to our mind, body and soul. The question then arises is all about what makes you unique? We are today living in a world that is moving at a speed where nobody has time to notice anyone or anything that is not of any immediate relevance to him or her. Yet we all want to feel important enough to attract attention to ourselves because we want to be seen and sought after in a crowd. So how do we solve that dilemma?

We are in a state of constant competition with the world around us - be it in business, with friends, seeking a job or attention of a specific person in our lives. And we certainly want to be ahead of the pack that challenges us all the time. The one effective way to deal with this scenario is to constantly address the question to ourselves and find the answer thereto:  Why must that person do business with me? Why must my family love me? Why am I most suitable for that specific job?

It might surprise us all that in a world where you control nothing at all  - whether it was the stock market , the policies , the oil spill , the wars or the moods of the diabolical leaders - there are still a few things actually in your control ! In an otherwise dishonest world, you control your own honesty, your own integrity and that could make you truly unique. Try building trust around your words, actions and responses  and drive yourselves to fulfilling the commitments you make. You will immediately notice the difference. It is all about how you enhance and enlarge the unique person in you.

A few years ago I learnt to ask questions - seriously, genuinely and well meant and followed it through with action. I am willing to share that with you today although I cannot claim to have completely mastered it with perfection myself. Here are the questions you ask in every relationship you are in - your partner in life, clients, vendors, and children, employees reporting to you, those you report to and those who are important in your life.

1. Is there anything I do that you do not like?
2. Is there anything I do that you like a lot?
3. If there was one thing that you do not want me to do anymore?
4. Is there anything you want me to do that I have not done so far?

Asking these questions is not enough – doing the follow up with people that matter to you is the key to establishing trust and integrity in all your relationships. You will forever stand out in any crowd!

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