During the MIT Global Startup Workshop 2011 in Seoul that I attended a few days ago, one of the keynote speakers, Mr Nader Darehshori, talks about the importance of leadership qualities in entrepreneurs and how leadership differs from managerial aptitudes.
The content of Mr Darehshori’s keynote was not entirely new and we are fairly familiar with the differences that are obvious between a leader and a manager. Broadly, a leader is a visionary who sees daily problems from a macro perspective and yet, at the micro level, is able to inspire and communicate to the grassroots. Interestingly Mr Nader emphasized strongly on the former, the ability to inspire.
As I was chatting with the Dean of the NUS Business School (Professor Bernard Yeung), who presented in one of the sessions, he mentioned the importance of challenging the status quo or common mindset of students who simply want to finish school and settle down in contrast to having a (1) a passion of what he wants to change in society (2) a vision of the goal (3) an aspiration to fulfill it beyond all else, and I quote: “I agree with your observation (I was complaining about the common culture of graduating, find work, etc.), but as entrepreneurship educators we don’t accept and cannot allow our students (or participants) to accept the status quo”. On a side-note, I can’t help to say that, he reminded me of a former boss who is now the dean of a business school in the US. It was not just the words but passion and conviction in the manner he said those things.
It is in this light that we must have leaders who are capable to stand up and look beyond the micro details of society and address issues that are the “big rocks” (Stephen Covey, 7 Habits) faced by society. To forge a direction that uplifts the standard of society in economical, societal, cultural, religious and political sense. And thus inspires the everyday person to become more than what he thought he could. This is the role of the leader that we need today above and beyond the usual fire-fighting that we see within the current frame.
Hence, you can imagine the ignominy that I felt reading the Straits Times (Saturday, 26th March) while on a plane, heading home, of an MP that was given a huge spread on what he did to address the over-crowdedness of a certain 176 bus that passed by his constituency. While, I admire his approach, of going down at 6.30am to see for himself the situation, and am very sure of his sincerity in improving situations, yet I can’t help but to be left wanting of more “big rocks” that he was able to have an impact on (ie. rising inflation, better education programs, enhancing multi-religious/ racial harmony, facilitating a civil society, etc.) or for the newspaper to write of achievements of our national leaders that are truly deserving of a “modern” state.
KR: Yes, I am pouring nuggets of wisdom again into this blog after a two years absence :D
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