LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: TECHNIQUES FOR DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND QUALITIES

"You cannot meander in the alleyways of mediocrity and hope to achieve excellence."

Sarala Birla Academy (SBA) was established with the vision of producing leaders of tomorrow. Our Chairman, Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla's overarching vision for the school is: "To ignite minds and to create in the students a love of learning and continuous development, by making the learning process an enjoyable experience and by doing so, help develop a higher sense of self-esteem in the student and endeavor to equip him with life skills that will place him first among his equals when he steps out into the real world." That's how we see our future leaders to be - First among Equals.

For centuries, leadership has been viewed as a top-down system of hierarchical authority. However, the canvas has changed dramatically over the last few decades. Naturally, our ways of leadership must change, too. It needs to be more widespread, 'decentralized' and 'distributed', based upon shared respect between the members of the team. Mr. Birla, one of the visionary leaders of our time, recognized this early on and included it in his vision for the school he so lovingly established and so fondly named after his grandmother, Dr. Sarala Birla, the distinguished educationist.

Leadership skills and qualities cannot be developed in an individual just by talking to him or making him attend some workshops. One of the best ways to make this happen is to have the individual immersed in a system/culture in which these qualities and skills are consciously practiced. SBA is a 67-acre mini township, where we have more than 90 families staying on campus, a 19-bed hospital with resident doctors and nurses, our own water supply system, partial generation of electricity, a school, and of course 400 children. Over the years we've consciously tried to put in place a system and culture of functioning of this township that's based on - and reflects - the qualities that we wish to see develop in our children as they grow up.

Our children play a major role in the functioning of this township - this is not a hobby; they take on age-appropriate but serious responsibilities. There are two reasons for this:

  • 1. It's only when they participate daily in the process, that they see for themselves and experience whatever qualities exist in the system and imbibe them.
  • 2. It's only when a child starts taking responsibility, that his faculties are challenged and his true, all-round development starts.

Our children do not compromise on their studies, games, hobbies, rest, and enjoyment to do the above. Taking responsibilities and delivering on them is a way of life for them and comes spontaneously. After all, that's what true leadership is based on.