Leadership Lessons From MODI’S Bold Move
As a metacognition coach, I help leaders navigate big changes by starting with personal growth. Together, we work on the philosophy of embracing a mindset that ensures you self correct, and retain objectivity in reconsidering your own beliefs when making important decisions. Meta-cognition is the ability to “think one’s own thinking”. In my opinion, this alone can help build solid leadership character because it comes in handy when you’re faced by an unknown situation, or are navigating new seas. In reflecting proactively on your own pitfalls, metacognitive approaches can define leadership styles when the stakes are high.
I also believe in learning from our environment, and notably so, examples of good and bad leadership can be seen around us. Pay close attention, and each of them will offer something to learn. Be it the Boeing catastrophe we discussed in this article: Boeing’s Leadership Troubles: The Lasting Impact of the 1997 McDonnell Douglas Merger, or the one we shall discuss today.
Recently the Modi-led Indian Government has been much in the news for a decision delivered through the recent budget release, that impacts many Indians directly. The recent financial boost to the tune of $10 billion, given to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) by the Indian government, offers a powerful case study in strategic leadership. Nothing short of a masterstroke in a heavily privatized industry, this decision shall reshape a landscape monopolized by players like the Ambani giant, Reliance.
The bold decision underscores the importance of a ‘people focus’, authenticity, and persistence.
In this article, we will break down this strategic move into practical lessons, illustrating what effective strategic leadership looks like and how you can apply these principles to your leadership journey.
Visionary Thinking Needs Action.
For those acquainted with the 2022 Roger’s outage in Canada or the bug that put Cyberstrike at the centre of Microsoft’s recent outage, examples of how deeply a tech outage can impact day-to-day lives, businesses and governance, aren’t alien ideas. The world depends on digital communication, just like folks in India do. In fact, India's progress heavily depends on a strong communication system. E-commerce, online medicine, virtual learning, and government activities all count on this key ability, which is crucial for the country's development and progress. In a country where the GDP per capita is still lagging behind much of the world, this move reflects the vision of a state-owned telecom sector that provides sustained access to technology for most economic strata of the population.
If the question is - How do you as a leader, ensure growth in such a complex environment? I’d say, learning from Modi’s masterstroke, the answer might be in shifting the distribution of power between key players.
Modi’s power move is telling. From the immediate benefit of good governance over private players to a more long-term vision to enhance connectivity, this decision seems to serve many purposes.
This is what strategic leadership does. It creates harmony in balance for the greater good. It creates room for innovation and harnesses the power of accountability and good governance. It promotes collaboration and improves stakeholder confidence.
No doubt, the Indian Government will only need to show its preparedness to compete with market giants like Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone with rapid infrastructure and technological advancements to deliver on its commitment to the Indian public. In a country pioneering the 6G technology run for the world, reliance on private players could not be eliminated or undervalued. The Indian government will need to follow through with investments that accelerate BSNL’s tech adoption, develop a robust maintenance and outage support network, and compete on customer service. All without raising prices on consumers who have placed their trust in this bold move, and, in a rather corrupt environment.
These investments and decisions, must not only be weighed against the return in terms of driving national development through end-to-end connectivity and securing the battle against monopolization in the telecom sector but must also strike a collaborative chord with private players that are more likely to drive tech advancements in the sector.
Aren’t challenges like the above, faced by leaders—corporate or public—at one scale or another?
Isn’t accountability one of the toughest virtues to impart?
How do you focus on the right things while delivering on your commitment?
If these questions circle your mind, here are:
Fifteen Practical Tips To Build Strategic Leadership Skills:
Build a Robust Think-Tank : No one human can manage so many different aspects of complexity. Build a team of trustworthy individuals, with diverse capabilities.
Set Clear Objectives: Define your and your organization’s long-term goals. Break them down into manageable milestones. Be smart about resource allocation - identify ways to achieve more, with less, but ethically.
Create a Roadmap: Develop a detailed plan with timelines, resource allocations, and key performance indicators (KPIs). This roadmap should outline the steps needed to achieve your long-term vision.
Identify, Analyse and Manage Risk: To be a strong leader, you must demonstrate a capability to understand the risks to your strategy, qualify them and manage them appropriately.
Communicate Vision: Regularly share your vision with your team to keep everyone aligned and motivated. Use various communication channels and methods to ensure that the vision is understood and embraced by all members of the organization.
Support Equity and Accountability as Fundamental Values: Know that nothing great can be achieved without respecting different perspectives, or owning the task. These two values alone can drive your achievements in any kind of complexity. So, Keep a balanced approach, value opinions that are backed with logic and drive accountability through actions.
Adopt a Metacognition Approach I.e Be Willing to Unlearn: If a strategy isn’t working, be prepared to reflect on any of your biases or bad habits, and course correct no matter how vested your were in your original plan. Develop contingency plans and foster a culture of agility to ensure that the organization can pivot effectively when needed.
Engage Stakeholders Responsibly: Regularly communicate with stakeholders to understand their needs and concerns. Conduct stakeholder surveys, hold regular meetings, and create channels for open communication.
Find Common Ground: Look for solutions that address the interests of multiple stakeholders. Use collaborative decision-making processes to identify and implement solutions that balance stakeholder needs.
Be Transparent: Share your decision-making process to build trust and support. Provide regular updates on progress and outcomes, and be open about challenges and setbacks.
Develop Strong Financial & Date Fluency: Understand key financial principles such as budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis; understand the difference between good and bad data. Inject data-driven approaches into a value-based decision-making model, but don’t let data be the sole driver of your decisions.
Analyze The Right Data, The Right Way: Regularly review financial reports to make informed decisions. Develop the ability to interpret financial data and use it to guide strategic decision-making.
Stay Informed: Invest in your learning or seek advice from experts to ensure sound decision-making.
Stay Committed: Persevere through challenges and setbacks, maintaining focus on your long-term vision. Demonstrate resilience and determination in the face of adversity.
Inspire Others: Use your authenticity and persistence to inspire and motivate your team. Share your experiences and lessons learned to encourage others to stay committed to their goals.
Remember, effective leadership is an ongoing journey of learning, adaptation, and growth. By setting clear goals, managing resources wisely, staying adaptable, balancing stakeholder interests, making prudent decisions, prioritizing social responsibility, investing in upskilling, and remaining authentic and persistent, you can lead your organization to achieve long-term success and positive social impact.
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