What are the qualities of a leader?

Interview-part-9

This post deals with some of the qualities of a team leader.

It was a bolt from blue. Mannangatti, a menial worker in MLA’s hostel (MLA is  an elected representative of people, generally believed to work for people in state assemblies in India) received the shocking information that he would be dismissed from service since he was an illiterate. The family was completely under distress and almost forgot to eat and sleep in the last two days. One of the MLAs was very kind to him. He suggested Mannangatti to call the chief minister’s office which had issued the circular.

“The phone was ringing…would you talk to the official there on behalf of me?” Mannangatti requested the MLA.

“Mannagatti, you are going to do it. Not me. Ask the official, whether our chief minister is an educated person?”

Mannangatti took the telephone with shaking hands. Without knowing who was on the other end, he politely asked “Sir, government has asked me to go out this office because I do not have basic education. If so, what about our chief minister? Will you, please, tell me whether our chief minister has any educational qualification?”

On the other side, the man, who took the telephone in the absence of his personal Secretary was frozen on hearing these words because he was the chief minister.He did not have any formal education. He was the person who signed the orders. He instructed his assistants to bring Mannangatti to the office immediately and meanwhile collected details about him. The assistants were ready for the disaster awaiting Mannagatti. How could one ask such a question to the head of a state? Do you have the guts to pose any such questions to our present leaders? Surely I do not have.

Mannangatti was brought to the chief minister’s office completely subdued. The MLA

(One of the true Representatives of people) also followed him to explain the position. But to their surprise, the chief minister received the worker with all compassion and kindness.

“Sit down, Mannangatti, I thank you. Though it hurts, it is true. My order is wrong. I can feel the plight of your family. The order is withdrawn. You go and work at hostel peacefully. Ask your family members to sleep calmly.”

Mannangatti was sent back to his office.

I know that you may think that this is an imaginary story! My reply is an emphatic ‘NO’.

But it happened in Tamilnadu (!!!), India, where boss is always right, especially, in politics.

The chief minister was Kamaraj. The MLA was Mookiah Thevar. This is a true story. You can go this link and verify.

 Thanks Mr.Vishal!      http://ww.facebook.com/sathees.vishal   

 

 

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Have you noticed some of the qualities the great leader had?

              Empathy and compassion: He could understand and feel the pangs of the poor family.

              Taking responsibility        : He accepted the mistake though it was the idea of  others around him...

              Correcting the error         : He set right the wrong done.

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Vocabulary:

Sympathy -     is when you understand and feel sorry or pity for something or somebody.  

Empathy   -     is when you understand and feel the same emotion in the same wave                                                                           length as others have undergone.    

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