Our lives are dynamic, one or the other aspect of it keeps changing but one thing that remains constant for some people is the zeal to grow. While everyone walks on their path to evolve, I believe there’s only one way that helps you succeed in the long runー Leadership Qualities.

However, what makes a great leader is the person’s ability to have a vision for the future and to invest in people to fulfill that vision.

But here, you might have a question for me: why is leadership important?

Tell me, how long can a Java developer be a Java developer? Someday, the person has to take charge, someday they have to increase their output and they cannot do it without building a team. Because, Today or Tomorrow, You’re Going To Be A Leader.

But the journey of leadership skills doesn’t end with becoming a leader, instead, this is the point where the cycle begins. Today, I’m here to tell you through a simple analogy ‘How you can make the best of your Leadership Skills,’ inspiring and shaping the people around you. But before we dive in, who is actually a Leader?

Walking Barefoot On A Sword

Let’s understand this concept through a story. 

Suppose, Raman is a developer who makes sure that others are working dedicately on their tasks, meeting their Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and focusing on how each of the members is growing. But at the same time, Riya who is also a developer in the same organisation takes care of how each individual is developing their skills and aligns them towards the overall growth of the company. 

Here, Riya not only prioritizes individual success but also creates the energy for building inclusive talent in the organisation. While management and leadership may be commonly used interchangeably, they are two different terms. Leadership is about building people, investing in them and growing with them through every challenge and conflict. Once you enter into it, it’s like walking barefoot on a sword. 

As a leader, Riya’s responsibility extends beyond building people, it’s about manufacturing leaders in the organisation. 

Leadership is Similar To Growing A Tree

Let’s assume that Riya is looking for fruits which are success, growth and career development. 

Now in order to have these fruits, she needs to plant a tree. And how to grow a tree that bears fruits? 

Step #1 Identifying The Right Seed

The first step in growing a tree is to sow the seed. But here’s the catch – Riya wants mango fruit, but she is sowing the seed of an apple. Will it give her the desired results? Or if she uses uncleaned or damaged mango seeds, will she be able to get the healthy fruit?

No. 

Here, Seeds = Individuals. 

So, if Riya wants to build leaders, the first step would be to identify the individual who has the right skill sets, attitude, and willingness to align with Riya’s goals. The quality of the individual will determine the type of fruit Riya could have. 

And the simplest way Riya could recognize the right person is by having open, transparent conversations that go beyond work. Simple questions like Where do you live, how many members are there in your family, and what is your favorite hobby, could go a long way to understanding the person. 

Step #2 Look for the Right Soil & Atmosphere

Now Riya has found the perfect mango seed to reap her favorite fruit, but can she produce mangoes in Rajasthan? Just because she has a good quality mango seed doesn’t mean the seed can grow in sandy soil with high temperatures. 

Here, Soil + Atmosphere = Culture that you provide

So, it’s not about finding the individual with the best skillsets or attitude; rather, it’s about finding someone who’s a right fit for the culture that Riya has built around herself. 

Suppose Riya wants to build Raman as a leader in the organization, but Raman’s focus is on getting placed in the Google Office. So, should Riya put her efforts into building Raman as a leader? 

No. 

Riya should pick people who are aligned with the current culture that she has to offer in the organization and showcase the vision she has for them, the vision of their growth.

Step #3 Water the Seed & Have Patience 

Riya has sown the mango seed in the well-drained region, but the seed will not turn into a sapling unless she waters it. Now, instead of watering it 1-3 times a week as required, Riya waters the seed every hour.

So, will the seed turn into a big tree in a month? Because zada pani dene se ped zada bada hota hai ? (Because providing more water means the tree grows taller ?)

No.

Here, Water = Resources like knowledge, power, position, and money

As a developer, Raman wants to enhance his skill set and build his knowledge of technology, but Riya offers him a good salary and routine tasks. Will Raman grow into a leader in this circumstance? 

Probably Not. Riya needs to understand Raman’s needs and provide him with opportunities to enhance his skills. However, even if she offers these opportunities, will Raman become a leader in the next few months?

Patience is the Key

Every seed takes its own time to grow into a tree and bear fruits. While the apple tree grows for a minimum of 3-5 years, the mango tree usually takes 5-8 years to reap fruits. But does that mean the apple tree grows better than the mango tree?

Absolutely Not. 

Riya has to realize that Raman will have his own pace and capability to grow. Even if he executes fast, it doesn’t mean he is nurturing into a leader because fast execution doesn’t mean you get the best results. 

She has to be patient and invest in a specific time frame during which time Raman will utilize the resources at his best. 

Step #4 Providing Sunlight 

After taking all these steps, one factor that Riya cannot ignore when growing a tree is sunlight. 

We all know that plants cannot grow or bear fruits without receiving sunlight regularly.

Here, Sunlight = Vision for their Growth

Despite taking care of all the resources, Raman will grow only when Riya shows him the vision for his growth with a step-by-step plan. 

But this is not a ‘one-time approach’ for Riya. She has to consistently give Raman actionable tasks that challenge him to develop his skills and stay engaged in his work. 

Step #5 Reaping the Fruits

It’s time for Riya’s mango tree to start bearing fruits. But she has a few questions in her mind:

Will the mangoes be healthy?

What if the fruits don’t grow as per my expectations?

What if there’s still time for fruits to bear?

Here, Fruits = New Leaders

There is no guarantee that Raman will emerge as a good leader. He may or may not be able to perform as per Riya’s expectations, or maybe she has to reinvest some more time in nurturing him for leadership skills. 

So, will Riya have a solution?

Leadership- A Game of Multiplication

To avoid this confusing situation, Riya has to replant as many seeds as possible of the fruit she wants to grow. 

Other than Raman, she has to identify more of the right individuals, provide them with the best-fitted environment, offer them the needed resources and sunlight, and grow them as leaders. 

And when Raman becomes a leader, he continues this thread of creating more.

When done in scale, this creates a strong ecosystem of capable leaders who drive continuous growth and success not just for themselves but for the organization and the people around them.

The ‘Famous Leadership Dilemma’

Now, we all know that the mango tree that Riya planted started bearing fruits, but when people were plucking it, the fruit thought the people were using it. Here, Riya is in a dilemma about keeping that fruit on her farm. 

What should she do?

Now, Raman is the new leader here, building his team of developers and continuing the cyclic process of ‘Manufacturing Talent within the organization.’

When Riya trained him to nurture into a leader, he put 100% effort into delivering his best to the organization. However, as soon as he acquired the position of leader, he felt he was being utilized extremely at work. So, he developed an egoistic and over-confident approach towards his work and thought his team was taking advantage of his skills. If someday he is offered better resources from other organizations, he would prefer to go there. 

Here, it’s not Riya who has to take action but Raman who has to change his mindset about leadership. 

Every leader who exists out there in the world has to provide value to the people who are supporting his life. So, wherever he goes, he cannot run from being utilized. And aren’t we all here to use our skills and knowledge to deliver value to the world?

Epilogue 

Leadership is a way of life, ever-evolving in nature. It’s never static; rather, it’s always progressing towards a better approach. So, I have a golden rule for you here:

If you really want to get wealthy, do not focus on doing everything alone. It doesn’t last long. It’s always in teams. 

And teams are built by leaders who invest in the people. So, keep making the right investment, and growth will follow.