Mysuru: The focus, clarity of intuits and putting the organisations above everything else are the hallmarks of a leader, said B Muthuraman, former Vice Chairman of TATA Steel.
Delivering the Foundation Day Lecture of Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Institute for Management Development (SDMIMD) here on Thursday, September 20, Muthuraman took examples from his professional and personal life to elucidate the tenets of managing an organisation and its people. He emphasised the concepts of human values, personal skills and people management in an organisation. His first example was about how TATA Steel was able to make a rational choice about adopting a technology. At this juncture, he appreciated the visionary ideas of JRD Tata and his unique styles of management.
He took anecdotes from his long and illustrious career to stress the importance of leadership caliber. He narrated examples where apparently conflicting deviations had to be taken and sometimes involving discomfort and distress to a certain section of employees. He opined that the focus, clarity of intuit and putting the organizations above everything else are the hallmarks of a leader. Further, he said in many cases, if a right decision has to be made, the leader should seek to implement this as fast as possible. He also stressed the importance of an HR approach in a leader. Finally, through his third example he explained the personal qualities a leader. Muthuraman highlighted the need to make rational decisions and be empathetic in the process for a leader.
Several questions related to his professional life rose from the audience and Muthuraman answered them clearly while also giving insightful ideas about the management styles at various levels in an organisation.
The Foundation Day started with a formal lighting the lamp ceremony. Dr M R Suresh, Professor – Marketing, SDMIMD, Mysore, delivered the welcome speech. Suresh presented the significance of the day and recalled the leadership lessons shared by various speakers who graced the occasion in the previous years and concluded by saying how those speakers influenced the student community at SDMIMD with their wisdom and professional excellence.
