Mysuru: “Leadership is all about innovation. You cannot innovate unless you take risks and experiment”, said Rajeev Dubey, Group President–HR & Corporate Services, CEO–Aftermarket Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra.
Delivering the convocation address and addressing the young graduates during the 22nd annual convocation of Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Institute for Management Development (SDMIMD) held at its premise here on Friday, he said, “There is a major, though silent paradigm shift taking place as we move from the Information Age to what may be called the Conceptual Age. The left brain approach of logic, analysis, command and control, has served mankind well till now but it may no longer work. Sustained competitive advantage for companies and nations will require that the left brain qualities of logic and intellect be strongly complemented by the right brain qualities of innovation and big-picture capability.”
“Leaders have to be multipliers of energy, passion and engagement. You cannot do that if you are an extreme commander and controlling types like ‘I am the best, I have all the answers, You do what I tell, if you are this you will be a diminisher.’ To be successful a leader should be a multiplier and should have the wisdom to know that they do not have all the answers. So they listen and show respect but focus on asking the right questions and co-creating the answer, it is a multiplier and not the diminisher who will win the day in the new normal.
Leadership is all about innovation. You cannot have innovation unless you take risks and experiment. Nobody will take risk and experiment if there is a culture of fear by which the leader rules. Fear in any case is the most powerful and dominant emotion in all our life. If leader creates a culture of fear, then nobody is going to take any risk or try out something new. If there is no innovation, there is no transformation and no success. Therefore it is really important for a leader of tomorrow to know how to manage fear and equally learn from failure,” added Rajeev.
He also called upon the young graduates to dream big and stick to it until they achieve it. “It is the dream that will take you to your final destination. Let me assure you, you will fall down many times-three steps forward two steps backward, but it is your dream that makes you reach the stars. To realise your dreams I would like to suggest three attitudes that are-accept no limits, alternative thinking to drive innovation and drive positive change within and outside the organisation.” He also called upon young graduates to give importance to community interaction which enables leadership development. At the same time, he also exhorted the graduates to help the needy people.
