First – A Personal Story: Dialogue on the power of conscientious action
In the ’90s, television offered limited entertainment, with programs airing mainly on weekends. Among them was the much-loved series, Mahabharata. Waiting eagerly all week for the next episode was a ritual shared by many, including my family. One morning, just moments before the show, my sister urgently needed medicine from the nearby pharmacy. Despite my reluctance, she assured me I’d make it back before the episode began, considering the usual pre-show commercials. With her persuasion, I rushed to fetch the medicine.
The trip took longer than expected; and as I sprinted home, the familiar opening music echoed from neighboring houses. The sinking feeling that I’d miss a part of the episode gnawed at me. Yet, amidst the race to return, a realization struck – my sister, the reason for my errand, would be watching the show with our family while I missed out.
Arriving home, I found my sister waiting on the stairs, the sound of “Bhisma” echoing from within. She welcomed me back, assuring me that we would not have missed much. I realized that for some reason, she decided to sit outside and wait until I returned. I did not know “what”, but I had learned a deep lesson that day.
The powerful lesson of conscientiousness! The power of fulfilling responsibilities then in the face of personal desires.
Why the Story Matters:
Recently, I shared this anecdote with a young family member embarking on their professional journey. Our conversation touched on the topic of transformative leadership, referencing Upton’s famous quote,
“It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it.”
Initially resonating with its surface truth, the quote evolved into a deeper understanding – the intrinsic connection between personal worth and action. True transformative leaders don’t just chase external incentives; they act in alignment with their internal values, inspiring others to follow suit.
Drawing upon the story from the movie “Gandhi,” where a woman embarked on a long journey with her son to meet Gandhi, troubled by his sugar consumption. Gandhi told her to return after a few days. When she did, he advised her son to quit sugar. Perplexed, she asked why he didn’t advise the same earlier. Gandhi replied that he had to embody the change himself before preaching it to others.
And that is the epitome of embodying transformative leadership.
In sharing these reflections, I aim to cultivate a space where we challenge assumptions, explore new perspectives, and collectively strive for a deeper understanding of transformative leadership.
If you have read so far – Thank you! May the force be with you.
Love A/.