As a leader you may be good. But without a mentor’s inputs, you may never be the best you can be.
When you are alone, think about this, “Can I be a leader, can I be a winner?” There will be a lot of self-doubt that will arise. The mind will give a lot of excuses of why you cannot be a leader or winner. This is how the mind is trained till now.
But just think and reverse the thought and think, “There is a leader in me, how can I bring it out?” This will give you a new direction and approach to life. Yes, there is a leader in you. Each one of us is a potential giant. Sadly, we land up as ordinary people living ordinary lives. But, the reality is that each person is extra ordinary and is born to be a leader.
Chanakya says,
“When the (prince) is ready for it (knowledge), experts should train him”(1.17.27)
The Kautilya’s Arthashastra gives us tips on how the leader inside each one of us can be developed. We are like a seed. But, if the seed is nurtured rightly, it can not only develop into a tree, but every seed is a potential forest.
So what is the process to bring out the leader in you…
Get ready
We either need to push ourselves, or need to be pushed by someone. But even if each one of us has the leadership quality in us, we still need to get ready to take the first step forward.
Hanuman had the full potential but he was not aware. The wise Jambavan, had to inspire Hanuman and tell him that he is born for great work and he has to fly to Lanka. A self-doubting ordinary Hanuman suddenly realised the potential and became a mighty warrior.
Like Chanakya says, when the prince is ready for it, meaning when the potential and dormant energy is invoked, the leadership journey starts. So, get up and get ready for your inner journey to become a leader.
Knowledge
Having high energy is not enough. You need to have knowledge and skills of a leader. And this knowledge can be acquired. You require to study and understand leadership. Read books, study about great leaders and also make it a point to develop an enquiring mind.
A famous quote says, “Leaders are readers”. That is a very important habit you need to develop in life. The habit of reading and acquiring knowledge through books will benefit you lifelong.
Chanakya was a teacher and author or leadership. He understood that even if you are developing this one quality to acquire knowledge, you will stand out among the others. That is why he had insisted on knowledge for a prince and the future leaders.
In today’s world, we can gather a lot of good reading material over internet. Even videos and talks by successful leaders can be easily accessed over YouTube and other platforms. So acquire as much knowledge and skills as possible. Make the most of the lockdown period, enroll for an online course on leadership and get started.
Expert training
Take note, knowledge is not just about collecting information. It is always acquired through expert training. According to Chanakya an expert is a person, who is a master in that particular field. The expert will show you the way.
The expert had done it, and will train you how it should be done. There are so many experts in every field. That expert can be your Guru, friend, philosopher and guide. An expert will bring to you ‘insight’ and ‘foresight’ through the experiences gathered over a lifetime. And when you get trained under a master, you naturally become a leader of that field.
Do not have a self-doubt. Have confidence that there is a leader in you that is waiting to arise. And once we get the right direction, knowledge and training, success will follow.
Chandragupta Maurya, was a potential leader. Chanakya spotted him and trained him in leadership. Chandragupta like all of us, in the initial stages had self-doubt if he could ever become a leader. But with the right attitude and the training given by an expert like Chanakya, he turned out to be one of the greatest leaders India has seen over generations. Invoke the leader in you. Rest everything will follow.