Archive for the ‘Conscious Capitalism’ Category

I recently read a great blog post from Navi Radjou, Executive Director of the Centre for India & Global Business at the Judge Business School at the University of Cambridge. The post is on the website of  Conscious Capitalism Institute “Why Are Creative Leaders So Rare”? Please click here for the whole post.

Radjou’s blog centers on a talk given by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India. Dr. Kalam suggests that corporations and nations need a new breed of leader – the creative leader. So what is a creative leader? Dr. Kalam’s 8 principles for creative leaders are:

1. Vision for the organization
2. Passion to transform vision into action
3. Travel into an unexplored path
4. Know how to manage both success & failure
5. Courage to make decisions
6. Nobility in management
7. Every action should be transparent
8. Work with integrity & succeed with integrity

Radjou describes how he and other audience members are baffled at how few leaders they know who actually embody these attributes. He targets CEOs of Fortune 500 firms, financial institutions, and politicians who are stark reminders of leaders lacking integrity. He dreams that business schools will begin cultivating leaders with a moral compass filled with integrity. I couldn’t agree more. My experience and observation is that 1-5 is somewhat the norm, but the going gets tough at 6, 7, and then 8.

What is it going to take for this to happen? How can  our small voices effect such radical change from what we have now? Below are some ideas I’ve been kicking around:

1. You first. Take a look at the 8 tenets and see where you’re succeeding and where you need work. Be the leader of you!
2. If your leader is not a “creative leader,”  encourage, inspire, challenge, coach him/her to make the change. Leadership can start anywhere.
3. Start your own business and stop participating in something you don’t agree with.
4. Look around & identify people who are “creative leaders” and join them. Help them grow so they become the standard for success.
5. Stop blaming “the man.” You step up! Even something significant as standing up for the right thing is needed.
6. Pull together a group of like-minded people and brainstorm ways you can make a difference.
7. Students: Insist that your curriculum include training that centers on conscious capitalism.
8. If you are a leader who has been part of the problem, be a part of the solution. It’s never too late to change. In fact, if you don’t change, you won’t make it. There are too many people who are tired of the status quo. It’s going to get a lot harder for you to be successful.
9. Creative Leaders that we don’t know about – we need to know you. We need to hear from you. We are counting on you to demonstrate that success and integrity do go hand in hand.

I’d love to hear from you about how you are being a creative leader, what other ideas you have to help folks take a stand for creative leadership, what challenges you have for this model, and anything else you care to share.