LEADTalks Chennai – 2024

LEADtalks recognizes the believers in the marketplace who embody , , and in both their personal and professional lives. It offers a platform for young professionals to hear real-life stories from those who have overcome obstacles and undergone significant personal growth to become leaders in their fields. This year, I had the honor of sharing my leadership journey and God’s abundant grace in my life.

Growing up in a small village in Andhra Pradesh, I never imagined I’d be where I am today—leading an IT company in Hyderabad and contributing to the industry that transformed my life. My early years were defined by the struggles of a poor farming family, but faith, resilience, and education shaped my path forward.

Reflecting on those early days, I remember battling both poverty and self-doubt. It wasn’t easy, but my family’s unwavering faith and the support of my grandfather were pillars of strength. Coupled with my own determination to pursue education and better opportunities, I found my way from teaching to the IT field—a pivotal career shift that changed everything.

Starting an IT company and building a successful team was no small feat. It’s been an incredible journey, and along the way, I’ve had the privilege of contributing to the IT community through my involvement with HYSEA. My leadership philosophy has been deeply influenced by John C. Maxwell, and for me, credibility is key. It’s about staying humble, maintaining integrity, and continually striving to add value to myself and those around me.

My story, like many others, is a testament to the power of prayer, hard work, and continuous learning. I hope it inspires anyone who is working towards excellence in their personal and professional lives.

Thank you for joining me on this journey.

Institute for Strategic Leadership

As I stand on the threshold of new beginnings and set forth a roadmap for my personal and professional growth, I want to take a moment to reflect on the invaluable insights gained, having immersed myself in a week-long leadership training with actionable insights from the Institute for Strategic Leadership at Millbrook, Queenstown, New Zealand. I am just recovering from this transformational experience along with 20 other attendees from NZ Defence Forces, NZ Police, Hospice NZ, Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment NZ, UNICEF, and C-suite executives from NZ, Australia, and the UK.  There is so much to process and reflect on in the coming weeks. The journey to becoming the best version of ourselves is not without its challenges, but it is undoubtedly worth the effort. I wouldn’t have endured the week without the remarkable support provided by my syndicate, .

No other executive development program in New Zealand can boast such an illustrious roster, including a Governor-General, Prime Minister, 2 Mayors, the founding CEO of New Zealand’s largest company, 5 Chiefs of Defence, 2 Commissioners of Police, 3 Vice Chancellors, and several leading CEOs of large New Zealand enterprises making strides on the global stage. These programs stand unrivaled in New Zealand and have garnered comparisons to those offered by prestigious institutions like Harvard, Stanford, and INSEAD.

I am grateful and would like to thank the following people for supporting and sponsoring me in reassessing my leadership potential and what holds significance in my life.

Here are a few snapshots from this enriching experience.

TEAM :: Together, Everyone Achieves More

Together, Everyone Achieves More

One is too small of a number to achieve greatness. Nothing of significance in this world was ever achieved by an individual acting alone. Look below the surface, and you will find that all seemingly solo acts are really team efforts.

Alone, we can do so little; together, we can achieve so much. 🚀 Embracing the power of collaboration with the mantra – Together, Everyone Achieves More! 💪💙

👥 Why Teams Outshine Individual Efforts

1️⃣ More Minds, More Power: Teams bring together diverse minds, ideas, and energy, unleashing a torrent of creativity and innovation.

2️⃣ Strength in Unity: Teams help leaders harness their potential while minimizing weaknesses. Strengths and weaknesses are more evident in individuals; teams provide a harmonious blend.

3️⃣ Diverse Perspectives: A team offers multiple viewpoints, ensuring a well-rounded approach to solving problems and achieving goals. It’s all about devising alternatives for every situation.

4️⃣ Accountability Matters: Teams keep leaders accountable for the shared goal, fostering a sense of responsibility and commitment.

5️⃣ More is Achievable: Simply put, teams can accomplish more than an individual. The synergy of collective efforts amplifies success!

🤝 Traits to Look for in Teammates:

1️⃣ Believers: Success is a collective effort, and having a team of believers propels everyone forward.

2️⃣ Achievers: Surround yourself with high-achievers; the collective strength of a team lies in the excellence of its members.

3️⃣ Concievers: Embrace change and innovation. Good ideas are the building blocks of future success. Break the mold for continuous growth.

4️⃣ Relievers: Many hands make light work, but gifted and complimentary hands make teams work. Success is a shared journey!


#teamwork #collaboration #successtogether #borra #leadership #dontcoast #getleaderized #bluebirds

The Three Box Solution

 

Strategy isn’t about dwelling on the past or present; It’s all about leadership in the future. As the world continues to evolve, aspiring leaders must embrace change. Another word for embracing change is innovation. Thus, strategy is synonymous with innovation. Therefore, leaders must consider all the projects they execute inside their organization and put them into three boxes.

  • Box 1: Manage the present – Projects meant to manage the core business, improving efficiency and profitability.
  • Box 2: Selectively abandon the past – Projects that are meant to abandon ideas, practices, and attitudes that could inhibit innovation in our organization;
  • Box 3: Create the future – Convert breakthrough ideas into new products and businesses.

Unfortunately, many companies prioritize box #1 and mistakenly believe they excel in their strategic efforts. But the strategy has nothing to do with the past, nothing to do with the present, and everything to do with the future. In other words, it has nothing to do with Box #1 and everything to do with Box #2 and Box #3

  • Box #1 is all about competition for the present, and Box #2 & #3 are all about competition for the future.
  • Box #1 is about efficiency, and Box #2 & #3 are about innovation.

We must realize that strategy is about creating the future while managing the present. Strategy is all about how we simultaneously manage efficiency and innovation.

Let me know how many of you think your company is focussing on Box #2 and #3, not just #1.

Source: The Three Box Solution Book by Vijay Govindarajan (VG)

#leadership #dontcoast #borra #getleaderized #bluebirds #strategy #innovation

Be open to criticism

 

Nobody likes to be criticized. The word “criticism” often has a negative connotation. People don’t like to be criticized, especially at work. On the other hand, constructive criticism is a good thing. It helps employees improve their performance, often positioning them to take on more challenging tasks and roles. Do you know how one of my friends defines criticism? – Constructive criticism is when he criticizes me, but destructive criticism is when I criticize him.

If you are a leader, I am sure you are well acquainted with this word. Especially if you are brought up in a kind and loving environment where criticism is not a way of life, it will take a while to get used to criticism. Anyone determined to do something or say something important has always been criticized by others. Leadership and criticism go hand in hand. We need to remember leadership is not a popularity or friendship contest. It is always about doing things in the organization’s best interest. Leaders always get paid to make difficult decisions. A leader should always focus on the organization’s goals and objectives and the people they serve rather than wasting time trying to satisfy others’ agendas. Many leaders use their authority to run their hidden agenda rather than yielding their influence over adverse circumstances.

As a young leader, I quickly realized that leadership requires mental toughness. If you are not being criticized for your actions, you cannot guide the organization to grow, innovate, and explore endless possibilities correctly. Often young leaders don’t understand that they are not in the friendship business but in the leadership business. It would be best if you were strong and open to whatever criticism people throw your way. My leadership style is always confronting the conflict head-on and moving to the next opportunity. Momentum is a leader’s best friend. Momentum is a problem solver, and lack of momentum is a problem showstopper. If you take every instance of criticism that comes your way to the heart and start revalidating your decisions, you will lose momentum and opportunities.

There will always be a few people in every organization who will try to take you down. They may envy your success and try to slow down your momentum by criticizing your decisions. But if you feel confident that you are on the right track, don’t worry about such criticism. On the other hand, not letting your mind acknowledge and consider criticism and not doing anything about it, even if you feel there is merit at the root of criticism, is not an option for a successful leader. During the early stages of my leadership journey, I used to push back any suggestion that was not in line with my thought process. Though not everyone can say it out loud, I can’t reflect upon contradictory thoughts, and I was not a credible thinker. But let me tell you this, the more you carefully consider others’ perspectives or thoughts different from yours, the more wholesome and credible your conclusions will be.

If you know yourself well, you can easily detect whenever criticism is aimed at you or your position. If it’s something to do with the weakness you have already discovered, you will easily accept the criticism because you know it is legitimate. Don’t be offensive. Search for a grain of truth in the criticism. Make the necessary changes and always take the high road.

One thing I picked up from my boss over the years is not to delay having a tough conversation with any of my team members. A good rule of thumb is to have a tough conversation within 24 hours. Delaying the dialogue will allow people to keep doing the same thing over and over. You are either building trust or creating distrust every time you interact with your people. Unfortunately, it isn’t happening with those with whom you are talking but also with those who are watching. Every interaction of yours with your team will either increase your influence or decrease it. I have seen someone interacting with another person many times in my life, and their conversation caused me to distrust them even though they had never even spoken a word with me.

Before you go…

Please have a look at my books, “Don’t Coast” & “GET LEADERized,” which are available on Amazon, Flipkart & Notion Press

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