Examples like the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, problems like the 2008 financial crisis, raising unemployment, recent struggle between advocates and police in New Delhi, Hong Kong unrest and so on suggest that the world has a leadership problem. We can find plenty of examples of leadership failure where leaders performed less well than expected. This means there is space for leadership jobs – CEOs. Anybody looking for a leadership position and to be successful will like to find the cause(s) of leadership failure. He/she will find one or more of the following reasons responsible:

1. Lack of forward Thinking—the ability to plan for the future
   1. Successful leaders need to plan ahead and be prepared for the future
2. Lack of courage—the ability to perform effectively in complex and difficult environments
   1. Successful leaders need to be comfortable taking calculated risk but not careless risks
   1. Successful leaders need to be biased towards execution but not too impulsive
   1. Successful leaders need to be actively and optimistically pursue new opportunities
   1. Successful leaders need to be thick skinned and perseverant but not insensitive
3. Lack of Team Building—the ability to achieve success through others
   1. Successful leaders need to seek to understand different perspectives but not overanalyse
   1. Successful leaders need to display intensity / emotions but maintain control
   1. Successful leaders need to involve others in decision but also be a free decision maker
   1. Successful leaders need to be comfortable with variety of people but not too trusting

21^st Century leaders also practice:

• Collaborative leadership – collaboration among several groups and individuals to address a complex issue. A process of collaborative problem solving and decision making.
• Lead Innovation – encourage his people to innovate and to nurture conditions that make innovation successful. In 21st century economy, innovation is more important than it’s ever been.
• Ensure Execution – not as straightforward an idea as we commonly assume. Even the senior most people of an organization have to take an interest in. How to do it. What do we do to assure that we deliver in time.
• Respect Organisational Culture – the way things are done around in the organisation. Culture is very important to the success of a modern organization. Therefore, it’s very important for a leader to be able to deal with culture and to nurture healthy culture.

One can be a successful CEO with training and practice as discussed.

–              Prof. (Dr.) N. K. Garg           

              (www.nkgposts.com)