The following article was written for MyInd Makers. Pasting it here for reference:
Many of us who watched Prime Minister Modi’s speech to the UN in September 2014 were amused when he said “chalne do yaar”! Akshay Kumar, in his interaction with Prime Minister Modi, asked him how he felt speaking at such a huge stage for the first time; how confident he was and if he was in any tension? Modi’s answer stumped me. He opened up and told us he had no problem of confidence but had the problem of over-confidence!
A day before the event, no written speech was ready. The PM is used to speaking extempore so he only had a broad contour available on what he will speak. It was Sushma Swaraj who convinced him on the need to have a written text so that any messaging doesn’t get lost. Though reluctant, the PM had agreed for it. And since he understood the importance of the written text at such international forums, he continued with reading out speeches at all such forums.
To me, it was simply phenomenal that the Prime Minister has so openly spoken about being over confident and then being subsequently (and successfully) reigned in by his minister. This leadership example is extremely critical to keep in mind to all those who aim to become leaders in their respective fields and organizations.
This is just one of the many leaderships and management lessons one could learn from the Prime Minister’s interaction with Akshay Kumar. Take for example the answer on how he handles bureaucracy. The PM said there are two ways to deal with it – one is that he can get angry at the officer for bringing in a document/idea that he doesn’t like; two is to listen to the officer and then give suggestions on what alternative ideas exist and can be implemented. The officer will get to understand the PM better and subsequent reports will reflect the same. In addition, the PM also mentioned that even he will get to learn a lot in this process.
When he was asked, “What will you wish for, if Aladdin came to you with a magic lamp”, I was mentally getting ready to hear answers like, “eliminate poverty”, “improve prosperity” etc. His answer yet again stumped me. He said that his only wish would be that the Genie would never ask anyone to ask for three wishes! He said that we have to inculcate values or hard work and success through hard work only. By showing false hopes of wishes coming true without any efforts, we are only setting a false example! I then remembered one of his earlier interviews where he also mentioned that he believes in the hard work of Indians and doesn’t believe that they want free doles for everything in their lives.
The explanation of the game they were made to play at RSS Shakhas through which one learns about one quality of each participant gave us an insight into how he was groomed in his early years. However, there was another answer that stuck a chord. He was asked about his dressing. The PM took on the criticism about his dressing (In my opinion, that criticism didn’t warrant any response coming as it is, from small minds). He told us that perhaps somewhere in his mind, given how he experienced poverty, he always wanted to look clean and good. And therefore, his taste to wear clothes that are clean. Am sure there are lakhs of people who identify with this thought process. It was indeed a pity that small minds in our opposition parties and elite English media chose to mock his choice of wearing good clothes.
This interview of the Prime Minister stands out for the many management and leadership lessons it provides. And no lesson provided is mere rhetoric. They are all borne out of the rich administrative and life experiences that our Prime Minister has undergone. So while the leftists may go crazy on how a film star can talk to the Prime Minister, we must focus on the various leadership and management lessons that this interview has offered! Here’s to more such interviews.
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