Where do leaders find support? | India News

In times of crisis, organisations look to their leaders as messiahs who will lead them to safety. The current pandemic is a stark example of that. Leaders are expected to ensure that the company’s performance does not falter despite the physical and mental impact of Covid on employees; they are also responsible for the physical and mental well-being of their employees. Employees are encouraged to approach managers and leaders to seek advice or to receive support. Where do leaders find support?Some leaders are using self-motivation as a tool. Some are turning to friends and professional coaches, and using them as sounding boards in these trying times. Others are turning to philosophy to maintain equanimity. If you’re a team leader or a boss, it’s a tough life managing aspirations of team members, taking care of their wellbeing by becoming a listening post and at the same time making efforts to keep the flock together. Marico MD & CEO Saugata Gupta, put it succinctly: “As a leader, you are like a sponge. You absorb the pressure; you cannot pass it on.” medium82909489Not only does Gupta believe in delegating work to others, he also trusts that they will deliver. This is to ensure that Gupta remains focused on critical tasks such as people’s safety and business continuity. “As a leader, you cannot let the situation overwhelm you. You need to be focused. If there are 10 projects, focus on 3-4. My focus is on running the business as simply as possible, and ensuring people are being taken care of,” says Gupta. That a focused approach works is seen in the fact that even when Marico decided to reduce the number of SKUs (stock-keeping units), the business continued to do well.Bogged down by certain circumstances, not all leaders will always have the visibility of solutions to a problem. Post lockdown last year, a team leader approached Sagorika Kantharia, an organisation transformation specialist and executive coach, with a problem he was facing with team members wanting meetings scheduled as per their own convenience. This meant that the preferred time for a meeting varied from person to person. Trying hard to please all members, the executive was finding it difficult to maintain his own balance. “He too had a personal life to maintain while managing his work and team. During the coaching session itself, the executive figured out the solution: to hold the daily meeting during core hours when all members are free to devote time for team development. More people are coming up with problems which they would have resolved quickly if the circumstances were normal. When times are critical, one can lose sight of solutions,” says Kantharia. medium82909477Some leaders prefer to turn to family and friends. Amway India’s CEO Anshu Budhraja draws inspiration from his young daughter who is “always inquisitive” and his biggest critic. “Age is just a number and learning is a continuous journey. I pick up a lot from her in the smallest of her actions,” says Budhraja. He adds that while one can read books, it is friends and family who know you better, and trusting these nurtured relationships can help you navigate any crisis. Gupta of Marico relies on his support group of school and college friends. “It’s certainly lonely at the top and a lot of relationships are transactional. Meeting close friends over Zoom calls has helped a lot,” he says.Healthy mind, healthy bodyThe ongoing crisis has brought about unprecedented changes that have forced organisations and individuals to make irrevocable alterations to their daily routines. In such situations, taking care of one’s mental wellbeing is the key. Budhraja believes in starting the day with a certain purpose. “I am a firm believer that your body and mind are the only things which influence your environment and you. Therefore, I have been working on three As: atmosphere, attitude and action. A positive atmosphere coupled with a positive attitude enables positive action. If there is one thing that these challenging times have taught us, it is that your approach and behaviour should pivot towards the thought of serving others by becoming the chief serving officer of your community,” says Budhraja. medium82909501Remaining equipoised is equally important. Pankaj Bansal, co-founder and group CEO of PeopleStrong, a HR technology solutions company, says leaders are going back to the roots. They are studying the energy system of the body, taking care of their diet in accordance with that and adopting natural ways of exercising to balance the elements of the body. “From what I have seen and experienced myself, as an individual if one is able to balance self, work and relationships - the state of being equipoised can be achieved. It is not simple and requires self investigation (both professional and personal). If we see, 'equanimity’ is the single most important message from the famous battlefield conversation between the charioteer and the prince. But as a leader this degree of self-care is worth the effort and investment,” says Bansal.Gupta tries not to let work spill into his weekends, which is the time when he unwinds with movies and music. Gupta believes what is of utmost importance is his own health, for which he follows strict protocols and ensures he eats and sleeps on time.Achieving a perfect balance could be a utopian state. Budhraja follows the inside out approach. “Decisions based on advice without conviction lack ownership. I always recommend people to seek answers from their inner instincts while making decisions, especially during these tough circumstances,” says Budhraja. The pandemic may have dulled people’s exuberance, but not their inner voice.This article features in the weekly Worklife+ newsletter which you can subscribe herePhoto: iStock