Can you learn to be a leader?

While the business world has been making great strides towards gender equality and women empowerment, the ratio of male bosses versus female continues to be appallingly skewed against the latter. And India, unfortunately, fares abysmally-low on the list—with one of the lowest female labour force participation rates, globally. In 2020, only around six percent of companies on the Fortune India 500 list were managed by women. Just 29 had women in executive roles.

It’s true that a lot of social factors contribute to the figures. Multiple surveys and studies have reiterated the role of gender bias—conscious or unwitting—in recruitments, promotions, remuneration decisions, and at the workplace. But there is another critical factor at play: the underconfidence that women exhibit, even amongst the most qualified sometimes. 

A recent Hewlett-Packard research revealed that “men apply for a job when they meet about 60 percent of the qualifications. But women apply only if they meet 100 percent of them." Many other polls concur that a majority of women, subconsciously, consider themselves inadequate. Despite years of experience and proven results, they tend to underestimate their skills, and cast aspersions on their ability to lead. And that doesn’t just put them on a professional backfoot, it also hampers their progress up the rank-ladder. 

Interestingly, this lack of self-belief exists even though it is well-documented that companies with female bosses often outperform those led by men. In fact, a McKinsey & Company research just last year revealed that female leaders drove better outcomes for all employees, and organisations that had women on executive teams were up to 25 per cent more likely to have above-average performance.

Turns out, the first step towards taking charge for women, really, is to believe that they can take charge. It’s only then that they will be able to conquer the other stereotypes, and get on the road to leadership. To continue the dialogue, Bazaar India speaks to three female bosses—fronting some of the country’s biggest names—on what sets a good leader apart, and how women can shed their inhibitions to be successful commanders. 

Nadia Chauhan, joint managing director and CMO, Parle Agro

“I believe a good leader must have the ability to identify the strengths of their team members, and extract the best out of them. A good leader also shows more trust towards their team members. And it goes without saying: a good leader must be true to herself, her goals, her organisation, and her position, as well as exude passion and determination.

Self-confidence is critical, too. I’ve always been confident at work and in my business. It is the one place where I’m most certain about what I need to do. That self-assurance, for anyone, comes from being thorough—from knowing where you are, where you want to go, and how you’re going to get there. Be it man or woman, having complete knowledge on the subjects within your domain, and transforming yourself as the definitive authority on them, can be a powerful way to have an edge over others.
 
I’ve noticed that, sometimes, people begin to get comfortable with mediocrity. However, it is the ones who are enthusiastic about their job, who push beyond the boundaries of their role, and who are driven to perform, that truly make a mark.

Passion, aggression, expertise, and the willingness to go the extra mile are fundamental in getting you noticed. At times, by creating a men versus women differentiation, we give too much attention to gender. Instead, it’s a far better approach to focus on the work and getting it done. I’ll share a personal example: when I had just joined Parle Agro, a large part of my responsibility was managing sales and marketing. I was the only woman in a team of more than a few hundred men.

Once, during a market visit to a retail store, we needed to stand on a crate and put up a banner. One would assume that a man would do it, and that the woman would step aside. But that should not be the case. I took the crate, stood on top, and did the job. When you go in as a leader, or in any capacity for that matter, it’s critical to play your part without any gender bias or hesitation, and set an example.

As a leader, I’ve also ensured to inculcate a culture of openness. It is important to understand that I will never know more than all our specialists combined...and I don’t need to. We motivate and encourage each other. I also value the trust my team has in me, as well their honesty in openly discussing when they don’t agree with something, or proposing alternatives to something I may recommend that could be approached differently.

Finally, being open minded and willing to take a chance is of utmost importance. No good leader has achieved anything without having the courage to take some big leaps and risks.”

Kiran Nadar, founder and chairperson, The Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA)

“To me, vision is one of the most important qualities of a good leader. Along with this, if you are able to gracefully learn from your mistakes, accept them, and move on—that is the making of a great leader. Impressive interpersonal skills are the cornerstone of being successful, too. To be able to listen to people and understand, and to be clear-headed and share your own thoughts and ideas in a skillful, succinct way, is crucial. 

I, personally, rely on my experience and knowledge for meaningful conversations. I recognise that I can have positive interactions only by being truthful and sharing valuable inputs. It is equally important to be prejudicefree and accepting of the opinions of others.

Knowledge is another powerful tool. If you are an expert in your field, people will be automatically drawn to you, and look to you for help and guidance. There is constant learning in life. Everybody has to start somewhere, and one must never feel scared of imbibing something new and growing. For instance, when we launched KNMA, there was no template that we could follow. It was the first-of-its-kind, and had to be done from scratch. I have educated myself through a complete immersion in the world of art. And I learnt a lot along the journey from other well-informed connoisseurs in the space. All that helped me gain confidence and self-assurance.

It also motivated me to envision a future with endless possibilities. Remember that failures are an inevitable part of life. You can’t always escape them, but the best way to deal with setbacks is to learn from them. Pause and collect your thoughts. Self-reflection is a crucial part of growth,  too. It will allow you to emerge stronger and wiser.

I have always believed that women can do anything they set their heart and mind to. Just don’t try to be someone you are not—be your own individual. Find your potential and have faith in yourself. Stay focused, and treat everything as a learning curve.

Khushboo Jain, co-founder and COO, ImpactGuru.com

“Great leaders are: 1. Great listeners; 2. Lead by example; 3. Don’t just give orders but show how things are done; 4. Fix processes rather than fixing people. These are a few qualities that I think are important because, over the years, they have worked for me. As far as inculcating them is concerned, practise, practise, and practise! 

My advice to women would be to work hard, know your worth, and prove to your team and managers that you are indispensable. It will pay off, eventually. Women need to stop being apologetic or constantly seek validation. They should be determined, and let their work speak for itself. We are tough enough to not just survive, but thrive in the face of challenges.

I use Tim Ferriss’ The Five Minute Journal to stay focused on what I need to accomplish in a day...and I stay grateful, regardless of what is happening around me. I’ve found this to be quite helpful. I also follow thought leaders and motivators like Anthony Robbins and Robin Sharma. One of my favorite quotes by Anthony Robbins is, ‘Your success is directly proportional to the expectations of the peers you surround yourself with’. So surround yourself with people who inspire you.

To be a good leader, it is very important to be an effective communicator, too. It’s not just what you say, but also how you say it. Not every interaction at the workplace will be easy or pleasant, but make sure to be rational and objective. Never get personal; always use appropriate words, tone, and body language.

Finally, I’d say: do not focus on what you’re going through; focus, instead, on what it will feel like once you succeed. And do not react to problems; anticipate them, so you do not get caught off-guard. Always put in a little extra effort into everything—because the difference between the ordinary and extraordinary is that little ‘extra’.” 

Feature image: Kay Sukumar