A Self-Realized Leader Can Work Wonders
[Vinod Anand]

We all are leaders in a way as people around constantly emulate us, seek our inspiration, guidance and support and crave for our attention, love and compassion. Therefore, leaders in any sphere face the dual challenge of connecting with self and others. Knowing one’s true nature, the Self, becomes crucial.

While doing so, at times, one’s deep-rooted beliefs, thoughts, fixations constituting mindset become obstacles. In fact, all through our lives we have been indoctrinating ourselves with these only.

Once rigidly established, they become our outlook; we simply live them out. We are so deeply influenced and intensely identified that we seldom change or let go. This inflexibility impedes realizing our true nature and connecting with others. The true Self though self-revelation yet appears elusive.

Therefore, to uncover the Self becomes an unwieldy task, due to ego. Amazingly, connecting within and with others go simultaneously as we let go our own dogmas, judgments and evaluations. With evolving flexibility, gradually emerges a perspective of “looking out” from within.

Once this perspective takes hold, the person becomes Self-driven. His perception broadens from limited to that of wholeness. There is a paradigm shift; there’s no falling back. While looking and acting from Self, one then, persistently demonstrates and projects the true nature which is of oneness, harmony and love towards one and all.

This is discernible in one’s thoughts, words and action. As the Self becomes apparent, the influence of ego diminishes. This is the God-experience within us. Kabir said “When I am, God is not; When God is, I am not”. Therefore, a Self-realized leader views things in oneness and desists separation in any form.

He doesn’t feel others as separate from him. From him flow love, humility and compassion towards all without discrimination for he cognizes the divinity within and in others. His knowing of the absolute and relative truths enables him to absorb the extreme dualities of pleasure and pain emanating from happenings, events, relationships and dynamic business situations.

For him success and failures are but two sides of the same coin. He doesn’t get elated with success, nor dejected by failures. He can maintain equanimity; equipoised in all circumstances. His knowing of the absolute and relative truths enables him to absorb the extreme dualities of pleasure and pain emanating from happenings, events, relationships and dynamic business situations.

For him success and failures are but two sides of the same coin. He doesn’t get elated with success, nor dejected by failures. He can maintain equanimity; equipoised in all circumstances. The Self-realized leader values differences and considers them unique.

For him differences in capabilities, capacities and competencies are like individual details of scenery, that when put together, make the scenery beautiful. He can effectively integrate differences and utilize its synergy for achieving results. He can enjoy the company of people and his aloneness, too, which he uses to reflect, contemplate and meditate.

The leader who serves rather than expects to be served is intrinsically an authentic person as his actions follow his words. He is able to demonstrate total transparency in character and behaviour, being the same inside-out. Since his view is impartial and whole, his decisions are rooted in fairness, enabling him to dispense justice unequivocally.

Such a leader’s charisma is such that his very presence is inspiring; people around can feel serenity, compassion and love. He is capable of transforming others by simply being a role model. He can lead effortlessly without dominating and is often felt, seldom seen.

His holistic perspective enables him to sacrifice his comforts and gains for higher goals. Inspired by self, he abstains from selfish motives and remains humble and humane. A leader inspired by his true nature, the Self, becomes truly authentic, Self-actualized and complete in all respects.

Author's Bio: 

VINOD K.ANAND: A BRIEF PROFILE

Born in 1939, and holding Master’s Degree both in Mathematics (1959) and Economics (1961), and Doctorate Degree in Economics (1970), Dr. Vinod K.Anand has about forty five years of teaching, research, and project work experience in Economic Theory (both micro and macro), Quantitative Economics, Public Economics, New Political Economy, and Development Economics with a special focus on economic and social provisions revolving around poverty, inequality, and unemployment issues, and also on informal sector studies. His last assignment was at the National University of Lesotho (Southern Africa) from 2006 to 2008. Prior to that he was placed as Professor and Head of the Department of Economics at the University of North-West in the Republic of South Africa, and University of Allahabad in India, Professor at the National University of Lesotho, Associate Professor at the University of Botswana, Gaborone in Botswana, and at Gezira University in Wad Medani, Sudan, Head, Department of Arts and Social Sciences, Yola in Nigeria, Principal Lecturer in Economics at Maiduguri University in Nigeria, and as Lecturer at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in Nigeria. Professor Anand has by now published more than 80 research papers in standard academic journals, authored 11 books, supervised a number of doctoral theses, was examiner for more than twenty Ph.D. theses, and has wide consultancy experience both in India and abroad, essentially in the African continent. This includes holding the position of Primary Researcher, Principal Consultant etc. in a number of Research Projects sponsored and funded by Universities, Governments, and International Bodies like, USAID, IDRC, and AERC. His publications include a variety of themes revolving around Economic Theory, New Political Economy, Quantitative Economics, Development Economics, and Informal Sector Studies. His consultancy assignments in India, Nigeria, Sudan, Botswana, and the Republic of South Africa include Non-Directory Enterprises in Allahabad, India, Small Scale Enterprises in the Northern States of Nigeria, The Absolute Poverty Line in Sudan, The Small Scale Enterprises in Wad Medani, Sudan, Micro and Small Scale Enterprises in Botswana, The Place of Non-Formal Micro-Enterprises in Botswana, Resettlement of a Squatter Community in the Vryburg District of North West Province in the Republic of South Africa, Trade and Investment Development Programme for Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises: Support for NTSIKA in the Republic of South Africa, and Development of the Manufacturing Sector in the Republic of South Africa’s North West Province: An Approach Based on Firm Level Surveys. Professor Anand has also extensively participated in a number of conferences, offered many seminars, participated in a number of workshops, and delivered a variety of Refresher Lectures at different venues both in India and abroad. Dr. Anand was placed at the prestigious Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Shimla in the State Himachal Pradesh, India as a Fellow from 2001 to 2003, and had completed a theoretical and qualitative research project/monograph on the Employment Profile of Micro Enterprises in the State of Himachal Pradseh, India.