I recently came across these words from J R D Tata, who is regarded as the doyen of industry in India. "If I have any merit, it is getting along with individuals according to their ways and characteristics. At times it involves suppressing yourself. It is painful but necessary. To be a leader, you have got to lead human beings with affection"
And in a separate event, a slide that stood out for me was the one that pointed out that for improving efficiencies you count on technical skills, for enhancing value you count on business skills and for bringing about transformation, you count on behavioral skills.
A leader cannot escape the need to develop high sensitivities toward the people he influences. Understanding their ways and characteristics, as Tata pointed out, is important. I would like to think that this is more about character than methodology. The golden rule that Jesus Christ laid down - "Do unto others as you would like others to do unto you" is an apt behavioral competence to build such character. And down that lane one soon starts to grapple with the paradox that a true leader is actually a servant.
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