GUWAHATI, Feb 13 - Rotary International president, Sri Lanka, KR Ravindran, who is a third generation Rotarian and business leader from Colombo (Sri Lanka), chose to speak on a topic very close to his heart, �Team Leadership and its Importance,� with students of the Royal Group of Institutions here today.
Ravindran, who has risen in life as a leader from a humble beginning, firmly believes in the core values of family life and its contributions towards the making of a human being.
�They are the gold chips in times of good and bad. Money is here today and gone tomorrow, but family, no matter what happens, stands by as the Rock of Gibraltar. A team, whether at home or office, contributes to the growth of a person, but it is up to him whether on his journey up, he acknowledges and thanks all because on his way down, he will meet them,� he said.
Asserting that a true leader always takes along his team, irrespective of the different equations within it, Ravindran said that a leader should always project his true self to be respected. �As elders, our behaviour should be right as the youngsters are watching us and will emulate us,� he added.
�Since time immemorial, rather from the time of Plato, youngsters were always told and reprimanded for their behaviour, apparently not in tune with the society. But the truth is otherwise. The youth of today are what we project and behave in front of them as. Respect begets respect just as we say, �Do unto others what you want them to do unto you,� � he observed.
Stating that leaders are recognised by their capacity for caring for others, clear communication and a commitment to persist, Ravindran said that determination and drive include traits such as initiative, energy, assertiveness, perseverance, masculinity and sometimes dominance. �People with these traits often tend to wholeheartedly pursue their goals, work long hours, are ambitious, and are often very competitive with others. Cognitive capacity includes intelligence, analytical and verbal ability, behavioural flexibility and good judgement,� he said.
Ravindran added that individuals with those traits are able to formulate solutions to difficult problems, work well under stress or deadlines, adapt to changing situations and create well-thought-out plans for the future. He was felicitated with a japi, a gamosa and a bouquet.