19 Quotes by Debashis Chatterjee

A timeless leader practices the art of voluntary elimination. He knows what activities - physical or mental - must be given up so that an organization becomes more productive. A new organization is born in the womb of the old organization. A new generation of new recruits is forever striving to replace an old generation of employees. It is a war of sorts: a clash of perspectives and worldviews. This kind of war is inevitable. We cannot shy away from it.

Vision has a direct link with the creative process. Vision and creation go hand in hand. Vision belongs to the world of the mind. Creation happens in the world of matter. But there is a connection between these two worlds. In fact, one cannot exist without the other.

Leadership is much more than hitting the bull’s eye. There is a large human component in leadership behaviour Young managers have to explore hitting deeper chords in human nature rather than just hitting targets.

So how about the first step?’‘The first step is the most critical step, as the first button of your coat. If you get that wrong, the whole alignment of buttons is gone for a toss.

The most significant role of a leader is to make the invisible clearly visible. Inspiration is invisible but inspired action is visible. Truth is invisible but trustworthy behaviour is visible. A leader has to constantly cross the bridge between what is unseen and that which is seen in order to connect with his followers.

Mastery is more than the co-ordination of muscle and bone. It is about bringing the whole of us to what we do

Action is much more than random motion of the body and the mind. True action is born of wonder. When our heart, mind and our entire human capacity is invested in what we do, we get to see true action. The deeper the root of our action goes within our being the more spontaneous our action becomes. True action is indeed not random motion – like goods moving unconsciously through an assembly line. Action is the movement of the conscious being towards a larger purpose.

Leaders search very deep for their identity. A great identity yields great possibilities in life. A great identity gives greater action choices. A search for our true identity is a kind of talent search within our own selves. There are talents that are latent. They sleep within us as seeds of possibilities. When we discover and nurture these seeds they grow and flower. This flowering is a leader’s true vocation.

Technology does not create learning just as a hammer does not make a house. Technology simplifies or amplifies our learning capacity. A microscope enables us to see the micro world. A telescope helps us see the macro world. It is not the microscope or telescope that sees. The two instruments are just accessories for our eyes. It is we who see through our human capacity of visual perception. Too much obsession with technology is like trying to design a house with a hammer in hand.