I wonder, do we really say goodbye to our leaders? I find this question practical yet intriguing.
A leader is someone whose actions motivate others to dream bigger, learn more, do more, and become more.
Leaders normally get others inspired to follow a certain course of action to achieve a goal or goals.
The impact they may have on followers is mostly determined by the leader's charm and personality.
A leader must know, or at least be more conscious than the rest of the people; they must keep their followers calm in difficult times, and care for the welfare of their followers.
A leader should have a vision and a mission, the most paramount ingredient in leadership.
They should not give the impression to their followers that they are imposing leadership on them.
As a result, they try to demonstrate to their followers that they, too, can reach the same heights and become equals. Hence, leadership should be perceived in a subtle and non-inflicting manner.
Being a leader has a lot of responsibilities, therefore stepping back from those isn't simple either.
A leader in addition to managing people, time, and schedules for any team, maintains interpersonal bonds with individuals, which serve as a gravitational pull.
We can always find practical examples of such partnerships, varying from politics to everyday life.
Some relationships are openly treasured, while others are kept concealed from the outside world.
Quoting a few instances from real life will strengthen my point. MS Dhoni is a well-known cricketer whose name we have all heard.
He retired from cricket in 2020, yet he remains an essential dignitary to our cricket squad.
His contribution before retirement was obviously crucial, but once his leadership ended, he became much more valuable to team India.
He had both on-field and off-field connections with people, which he carefully managed and kept discreet when necessary.
Indian captains continue to seek his advice not just for their profession but also for their personal lives.
It is a universally acknowledged truth that his leadership qualities are admirable, and from his life, there are lessons to be learned.
When it comes to talking about leaders, it is impossible to overlook the name of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, one of the finest scientists India has ever seen.
A scientist and politician who played a significant role in the development of India's missile and nuclear weapons programs.
Foreign scientists and space institutes have praised APJ Abdul Kalam's aeronautical work.
Today, tens of thousands of scientists, engineers and millions of Indians are still reaping the benefits of APJ Abdul Kalam's contributions to technology.
Fondly known as the "Missile Man" for the initiatives he took, young engineers and scientists learn from Kalam's life and the hardships he encountered during his early days.
Unfortunately, he is not present among us today, but as they say, a leader always leaves wisdom behind that might help others thrive.
India has a rich history of political narratives and some of the greatest freedom warriors, one of which being Mahatma Gandhi. Known as Father of the Nation, he used nonviolent ways to lead the successful campaign for India's independence from British domination.
Through his nonviolent actions, he communicated a message in public that one can achieve or get things done, without resorting to violence.
Even today political parties use his narratives and, not just political parties, but even people try to withstand violence.
Not just the people of India, but people across the globe have inherited the learnings from Gandhi's life and how he employed nonviolent ways of fighting to combat British dominance.
Leaders do not desire to lead as they want to serve, either openly or quietly. A leader is someone who knows when and where they will be required the most and how they should react to situations around them.
They have the power to recognize that everybody has gifts and talents and boost the self-esteem of their personnel.
A leader, as they say, is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most agile go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along, they are being steered from behind.
After all, leadership is not about titles, positions, or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another. Hence, a leader never retires.