Hi all, it’s Ben again coming at you with an update and reflection question responses!
After 48 hours of travel, I finally made it to the Hanifl Center in Mussoorie! Starting off with a car ride to the airport followed by two flights (including one for over 15 hours!) and finally bussing the rest of the way from New Delhi to Mussoorie. Along the way, I was able to sneak in a few walks, both in New Delhi and Mussoorie to catch a glimpse of the people’s daily life and at the immense natural beauty in the mountains. additionally, I ate some great food including a sampling of Southern Indian foods during lunch. Everything was delicious!
What cultural norm(s) of the host country do you anticipate being a challenge to learning about leadership? Why?
One of the cultural norms I foresee being a challenge to learning about leadership is the difference in communication styles between India and the US. According to the Erin Meyer Culture Map, Indians tend to have high context communication styles, whereas people from the US tend to have low context communication approach. Specifically, low context languages stress precision, simplicity and clearness of message. Messages are typically expressed at face value with repetition for extra clarity. On the other hand, high context languages rely on the listener reading between the lines where messages are typically implied and not plainly expressed. This could pose a challenge because I may not get an instructor’s meaning on the first go. As someone who’s used to low context communication, the typical Indian highly nuanced and complex high context. method of communication may go over my head. If I’m not being actively cognizant for reading through the lines of instructors messaging, it’s if possible I will miss something important. So far on the journey, this has not happened, but it’s something to keep in mind moving forward.
Are leaders born or made? Why?
Leaders can be both born or made. While it’s true that some people are naturally charismatic or their upbringing naturally led them to be better leaders, it’s also true that efficient leaders can be made with some effort. I know several people in my life who are naturally charismatic and are great with teams, even without any formal training or much practice. They have either been surrounded by effective leaders and have naturally picked up on their tactics or maybe were just born proficient at it. However, I’ve also worked in teams where someone who doesn’t stand out to be a leader at the beginning slowly emerges as the leader as they build confidence in their ability in the team. While that was just the beginning, I’m sure that individual could grow to become a very effective leader with just more practice.
What do you think is the hardest part about being a good leader?
The hardest part about being a leader strongly depends on the leadership situation. In a team that’s highly motivated, the most difficult part may be keeping them on the right path whereas an unmotivated team would require motivation to start meeting goals. In either scenario, it is important for the leader to delicately motivate the team using a variety of sticks and carrots to get the desired outcome while maintaining the well-being of the team. therefore, by and large, I would say that the most difficult part about being a good leader is determining how to motivate a team towards a desired outcome while still maintaining the sustainability of the overall team dynamic. Thanks for tuning in, I’ll see you all again in 3 days!
