Economic development and creative leadership:

Work with integrity and succeed

Text of address by former Indian President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

[Continued from yesterday]

All these programmes which I have mentioned above have social, research and technological content with substantial amount of opportunities for techno-managerial experts. Students can carve out their own niche areas and prepare themselves for contributing quality techno-managerial support which will enable execution of the economic programmes in time and at internationally competitive costs.

The knowledge society in 21st century

The world in the 21st century will be a knowledge based society with multiple opportunities. I was studying a book, ‘Empires of the Mind’ by Denis Waitley.

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

This book gives what type of the new world which we are facing now? What was yesterday and what is today.

I have modified certain points of the author to suit our conditions. I have also added a third line which is pertinent to the action required by the management institutions.

I am sure, all the members present here will keep these aspects of 21st century in mind which will facilitate the Youth of Sri Lanka to evolve the learning process for meeting the demands of the 10 components of knowledge society. For that what is needed is the creative leadership. I am sure, the Management, professional and other education system in Sri Lanka has to be geared up for the generation of large number of creative leaders needed in different disciplines required for national economic development.

Since I am in the midst of business community, I would like to give the linkage between national economic development and creative leadership.

Economic development and prosperity
Nations economic development is powered by competitiveness.
The competitiveness is powered by knowledge power.
The knowledge power is powered by technology and innovation.
The technology and innovation is powered by resource investment.
The resource investment is powered by revenue and return on investment.
The revenue is powered by volume and repeat sales through customer loyalty.
The customer loyalty is powered by quality and value of products.
Quality and value of products is powered by employee productivity and innovation.
The employee productivity is powered by employee loyalty, employee satisfaction and working environment.
The working environment is powered by management stewardship.
Management stewardship is powered by creative leadership.

For success in all missions we need creative leaders. Creative leadership means exercising the vision to change the traditional role from the commander to the coach, manager to mentor, from director to delegator and from one who demands respect to one who facilitates self-respect.

The higher the proportion of creative leaders in an organization, the higher the potential of success and the growth of organization and thereby leading to accelerated national economic growth.

I have seen three dreams which have taken shape as vision, mission and realization. Space programme of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization), AGNI programme of DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organization) and PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) becoming the National Mission. Of course these three programmes succeeded in the midst of many challenges and problems.

I have worked in all these three areas. I would like to convey to you what I have learnt on leadership from these three programmes and the personalities whom I have discussed.

Creative leaders

a. Leader must have a vision, b. Leader must have a passion to transform the vision into action, c. Leader must be able to travel into an unexplored path, d. Leader must know how to manage a success and failure, e. Leader must have courage to take decision, f. Leader should have nobility in management, g. Every action of the leader should be transparent, h. Leader must work with integrity and succeed with integrity. For a vibrant business, the important thrust will be on the generation of a number of creative leaders who will create, nurture and grow the business to its full potential by combating all the challenges faced in the process.

My greetings and best wishes to all the participants success in the mission of creating new opportunities of growth through creative leadership.

Concluded