Heh, heh ?

Leaders are BORN you say :

I hope this is not going to be a controversial article. This week I am trying to draw your attention to the on-going leadership training programme scheduled for the university new entrants. This training programme is devised for two weeks and it is named as "Two week Leadership and Positive Attitude Development Programme." Government has decided to conduct it in few batches for the university entrants for the year 2013.

What is leadership?

According to Steven M Smith, a writer on Management, Leadership is nothing but ability, meaning a leader has a capacity to do something through talent and skill. Talent is natural ability and skill is proficiency gained through training and experience. Talent certainly helps, but it is not required. I know many people whose natural leadership ability was close to zero but through training, experience, and most of all, persistence, became great leaders.

We talk and learn so much about leadership especially in the public and private sector organisations. How much of the training they receive, we do not see in them "talk the walk." My biggest question now will be "Are we having the true corporate leaders in Sri Lanka who talk the walk?"

Leadership is not a showpiece. Some people say that it is a passion. In my opinion, it should be in your thought, word and deed. What needs to be understood is that true leaders cannot practice confining themselves into their air-conditioned rooms. Effective Leaders should walk around the work floors very often. They should always be transparent and do what they say and say what they do. In my view, CHANGE is the Key Element required to form an effective leadership.

In addition, training becomes a part of the everyday routine. The old idea of a few knowledgeable people hoarding secrets is replaced by the will to learn and to share all that we know. The power is now based on the mutual respect and not in the hierarchical assignments. Leadership substitutes for authority and positions represent our levels of responsibility towards the people in all the other jobs. If it is the case, can we be satisfied by telling ourselves that we are having such great leadership in Sri Lanka? Most of the organisations in Sri Lanka make efforts to train the university graduates after they join their organisations as management trainees. As a result, these organisations waste not only money but time as well. But with the introduction of pre-university students' leadership training programme, a majority of the students receive a proper leadership training which will become an additional qualification to find suitable employments after graduation. In my view, this kind of leadership trainings should have been started when they were in schools.

It was reported that Sri Lankan University leadership programmes which started a couple of years ago serve as a leading resource in educating, training and motivating tomorrow's leaders to address our most critical problems and shape a better world.

The leadership programmes at Sri Lankan University are designed to have a profound and lasting impact on our students, community and the world by delivering an innovative leadership curriculum with a multicultural approach. Using a comprehensive, interdisciplinary program to develop students' leadership skills, the leadership programmes will empower students to think creatively and prepare them to change the world.

The programme's aim is to develop leadership skills and change the undergraduates' attitudes. The training comprises both theory and practical sessions including indoor and outdoor activities. Every student who is participating in the programme has to follow a daily routine.

Students have to wake up at 4 am daily and take part in in numerous exercises. Lecture series will follow. In this program, the students will be trained in team work, presentation skills, visionary thinking and conflict resolution. In short, students have to learn about waking up on time, how to do exercises, working on time, how to study well, how to do team work, how to eat properly and how to respect others. That is why I said these daily routines should have been done when they were schooling.

The Ministry introduced this leadership training programme to new entrants to universities to be carried out every year and it was reported that this leadership training was given even to Buddhist monks who enter the Buddhist University or any state University in Sri Lanka.

Responses from the corporate world highlighted the need for suitable training that equipped undergraduates with important soft skills necessary for professionals. The Arts graduates are always at the receiving end and are finding difficult to find suitable jobs. Reasons behind this scenario are the poor English language knowledge and lack of leadership skills. The current residential workshop of university students would be a good starting point to remedy this glaring gap. Even for the medical and engineering university students, this workshop would be an ideal instrument to change their attitudes and then to become caring persons in the country. My only concern in this regard is the venue of the program.

It is better if this type of residential training programs would have been held in a much friendlier locations avoiding thee military atmosphere. There is no harm in involving military personnel for the lecture series and outward bound training. The government defends this argument stating that they cannot find any other suitable locations to conduct the program as the number is very large. However, this is a wise move.

During my 20 years long executive experience, I have seen a number of graduates including some engineering graduates struggle to show their capabilities in work places because they are not aware of things in life like listening to others, moving with the other colleagues, communications skills and most simple things like table manners, the principle of keeping things at the right places.

Sometimes, I have seen some university students slurping the tea which type of behavior is totally unacceptable from a caliber of university student. In short, they are prepared to face the practical world. The other main problem I have seen in these graduates and the under-graduates is the barrier between the rich and the poor mentality especially among the students who come from Royal, Ananda, Nalanda, Vishaka & Devi Balika and those who come from rural schools. In my view, to erase this type of low level mentality, such leadership development training programmes will be a great asset.

Even our university students, I am sorry to mention, do not know how to wear a shirt and trouser in matching colors. Some students attend the lectures with wearing horrible T-shirts putting them outside the trouser. This is really an unfortunate situation. There is no doubt; they are our future ambassadors and rulers of our country.

Another area these students need to be taught to look after their personal hygiene.

Vide the above on going facts; whoever talks against giving this kind of training to university students, I believe it is a must. Hence, it is very much required to continue with this university students' leadership development training program.

I feel this should not restrict only to a pre-university training. University management should seriously think of sparing a few minutes to teach them on leadership qualities daily during their stay at the university. May be certain students will have different opinions about it, but for the sake of our country's future, we need to continue with it. In a world that is changing rapidly, there is a need for leaders who possess a comprehensive understanding of the challenges we face in the 21st century. Committed and well-prepared leaders are essential to our ability to tackle these challenges.

Relational leadership

University leadership programmes are based upon the relational leadership model. I believe this is the best way for leaders of today to learn the tools necessary to make a difference tomorrow. Relational Leadership refers to a leadership model that focuses on the idea that leadership effectiveness has to do with the ability of the leader to create positive relationships within the organization. According to well-known scholars, relational leadership consists of five main values:

* Inclusiveness

* Empowering

* Purposeful

* Ethics

* Process

Effective teamwork is one of the most important aspects in the corporate world today. The findings of extensive research on what makes a team effective point to the fact that: teams that have the talent and skills to manage themselves do better.

This means a dominate team leader does not seem to lead to consistent and better performance - it's the organizational support makes a difference.

Therefore, a good team leader should design and support/balance the talent of the individuals to work together in harmony so that the team ends up managing itself.

In the last few years, leadership programmes have sprung up in remarkable numbers at colleges and universities across the globe. Not only in Sri Lanka, institutions as diverse as Creighton University, Arizona State University, and Highland Community College, in Illinois, now offer leadership training and opportunities to their students. Some universities and colleges, like Gonzaga and the City University of Seattle, have developed degree programs in leadership, and many more such programmes are being planned. It seems that every university Web page and presidential message now highlights leadership opportunities for students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

The idea is that leadership-like scientific disciplines, for example-consists of a set of skills, methodologies, and ideas that can be taught. The difference is that unlike, say, biology, leadership should inform all aspects of life. Leadership programs teach important life skills, such as introspection, cultural sensitivity, moral acuity, people skills, and decision-making acumen.

Nevertheless we are witnessing a growth in, and a new respect for, what we now call leadership studies. This is occurring in part because of the perception, at least, that America like in Sri Lanka is suffering a crisis of leadership. Recent articles in The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg Business week, and The Harvard Business Review ask where all the business leaders have gone.

Many business schools have incorporated leadership training into their programmes, or even created stand-alone business-leadership programmes. Some undergraduate colleges have embraced the trend by starting leadership programmes, which function much like honors programmes, or by changing honors programmes into leadership programmes. Most colleges and universities have incorporated civic engagement or service learning, which is enveloped in a language of leadership development.

However in Sri Lanka, students are reluctant in flocking to these programmes because they do not recognize the importance of leadership. Main reason they bring in for opposing the leadership training program is the venue. They say that they do not want to get their training in a military atmosphere. I think this an area for the rulers of the higher education to think sharply once again. Otherwise, this particular programme is a wonderful and fruitful program.

Today's students are graduating into a world that is much riskier than the one we knew. They will have multiple jobs and even multiple careers during their lifetimes. Many will work for small firms, and a growing percentage will be consultants and freelancers for most of their working lives.

In short, they will need to be equipped to make their own opportunities. They need the skills, knowledge, and qualities that leadership programs cultivate: self-reliance, social and cultural capital, appreciation for lifelong learning, creativity, conflict-resolution and team-building skills, ethics, understanding of economics, and more. Leadership programs recognise that the career ladder of old is broken. In the past like was stated before, companies could be counted on to develop leaders by ushering bright employees into management-training programmes spending a lot of money. Today such programs are few. Universities must do the job.

We should stop snickering every time we hear the word "leadership" on campus and start recognising the desire of many students to hone and professionalize skills that will serve them long after graduation. Now higher education is stepping up. Graduates of leadership programs may not be crowned leaders as soon as they get their degrees, but ideally they will have the skills to lead tomorrow's generation and to thrive in the new economy.

Student leadership is arguably the most beneficial extracurricular activity a person can perform while in university. Though there are no grades and zero credits to earn, the experience gained from a leadership role will be valuable for a lifetime. A college leader is thrown into a learning environment that encourages hands-on experience. Planning, Decision making, Communicating, and Working as teammates are skills that you will have to build as a student leader. Trust me, you do not build these portable leadership skills when studying for an exam or sitting in a lecture which is very reason many students do not believe in attending leadership programmes. Present day leadership training program is dedicated only to the new entrants that are also given before they enter the universities. As it is the case, once again, I would like to stress that leadership training programmes should continue while they study in universities.

What it takes to Lead

As was repeatedly told in this column, to fulfill an organisation’s mission it takes teamwork, hard work, and time from each member. That is why it is important to utilise your time, your team, and your talent efficiently. Ask, what can I do to achieve higher level results? What must I contribute? How can I be more productive?

If your answer to these questions were to seek guidance, training, and mentorship, you are on the right track. Since time is valuable to each member of a group, it is vital to work on increasing personal performance thereby reducing the amount of effort and time spent unproductively by the group.

Obviously motivation, willingness to contribute, and follow through are key to any student leaders’ success. However, there is much more to leading a successful student organisation. Success is about harnessing group talents, working smarter and communicating often.

Conclusion

Lack of critical effective leadership globally can often be attributed to the lack of leaders who make decisions with integrity, ethical standards, an understanding of the interests of all people, and a focus on the present and future.

These concepts identify an important goal of University student leadership programmes: to develop leaders who can be managers so that managers who cannot lead are reduced and the public and private benefits are maximized for society and the individual.

Many students exit universities with technology skills, but have gaps in day-to-day skills that are needed to effectively work with others. This training prepares students before they walk in the door for employment. Since these students may work for you one day, companies benefit by students who: Enter the workforce with understanding the responsibility they have to lead themselves.

Take the initiative to get the direction and support they need from their supervisor. Diagnose their own skill and motivation so they become more proactive in their development. Use effective communication skills as they travel through development stages. Solve problems rather than just finding them.

There is clearly a direct return if students end up working for the company that sponsors them, but everyone benefits in the community when these young people make good decisions and lead productive lives.

As we have seen in the past, a serious issue is the lack of self-initiative of university students without which, when they try to find jobs, it will become another drawback. Lack of self-initiative will have serious adverse effects on all students even during their university stay.

If you are lacking self-initiative, another set of students with radical views make good use of this and keep all the others under their control. We have seen in the past, these informal leaders do not wish to complete their studies at universities mainly because they like to prolong their times inside the universities. If undergraduates are self-initiative, violence in universities will not be so bad. Otherwise, there would not be an end to the existing violence in the universities.

At the same time, a recent research done by a scholar has revealed that university students do not find time for physical exercises. This is a very bad habit and it will continue into their adult lives.

As a result the nation’s professionals are mostly unhealthy costing billions in lost productivity, life span and in health costs. A disciplined exercise regime can be built into their routines early. Since most university students do not have the means, interest or the knowledge of a healthy exercise routine, they never give sufficient time to it.

A pre university course will be the ideal opportunity for them to cultivate such a regime with enough support.

As was explained before, this pre-university course does not in any way affect the students’ undergraduate studies. It doesn’t affect any of their other studies such as English or ICT skills development.

The on-going training programme compliments the development of these skills. Traditional method of thinking of cramming loads of material is not going to develop professionals that are required for the 21st century.

Our children and grandchildren, after this pre-training programme will not come out of the system with hate, jealousy and naivety filled in their heads; instead they will be capable leaders fluent in English, skilled in computer skills and equipped with knowledge to take on the world. In short, complete in all aspects of education.

While attending this pre-university leadership training programme by the new entrants, they should insist that they be given a chance to continue with the same kind of leadership training while they are in too.