AUTHENTIC LEADERS NEED TO HAVE PASSION

“PASSION, dispassion and compassion are the hallmarks of an authentic leader,” says Sri Sri

Ravi Shankar, co-founder of the World Forum for Ethics in Business, humanitarian and spiritual head of the Art of Living Foundation. He has a huge following in South Africa, especially in Kwazulu-natal.

Sri Sri, as he is fondly known, is an august and gentle presence, despite his influence on presidents and leaders from around the globe. His humanitarian, educational and volunteer-based organisation is the largest in the world.

He says of conscious leadership: “There are different styles of leadership that require having to deal with diverse situations and people; to be able to deal with them justly requires a sharp intellect, patience, endurance and presence of mind. A conscious leader is one who creates an atmosphere of trust, co-operation and sense of belonging with everyone.”

I spoke to Sri Sri about the dark space global leaders find themselves in.

“We cannot brand all the leaders in the world as being in a dark place. Many of them really want to do good in the society, yet somehow they find themselves strangled in the system. So here is what is really needed to bridge the gap.

“People like you who are in business and industry, who are very sensitive to create a better society, sensitive to the needs and the suffering of the people, can play a very big role. You can connect the people in the street to those in the thrones. Now I would say people in responsibility, whether they are leaders or those who are decisionmakers, need to have a little calm, collected mind.

“They need to find that clarity in their thinking. To that I would say they must do some meditation. Take some time off. Shut off. It is very important for conscious leaders to have that broad vision and be committed to serving society, to be sensitive to environmental issues and to see the welfare of the last person in their province or in their country.

“They need to take better care of themselves. They also need to free their minds from prejudice and should be willing to listen to criticism and accommodate a positive point of view. Only then can they do good for society. An important part of management is creativity”, Sri Sri states, “and that can only come from silence.”

Brenda Kali is the chief executive of Conscious Companies and the founder of the Conscious Leadership Academy. www.consciouscompanies.co.za