Leadership More Than The Higher Designation

Chairman, TATA Steel was holding a weekly meeting with Tata Steel staff in Jamshedpur.

A worker took up a serious issue. He said the quality and hygiene of toilets for the workers was very bad. Where as, he pointed out that the cleanliness and the hygiene of executive toilets were always very good.

Chairman asked his top executive how much time he needs to set it right. The executive asked for a month to set it right.

Chairman said “I would rather do it in a day. Send me a carpenter.”

The next day, when the carpenter came, he ordered the signboards to be swapped.

The signboard on the workers’ toilet displayed “Executives” and the Executives’ toilet displayed “Workers”.

Chairman then instructed this sign to be changed every fortnight.

The quality of both the toilets came at par in the next three days.

Leadership is something much more than being an Executive

Problem identification requires critical thinking

But

Problem solution requires creative thinking