Learning Leadership
By Anita Mahesh

Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) was successfuly launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre Sriharokota and in less than 20 minutes had placed four satellites on a Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit 625 KM away from earth. It was a perfect launch.

An hour later ISRO chairman, G. Madhavan Nair walked into the Brahm Prakash Hall, the usual location for the post-launch press meet.

All the chairs on the stage were occupied. Mr. Nair spent his first ten minutes introducing AT LEAST 40 of his colleagues sitting on and off the stage.

A little earlier after the rocket placed the four satellites on the orbit, he said on Doordarshan: "The Boys have done a great job!"

Rewind six months back, India's GeoSynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) lifted off from the same location carrying 2168 Kg communication satellite INSAT 4C.

In 65 seconds the 49-metre tall, 414-tonne rocket veered off its trajectory and crashed, laying to waste months of efforts and over Rs. 256 crores of investment. On stage there were seats for at least 15 people but only three were occupied by Mr Nair and two of his collegues. The mood was sombre, Mr. Nair made the statement and then answered most of the questions from the journalists taking the responsibility for the failure.

Dr. APJ Kalaam has narrated a similar incident.

Quote:
While I was working at ISRO I had the best of experience which won't come from any university.I was given a task by Prof. Satish Dhawan the then chairman, ISRO and Director IISc. to develop the first satellite launch vehicle SLV-3 to put Rohini Satellite in orbit. Thousands of Scientists, engineers and technicians
had worked hard resulting in the realization of the first SLV-3 launch.on August 10, 1979. The mission was a disaster due to the malfunctioning of the control system.

After the event Prof. Dhawan took me to the press conference and there he announced he takes full responsibility for not achieving the mission, even though I was the project director and the mission director.

On 18th July 1980 when we successfully launched SLV-3 injecting the Rohini satellite into the orbit, again there was a press conference. This time Prof. Satish put me in front to share the success story with the press.

Unquote

This is what inspiring leadership is all about.

None of this great leaders whether Prof. Satish Dhawan, Dr. APJ Kalaam or Madhavan Nair had an MBA.

Compare this with a survey by Gallup Organization which said that employees do not change their companies but change their bosses.

To motivate our subordinates do we really require fancy training programs with the jargon called Situational, Transformational Leadeship ?

What prevents the majority of Managers in not sharing the successes with their team members and taking the responsibilities for the goof-ups?

For Your Information with the launch of 4 satellites on PSLV India has a joined a select club of nations like US, China and France.

On the space technology front our success rate is better than China! And this is achieved without fancy salaries and management hype and jargon!

Just think it over!