Anil Philip, President & Board Member, Xavier Institute Of Management and Entrepreneurship
Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi had said, "Leaders are made, they are not born." And I agree. Most managers and entrepreneurs develop leadership skills through a long-drawn-out process that requires time. In today’s very complex and ever-changing world there is a need for more leaders and we have limited luxury of time. Corporates on their part are on the lookout for industry-ready graduates, who can take up responsibilities and be leaders from day one. This is where good business/management schools help lay a strong foundation and shape future leaders so that this development into leadership is fast-tracked.
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Good management schools keep pace with the dynamic changes in the workplace. They constantly update their curriculum and practices, using continual feedback and close working relationships with the industry to ensure students acquire those critical leadership skills. For example, the famed London Business School asserts that leadership is at the heart of everything they do.
So good B-schools focus beyond domain knowledge on those key skills that help shape future leaders. These include but are not limited to,
Communication
In some select B-schools, students are put through dedicated business communication course credits in addition to getting exposed to a range of business theories, and business vocabulary, thus increasing their verbal and written business communication skills. Further, the group and individuals interact on daily basis helping them take the stage and crush all fears of public speaking. Active listening is one of the most talked-about aspects of leadership. The importance of speaking and listening is practiced throughout the program duration.
Critical thinking leading to creative problem solving
During their programme, students face simulated business environments and crisis situations that they’d encounter later in the real world. This is done through case discussions, business competitions, seminars, presentations, and projects - all these allow the quick sharpening of critical thinking skills. The opportunities to put their problem-solving skills to the test - are a key element of leadership. Courses like Design thinking ensure thinking of the problem from the customer’s viewpoint.
Manage self and thrive with Teams and diversity
The goal of personal leadership is to guide managers toward self-awareness to develop an understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. By focusing on personal leadership, one seeks to become more self-aware, while building self-esteem, self-control, and self-motivation – all necessary qualities for a leader. Multiple group assignments from case studies to field projects ensure learning and working with and in diverse teams and achieving a common goal – to succeed, collectively.
With a great gender balance, representation from most parts of India, different education streams, and a mix of experienced and fresher’s B-schools like XIME prepare you to thrive with diversity the de-facto standard of team compositions today.
Agility and Change
Today’s successful organizations thrive on managing the dynamism of the environment. This requires not just the resources but the mindset to be agile in one’s strategic thinking, decision-making, and execution. They say the only constant in today’s world is change and the ability to overcome the challenges of change is one of the biggest strengths of today’s managers. A forward-thinking B-school ensures its students are trained to handle dynamic environments with ease.
Analytical decision making
How does one proceed in a given situation and particularly when two situations are never the same and this while balancing both a short-term perspective and long-term objectives? Good Indian B-schools invest in and provide access to the finest case studies like those from Harvard in addition to making students comfortable with analytical skills through learning quantitative subjects. This approach helps in learning decision-making with courage coming as a bonus.
If you're interested in developing the leadership skills you need to succeed in today's fast-paced business world, consider our PGDM program at XIME.
Leadership is a skill that the Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship (XIME) at its 3 campuses of Bangalore, Kochi, and Chennai develops and hones through a mix of theory, hands-on and experiential pathways. This is well supported by some distinct and well-curated courses such as Contemporary Business Environment, Learning Circles, and Leadership in Action among others that ensure the development of a broad business perspective which is again key to industry readiness.
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