KCR: A dab hand leader of management!!

The conventional belief is that a leader is different from a manager and a manager is different from a leader. Can the two go hand in hand in a person? Rarely, but it is not an absurdity.

The Chief Minister of Telangana KCR is a good example for the same, in my opinion. In order to justify my argument that KCR is an unsurpassable leader with managerial qualities, I would like to provide the following working definitions of a manager and a leader in the opening.

In general, a person responsible for controlling or administering an organization or group of staff is called a manager. Such a person is given that status upon getting recognised in terms of his/her skill in managing resources of various kinds. From the other end, a leader is a person who influences a group of people towards the realization of an aspiration. Person, People and Purpose, the so called 3P’s of leadership is a mnemonic for this definition of a leader.

Leader in the framework of Person: It should be very clearly understood whether a person becomes a leader because of his ability to lead the people or leadership is a position of office or authority. It is a general observation that most of the times we know about the people who are in positions of leadership but who are not endowing with leadership. So, it is understood that a position of office is no guarantee of leadership but it helps in the sense that a leadership position usually commands a listening ear from its people and that is a good starting point for anyone who desires to be a leader.

A leader by its meaning is one who goes first and leads by example, so that others are motivated to follow him. This is a basic prerequisite. To be a leader, a person must have an innate commitment to the goal that he will strive to achieve it even if nobody follows him!

Now, going back to my justification of KCR as a leader, I would like to cite the example of second phase of Telangana movement which began soon after he launched his new political party Telangana Rashtra Samithi in April 2001. When he launched his party, there were only a few followers. Nevertheless, he had certainly a deep-rooted commitment. Else, who could have led a movement for almost 13 years to ensure realisation of Telangana, without having a strong commitment and a never give up attitude.

Leader in the framework of Purpose: A requirement for leadership is personal vision - the ability to visualize one’s goal as an accomplished fact; a thing already achieved. KCR obviously had a vision of Telangana as a consummated fact. The same is evident through all his media talks he made before getting Telangana. He used to talk about many things, which have been taking shapes soon after he took over the reins of the Chief Minister of Telangana.

Leader in the framework of People: To be a leader, one must have followers. To have followers, one must have their trust. One may accept it or not that if one person has to be named that has led the second phase of Telangana movement, without doubt most of the people would take the name of KCR.

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Now, coming back to my argument of KCR as a first-rate manger, I would like to recite the definition of a manager I considered for my justification - a person responsible for controlling or administering an organization or group of staff is called a manager.

Ever since KCR has sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Telangana, his managerial qualities are transparently seen. Let it be the allocation of portfolios in the CMO office, or allocation of ministries to the other leaders of the party, his managerial qualities are perceptible. KCR has indubitably considered the seniority and talent for allocating the ministries, apart from considering various other issues like social class, community, religion et al which otherwise all politicians are bound to consider. If someone is asked about the important ministries after the Chief Minister’s post in any government, unhesitatingly every single one will answer Home Ministry and Finance Ministry. KCR has kept aside Harish Rao and Tarakarama Rao, and the said posts were given to Nayani Narasimha Rao and Eetela Rajendar. With this strategic move he had satisfied the seniors and gave them an impression that their services have been recognised. From the other end, he elevated T Rajaiah and Mahamood Ali as the Deputy Chief Ministers of the state. By this calculated move, KCR not only tried to wipe out the stigma of his failed promise of making a Dalit the first Chief Minister of Telangana, but also - partially if not fully - fulfilled his promise of getting equal justice to the minorities and Dalits.

After Telangana emerging as a new state, TRS Party was given a clear mandate by the people and elected them to power for two reasons, mainly – to solve the irrigation problems; and to generate employment. These two sectors are very important. KCR, being a futurist has given such crucial portfolios to Harish Rao, a good debater and equally far-sighted and popular leader of TRS like KCR; and KTR, an immaculate orator with intended qualities to confer with the delegates of the foreign nationals those who show interest in investments. Definitely, it was a go of KCR taken after so much of accepted wisdom.

All these factors have collectively proven KCR as a good manager. In a nutshell, he has positioned right person for right task, after succeeding as the leader in all three milieus of person, purpose and people that is essential for a true leader.

In closing moments, I would unhesitatingly state that KCR is a dab hand leader with immense managerial qualities.