What is more important for a Leader - Grab the opportunity or lead the opportunity?

Every new morning, we wish to see ourselves as better leaders, seeking evolution day after day. While we are open to evolve, the most important part is "the process" we follow to fulfil a task.

"The process" along with "the intention". "The process" along with "intention" and "belief". "The process" that reminds "the purpose" of the task in every step.

If "The Process" a leader follows acts as a reminder for

a) Intention

b) Belief

c) Purpose

then, the leader is definitely taking the task ahead in the required direction.

Outcome of the Task - The leader becomes matured enough to understand the success in each step, and in every vertical, not as desired but as required. AND can also foresee the dependency of and on the task and can analyse the success rate in each step.

Tests to be faced - During this journey, the leader remains to be a leader when the tests are faced and only faced with the same spirit, every single time.

Most difficult test - Temptation to impress by grabbing the limelight, opportunity to work more by doing various tasks.

Solving dilemmas that decide the success - Shall I expose to the limelight myself or shall I expose my team? Shall I take all the credit all by myself because I am the manager or leader or shall I name my teams and shower the credit to them being a leader to the team? The leader wins only when the team is carried along. Success follows only to the leader who finds the strength in interdependency.

How are you given next opportunity - Truly based on reliability , which is based on trust, which is based on confidence, which is based on effective communication which showcases how balanced the leader is. The root is again the intention - solving the "me" vs "my team" dilemma, every time when it pops in the head, during every single task and simple task.

So, How is "my intention" on check everyday?

Being an alumni of Sri Sathya Sai Educational Institutions, I always dreamt of being in the exclusive Vedam Chanting group who are blessed with an opportunity to chant Vedam while escorting Bhagawan Baba during the processions. One fine day, during practise, when I was too engrossed with the grammar of the Vedam, Swami, being my inner voice, told me , "Concentrate on the meaning not the grammar." All my dreams are shattered. I stopped practising. This is the test which helped me understand my fantasy and my purpose.

I bounced back with deep thoughts, I started learning the meaning and inner significance of the Vedas and Bhagavad Gita. I found my success, not through fulfilling my fantasy, but by becoming an entrepreneur. The test and the difficult path, helped me in starting my entrepreneurial journey by becoming the founder of the website https://thesecreti.in/ a platform where one can find a path for application of scriptures.

Being an Applied Scriptures mentor, training hundreds on ownership skills, effective communication skills through emotional intelligence and Bhagavad Gita, tests that are thrown by the universe are never small, but "can be solved".

This time, I was dreaming and planning again to grab an opportunity in front of Swami, our dear Bhagawan. Well again, as dreamt, I got an opportunity to be the Master of the Ceremony in one of the events during the Avatar Declaration Day, celebrated in Puttaparthi. I was also volunteering and leading a team of 14 who are involved in commentary, documentary, voice-overs, that need to be set in place for the event. This work was no big deal for me, with my exposure and experience.

But, Swami , the divine lord has other plans. Here comes the real test. My son was unwell, and being a compassionate mother, I had to stay back home. Challenge and dilemma again - what do I give importance to? How do I fill in confidence in my team, if I am not physically there? For everybody in the team, it is a one time opportunity and the first time opportunity.

The tests do not end there. The intention is tested. My only intention and prayer to the lord is to give my team the best of the experiences. I prepared them for the big day. I transferred the duty to another volunteer. Though I couldn't attend the event, though I missed the opportunity of being the master of the ceremony, I saw my success in my team's performance. They did a splendid job. My lord answered my prayers. HE gave opportunity to every single one. HE showered customised experiences to every one during that just one event.

What would you choose being a leader at home, at work, at service, if you have an opportunity in one hand; a problem in another hand and a test thrown by the universe to test your intention?

That was my test for understanding myself about my attachments and detachments. My practice of becoming a balanced leader. Who else can test me this hard apart from my Divine Guru. Ofcourse, HE rewards too through many other streams. It is again our openness to understand, analyse and realise. A leader's capability of understanding the success is determined through these simple observations.

Well, how am I rewarded later? My article "Attachment vs Detachment" was published in the magazine named 'Rushipeetham' by Brahmasri Samavedam Shanmukh Sharma garu. The magazine is known for publications of articles by neurologists, doctors, scholars and scientists. Am I any of them, NO. I am just a seeker, who is looking for betterment every day. But, I am showered with this blessing - The reward that is a reminder of my process, my intention, my belief, my purpose - An example to my son and to myself.