My Leader
Leadership
Leadership
Assignment
By
Rasika Perera
(ACBIT)
MBA Programme Preston University USA
2007
"Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results not attributes." Peter Druker
Two years ago, I had an experience with a leader that profoundly shaped the rest of my life. I decided to switch my career into marketing stream from sales & the invitation came to join Finlays Tea Estates. Just few weeks after my initial discussion, I met the Chairman of the organization and after a brief introduction to the organization he said. "I think you could head our marketing wing. If you decide to join us I want you to be in full control of the estate operations with regard to manufacture & you'll be telling them what to manufacture, the standards they should maintain, grade percentages...etc." I was shocked. Who was I to tell the superintendents who were in the planting industry for last two to three decades or may be even more? Sensing my doubt, he simply looked me in the eye and said, "I have great confidence in you. You can do this. I will give you the insights to the organization which will help you to do your job and built the understanding / trust among estate management."
His confidence, his ability to see more in me than I saw in myself, his willingness to entrust me with the responsibility that would stretch me to my potential unlocked something inside me. I accepted the assignment and gave my best. It trapped me physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. I grew within a very short span of time. I saw others grow too. I saw patterns in basic leadership principles. I found my "voice" And it was my leader that inspired me to find it & it was Mr. Naresh Ratwatte who is the Chairman/Managing Director of Finlays Tea Estates Sri Lanka.
I realised in time that I wasn't the only one he treated this way. His affirmation, his ability to unite us in vision towards our work
Leadership
Assignment
By
Rasika Perera
(ACBIT)
MBA Programme Preston University USA
2007
"Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results not attributes." Peter Druker
Two years ago, I had an experience with a leader that profoundly shaped the rest of my life. I decided to switch my career into marketing stream from sales & the invitation came to join Finlays Tea Estates. Just few weeks after my initial discussion, I met the Chairman of the organization and after a brief introduction to the organization he said. "I think you could head our marketing wing. If you decide to join us I want you to be in full control of the estate operations with regard to manufacture & you'll be telling them what to manufacture, the standards they should maintain, grade percentages...etc." I was shocked. Who was I to tell the superintendents who were in the planting industry for last two to three decades or may be even more? Sensing my doubt, he simply looked me in the eye and said, "I have great confidence in you. You can do this. I will give you the insights to the organization which will help you to do your job and built the understanding / trust among estate management."
His confidence, his ability to see more in me than I saw in myself, his willingness to entrust me with the responsibility that would stretch me to my potential unlocked something inside me. I accepted the assignment and gave my best. It trapped me physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. I grew within a very short span of time. I saw others grow too. I saw patterns in basic leadership principles. I found my "voice" And it was my leader that inspired me to find it & it was Mr. Naresh Ratwatte who is the Chairman/Managing Director of Finlays Tea Estates Sri Lanka.
I realised in time that I wasn't the only one he treated this way. His affirmation, his ability to unite us in vision towards our work