This happened in a premier B-school in India. This school has a high focus on leadership skills and from time to time calls social, political or other leaders for guest lectures. One day it was a time for guest lecture on leadership and the class was in full attendance.
The lecturer walks in and finds the light inappropriate, he fiddles with the switches. As the classroom is large and there are many lights and their many switches, he leaves some on and some off. He walks to the board and finds only half of it is well lit. There are many dark spots in the classroom and faces of some of the students are not clearly visible.
He says, " someone please turn on on the lights".
A student from the corner of first row rises, the lecturer says, "not you, some one else".
Another from the corner of second row rises, the lecturer says again, ''not you, someone else".
Another rises from the other corner, the lecturer repeats his words.
The student behind the previous one rises and the lecturer again repeats his words. This continues for a few more students. A student from the middle of the back bench rises, the lecturer repeats, but the students comes to the stairs. The lecturer repeats again, but the student continues to come down, folding his shirt sleeves on the way. The lecturer stands in from of the students and says angrily "I told you to sit done, some one else will switch on". The student replies calmly, "I am going for a smoke".
Lecturer says "ok", turns towards the class and continues, "someone switch on the lights", another student rises, the lecturer repeats again "Not you, someone else".
The next moment, lights turn on, everyone sees towards the switchboard and find the student who was going for a smoke standing next to the switchboard. The lecturer fumes, "I told you, someone else will switch on", the student replies "Can we get on with the lecture now?".
The lecturer replies with the same calm, "Good".
The lecturer walks towards the board and starts writing. He writes:-
1) There always remain dark spots in a society/corporation, a leaders job is to switch on the lights.
2) Everyone expects, the person nearest to the switchboard will turn on the lights.
3) People at far end, assume (wrongly), that its not their job to turn on.
4) Whenever a person rises to turn on the lights, someone, higher authorities or vested interest will stop her/him.
5) A leader is fed up with the status quo or the game of someone trying and others stopping.
6) A leader will have to sidestep arguments or threats and not loose focus.
7) Find the darkness.
मुन्ना भाई
He turns towards the class and says "there's nothing more to it." and walks out.
Abhinav
08 Oct 2007
