Who do you look upto ? 

Who do you look upto ? 

A true source of inspiration is someone who unleashes potential in others and come face to face with their own real potential. 

A question that is often asked when one is growing up - who do you look up to? And the answers that usually follow - politicians, sports persons, film stars, business tycoons.

In other words - Celebrities.

Celebrities have special skills that make them what they are. Politicians have a way with words that can mesmerize a gathering. Sports persons train hard and make it count in front of a live audience. Film stars can slip into different characters and charm people with their good looks and flashy lifestyle. Business tycoons have a way of seeing opportunity that not many can and are willing to take big risks that result in big rewards. More often than not, we are so enamored by their successes that we count them as people we look up to.

What we can't see behind the politician playing to the gallery is  the scheming manipulative one inside the chambers. What we can't see behind the sports person working out is someone who will appear on every hoarding and not take a stand on anything that will affect commercial interests. What we can't see behind the film super star's flashy lifestyle is the narcissistic drug fuelled orgies. What we can't see behind the pin striped suits of the business tycoon is how they will go to any extent to play the system to get their job done. This is a club that takes care of itself, usually at the expense of others.

Who should we be really looking up to? While one can always admire these celebrities for the gifts they have, we must differentiate them from our role models. Biased information thrown at us by the media and our own network does not make this task any easier, but we must not succumb to this hysteria. There are plenty of people to take inspiration from - they are just not busy marketing themselves to you. Look a little deeper and you will find them.

There are plenty of celebrities flashing around within organizations too. A true leader will know the difference between a celebrity vs. someone who can be looked up to for inspiration.

Be a true leader - don't fall for the voices that are shouting, listen to the ones who need to be heard.

Summary

Arshad is Managing Partner of Karma & Co, a boutique consulting firm based out of Goa that creates programs for workforce transformation and organization effectiveness. You can read more of his work and thoughts on Karma-and.co

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