leadership

[Guest guest]

> Dear Harikesa Maharaj,

> Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada

>

> We are seeing a need for more and more qualified leadership in our

> movement and practically all of us are encouraged to develop

> leadership qualities from the day we join the movement. The pressure

> is there to try and save the world, and it can only be done if there

> is responsible leadership.

>

> Could you, from your experience tell me what you consider to be the

> most important qualities for a potential leader in Iskcon to try and

> develop for substantial service in this regard to be performed?

>

> Your servant in the mission of Srila Prabhupada,

>

> Visnu Murti das

 

Please refer to my "Leadership and Management Seminar" which was given

in Mayapur this year. It will come out at the Nrsingha Caturdasi

festival on the German farm in the form of two or three video

cassettes and four audio cassettes. It says more or less what is

needed for leadership.

 

But to really boil it all down to the cream of the essence, I can say

as follows:

 

One who wants to be a good leader, must have a good guide to succeed.

One must be connected with the Supersoul.

One must be willing to listen to others, and able to change when

needed.

One must be willing to make decisions and stand by them.

One should be able to admit mistakes and correct them.

One must always be prepared to protect those who are under his charge.

One should always think of the welfare of others more than his own.

One must actually possess spiritual qualities, and know how to project

spiritual power to others for their benefit.

One should command respect and not demand it.

One should give help to those who need it.

One should be a facilitator for others and not a master or controller

of others.

One should be able to make good plans and engage others in executing

them

And above all, one must have a clear vision of what is right and what

should be done to satisfy the Lord.

 

Not in any particular order, and not an exhaustive list.