LEADERSHIP: In the world 5% lead the 95% that follow. The one that leads is called the leader. At one time the kings or the monarchs used to be the leaders and they used to be guided by the advice of spiritually elevated souls. In the kingdom of Ayodhya, Vasista is such a guru that guided Dasaradha and similarly Sage Suka Guided Janaka. Thus they made sure that the brains are guided by the heart. When mind/ brains rule, egos rule the decisions. When Hearts rule, greater good rules the decisions. Brains think about the popular and cater to the popular desires of people (Priyam). The Heart thinks about what is beneficial to the people and caters to the greater good (Modam) of the people. In today’s world this kind of guidance is lacking and this kind of listeners of advice from spiritually elevated souls is lacking. QUALITIES OF IDEAL LEADERS: Leaders should have five qualities. Creativity, Capability, Connectivity. Goodness and unselfishness, empowerment. 1. CREATIVITY: An ideal leader should be a visionary. He should be able think ahead of times to foresee the needs of tomorrow and plan for that. He should be able to get the most of the people around them. He encourages creativity and encourages development of team work. 2. CAPABILITY: An Ideal leader should be capable to deliver the results. This is the skill needed to lead the team and perform the task. He should have the required knowledge and skills to perform the tasks. 3. CONNECTIVITY: A leader should be able to connect to his following. Followers should have faith and trust in the leader. This generates from consistency in action. 4. GOODNESS: A leader should always aim for greater good of greater number of people. People should be able to communicate with ease. He should be a good listener and problem solver. 5. UNSELFISHNESS: A leader should be unselfish and should always think beyond self. Fearlessness and strength comes from unselfishness. 6. EMPOWERMENT: A good leader identifies good human resource to do the tasks at hand for various tasks and delegates tasks. Periodically discusses and guides the team players as needed. TYPES F LEADERS: There are three kinds of leaders by their gunas and karmas, the Tamasic, Rajasic and Satwic. 1. TAMASIC LEADER: A leader with no vision, capability creativity or connectivity becomes one though hierarchy or by chance. He delegates all his responsibilities to others without giving the clear guidelines. He is the most inefficient leader and is detrimental to the society. 2. RAJASIC LEADER: This is the most common type. He does everything for name and fame. These are the ones who feel that winning at any cost is important. They do not hesitate to compromise people or country for personal benefit. They tend to be autocratic and authoritarian. They make decisions without seeking inputs from others. Hence their decisions tend to be less creative. They only think about the present with no vision of the big picture. They tend to be autocratic and authoritative. They tend to micromanage and stifle creativity. They consider others with vision as competition and try to curtail their prominence to the detriment of society. Me and my family first and everything is next is their policy. 3. SATWIC LEADER: This is the ideal kind of leader with a vision, fore thought, thinks about greater good and unity in all actions. He identifies the right people for the right tasks and delegates, seeks input and when needed takes tough decisions without wavering. These tend to be democratic or participative leaders. They understand human nature and build systems to benefit the society. In this Satwic type leader there are three types: They have some level of spiritual maturity that brigs clarity in thinking. INFORMATIONAL LEADER: This is the kind of satwic leader who is good in communicating the tasks at hand and disseminate that information to greater number of people. INSPIRATIONAL LEADER: This kind of satwic leader inspires large number of people towards the national tasks. They were very clear in their thinking and transmit this clarity to the masses. They are very passionate about their tasks and yet good listeners. TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADER: This kind is rare. These are the satwic leaders who developed spiritual maturity within and have their heart run their minds. These leaders transform the societies even after their death. Gandhi is the typical example of this kind of leadership. All leaders may or may not have all these qualities. But a good leader even if he/she does not have these qualities to start with takes advice from spiritually mature advisors to fill the gap on clarity to do greater good to the society. Ultimately this should be the objective of all leaders. Leaders, who do not realize this, disgrace themselves, their teams, their cause and society. Those who aspire for leadership in society should first learn to be the servants of society, decrease their egos and then enter the arena of leadership with service to the society. “KINKARUDU KANIDE SANKARUDU KALEDU”. Hanuman is the great example. He said in answer to a question that when he thinks he is the body, he was the servant of Rama, when he thinks he was the mind, he was the devotee of Rama and when he thinks he was the Atman, he is the Atma Rama. A true leader should function at all these three levels with people and country. He should be the servant of the people, devotee of the task given and should be one with the country.