The Rhythm of Leadership: Orchestrating Success in Education

Education is a journey of continuous growth and development and at times, it requires a unique approach to inspire and empower students. Recently, at the ATLAS ISME – School of Management & Entrepreneurship, MBA students were treated to an engaging and experiential learning session led by Dr. Indu Shahani, the Founding President and Chancellor of ATLAS SkillTech University. Dr. Shahani, an eminent leader in the field of education, conducted a remarkable session titled ‘I like flowers,’ which utilised an orchestra as a metaphor to impart invaluable leadership lessons.

The Rhythm of Leadership

In the session, Dr. Shahani emphasised that the heart of leadership lies in the concept of RHYTHM:

R for Resilience, Responsible, Reliable, Reasonable, Risk-taker, Respectable

H for Hard work, Humanity, Honesty, Humbleness

Y for Yearning

T for Teamwork, Tenacity, Transparency, Trust, Truthfulness

H for Harmony

M for Motivation, Morality, Modesty

This acronym served as a guiding principle, helping students understand the qualities essential for effective leadership. The session was designed to be experiential, with students forming orchestras in different groups to perform together. Through this engaging activity, they learned the essence of leadership rhythm and its importance in inspiring and empowering teams.

The Energy in the Class

Dr. Shahani’s leadership style is characterised by her infectious energy and passion for education. In the session, she highlighted that a leader’s energy must permeate through the organisation, motivating and inspiring everyone to work with focus and flow. True leadership energy comes from a genuine desire to achieve goals and inspire others to do the same.

Key Learning from the Session

The unique teaching methods used in this session left a profound impact on the students, offering them valuable insights into leadership. Here are ten key learnings derived from the experience:

Empowerment and Teamwork

A successful leader empowers individuals while fostering a sense of teamwork and unity within the organisation.

Direction and Unity

Effective leadership provides a clear direction and unites the team toward shared goals.

Individual Flourishing

To ensure the success of the team, each individual must be nurtured and supported to flourish.

Collective Ego

Building a collective ego involves instilling pride and ownership in the team’s achievements.

Flow and Letting Go

Leaders must control the flow of operations while knowing when to step back and allow creativity to flourish.

Awareness and Unity

Creating awareness about shared values and objectives unifies the team.

Leading by Example

A leader’s qualities and actions influence those they lead.

Trust as a Foundation

Trust is fundamental for cohesive teamwork and success.

Uncover the Art of Leadership

Leadership is an art that requires continuous exploration and development.

Navigating Tough Times

Effective leaders remain resilient and composed during challenging situations.

Exploring Leadership Styles through Orchestral Conductors

Dr. Shahani incorporated videos of various orchestra conductors to help students understand different leadership styles. Students learned about Autocratic, Bureaucratic, Charismatic, Democratic, Laissez-faire, Transformational and many other leadership styles. By observing these conductors in action, students gained valuable insights into the impact of different leadership approaches.

Inspiration from Rhythmic Leaders

The session also featured inspiring videos of leaders who exemplified rhythm in their leadership style, including N Chandrasekaran, Indra Nooyi and Steve Jobs. These leaders demonstrated the power of rhythm in achieving extraordinary success and leaving a lasting impact on their organisations.

Film Discussion: ‘Whiplash’

The session concluded with a discussion on the film ‘Whiplash,’ which portrayed a challenging student-mentor relationship that pushed boundaries. Dr. Shahani encouraged students to watch the film over the weekend and reflect on their key learnings, particularly from the perspective of creating a rhythmic leadership approach.

Dr. Indu Shahani’s ‘I like flowers’ session at the ATLAS ISME School of Management & Entrepreneurship was a unique and enriching experience for MBA students. Through the metaphor of an orchestra, students learned that rhythm is indeed the heart of leadership. By incorporating qualities like resilience, teamwork, trust and harmony, leaders can inspire and empower their teams to achieve remarkable success. The session showcased the importance of energy and passion in leadership, igniting a spark of motivation in the students’ hearts. As they embark on their own leadership journeys, they carry with them invaluable lessons to become exemplary leaders of the future.