STARTUPS: NO ALPHA LEADERSHIP PLEASE !!

BY ROBIN GHOSH
(FORMER CHIEF ECONOMIST< BENGAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY)
KOLKATA, 24 NOVEMBER 2022

Starting a business in India and steering this business to a success is a complex and harrowing task. Driving business in India is not a cake walk.
At every stage , you will face barricades created by archaic laws, armchair babus, negative vibes from friends and relatives. And a human support system unsupportive of any venture which is out of box or out of the ordinary.
Questions that intrigues us — given such a chaotic and messy environment, success stories are still happening . Start-ups are landing every day with astonishing and brilliant products and services led by young entrepreneurs.
The world is looking at India with awe and amazement. Start-up revolution in India is mesmerizing the world.
The other phenomenon that is startling the world is the ascendency of Indian CEOs masterminding global tech companies like Microsoft, Intel, Google etc.
Observing these two trends, and going little deep — there is a big lesson for existing and would-be entrepreneurs or startups.
Mind it, there are a set of values that have helped the entrepreneurs to succeed.
Please note : a set of behavioral traits has enabled them to lead top global companies .
What are the values we are talking about?
First and foremost, the key secret sauce is the Plan B concept.
Whatever may be the obstacles, whatever may be the barriers, successful start-ups always had a Plan B ready to get over the crises.
This inborn skill mattered. This has been the winning strategy. The other trait that mattered most is the concept of time which the startup leaders had in mind: time is not linear it is circular. Work supersedes leisure. There is no work life sequence. Work and life is integrated, a unified field . It is not black or white, it is grey.
This perception of circular time has generated a quick response attitude to tackle any crises and solve the problem.
Second, if you explore what qualities, what cultural values made Satya Nadella ( Microsoft) or Sundar Pichai ( Google) to climb the top: primarily it is humility, conscious building and collaboration. Born and brought up in India, an unequal society, these champion leaders displayed caution, reflection, tolerance and kindness.
So : to succeed, No Alpha leadership. Be humble. Be gentlemanly. Always have Plan B.
Believe time is circular not linear.
Believe that the world is your family.