The key to leading a large organization is to begin by leading oneself. In line with its vision of producing future business leaders, MBA FEB UGM held an Executive Series titled Leading from Within, featuring Rizki Raksanugraha, VP Human Resources at Danone Indonesia (23/10).
Leadership is inherently personal. Citing Goleman, Boyatzis, and McKee in Harvard Business Review, Rizki said that managing one’s own inner life is the hardest challenge for many people. Starting from within can be put into practice through everyday actions. Discipline, consistency, building self-awareness, managing emotions, taking responsibility, and having a willingness to keep learning are examples of qualities that can be developed in daily life.
Rizki explained that the brain’s fight-or-flight response can trigger impulsive reactions that do harm. Therefore, leaders need to focus on benefits and purpose rather than on the fear of loss. “The greatest difficulty for humans is how to manage our own emotions, our own behavior, so that we can see the positive change of the action happen in the environment around us,” he said.
Effective leaders also combine care, namely building trust and bonds, with the courage to change the status quo and set direction. George Kohlrieser’s Care to Dare concept teaches that leaders act as a secure base, a place where others feel safe and therefore dare to try new things.
In addition, students were reminded of John Maxwell’s concept of leadership. The highest form of leadership emerges when people are followed because of what they do to develop others.
“For fellow students who are still early in their careers, before we start leading a large organization, before we even lead a family, we must start by leading ourselves,” he concluded.
Through this Executive Series, MBA FEB UGM hopes students can reflect on and apply the knowledge they have gained to their personal lives and careers.
Humas: Suci Hapsari
Editor: Alfian Rama Aditya
