Leading with passion and compassion -- Dr. Ganesh Natarajan

"To become an effective business leader, you must take responsibility." Defining effective leadership and the attributes of a good leader was Dr. Ganesh Natarajan, Deputy Chairman and MD, Zensar, at a recently held leadership workshop. The workshop was based on the fifth book named ‘Inspired’ written by Dr. Natarajan together with Ms. Manjiri Gokhale. The book is a compilation of real-life inspirational stories of 23 Indian leaders of the likes of Anu Aga, Kiran Bedi, Kiran Karnik and Dev Anand, focussing on the qualities that make all these people effective leaders in their respective professions.

Dr. Ganesh Natarajan, Deputy Chairman and Managing Director, Zensar Technologies

According to Dr. Natarajan, lack of leadership is the main cause for corporate crisis and the downfall of companies like Enron, Worldcom and Arthur Andersen. Asserting the need for effective leadership in today’s times, he emphasised that leadership is unique and it is about people. It’s about being inspirational, being your own person and having your own unique style.

On being asked about the qualities that set him apart as a leader, he replied in his usual energetic way: “I feel it is approachability. It’s about practicing role-modelling consciously by staying connected with the people; this can truly help in bringing about an egalitarian society.”

That Dr. Natarajan is genuinely interested in the welfare of his employees is evident from the fact that he is the most approachable person in the company. He replies to 400-500 emails, received everyday from his employees. “A leader can be either charismatic or transformational. Ganesh is a perfect mix of both. Anyone can go to his office or call him directly,” said Sriram Swaminathan, Head for Pre Sales, Zensar.

Zensar has grown manifold since Dr. Natarajan took over its reigns few years back. He has turned the company into a mission-driven and value-centred organisation with motivated employees. True to his words, Dr. Natarajan has developed a work environment which not only encourages innovation but gives every employee an opportunity to express and share his ideas freely with others.

A person who works with passion, compassion and courage, he believes in inspiring others and leaving a legacy for others to emulate. Sure we need more leaders like him-empathetic and burning with the passion to bring about positive change in the world.