“IRON LADY APOLITICALLEADER”

“A leader is onewho knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way”.-John Maxwell

“Leadership is the capacity totranslate visionintoreality”. -Warren Bennis

“Beforeyou area leader, success is all about growing yourself.Whenyou becomealeader,

success is all about growing others”. -Jack Welch

Ms.Lalitha,ayounggirlfinishedherschoolinginareputedEducationInstitution.Shewas
encouragedbyhermotherMrs.Sandhya,whoworksinaprivatebank.Lalithaalwayspassionatet
odosomethingtosecurehercareer,butneverplannedforwhatshewantstobe.Shewasalwaysguid
edorapproachedbySandhyaforhercareerrelatedissues.Withnopriorknowledgeinactingbyadv
iceofmother,LalithaenteredintoCinemaandinitiatedfindingopportunitiestogetachanceatbec
ominganactress.ShestartedlearningvariousformsofClassicaldanceandshebecameanaccompl
isheddancerandgaveherdebutdanceperformanceinvariousstages.Lalithawaswell-trainedin
Carnaticmusic,andwesternclassicalpiano.Withherdiligenceandcommitmenttoworkgaveapr
ominenceasaleadingfilmactressintheCinemaIndustry.Thoughshehadenteredtheprofessionr
eluctantly,upontheurgingofhermothertosupport the family, lalitha worked prolifically.

Lalithareceivedpraiseforherversatilityasanactorandforherdancingskills,earningthes
obriquet"Queenofcinemaindustry".LalithabytheinfluenceofaSeniorArtistMr.Rama,anIconi
nCinema,hasleveragedhisimmensepopularitywiththemassesintoasuccessfulpoliticalcareer.
Ramabecamechiefministerinapublicparty,whichhefounded.Further,Lalithaneglectedinacti
ngandenteredintoPolitics.Sheneverhadinterestforany,butshegotinspiredandconsideredRam
aasherGuruorMentorinpoliticsforalifetime.Throughthesupportandmotivationfromherguru,
Lalithahasgraduallyshownprogressinbeingapolitician.Shestrivedhardfromscratchforfetchi
ngthe highest position.

Herpoliticalrisewasrapid;withinfiveyears,Lalithatookupchallengingpositions
inapoliticalscenarioandbecomeso popularamongthepublic.Shehasbecomepublic-
centeredfigureintopolitics.With
astrongcommitmentforherwork,inafewyears,LalithabecomeasastateChiefMinister.Toherp
ublic,Lalithawashighly
visible,kind,empathized,andsimplenaturedperson.Sheoftenshuffledaroundandlargelyperfor
meddutiesofsymbolicandceremonialinnature.Sheearnedareputationfromthepublicforheret
hicalworksandwhomshewasapproachedbyherpeopleforanyassistanceandtakenimmediatea
ction.Shepreferredtofulfilherpromisesmadetopublic andaccomplished the demands ofher
people.

Shehas set an example in politicsasan “Iron Lady”.

However,Lalithacommitteda big mistake of not groominga successor.

Therefore, therewas a vacationat thetop when she had asevereheart attackand died.

Questions:

1. Understandandanalyze the scenario ofthe case.

2. Learn the concepts related to leader and brainstorming the qualities of leadership.

3. Understand the pros and cons of management being an Art or Science or both,and
also the aspects ofgrooming a success or being a political leader.