Leading Comments

Leading Comments / February 2001

Introduction

Welcome to Leadership Opportunity, a monthly e-journal about leadership in business and life. This e-journal is about leadership. It is about leadership in business and life. In both cases, leadership is both an individual and collective act. It is written for those who want to strengthen the quality of leadership for their businesses, organizations, clients and in their own lives, careers, and relationships

I hope that other will contribute material to this e-journal. And I will do my best to assure fresh, interesting and challenging ideas and explorations of interest to leaders. The contributions of others are welcome and will be solicited. If you are interested in contributing a short article to this e-journal, please e-mailruss@integraleadershipreview.com

Summary

Each issue includes a summary of a publication related to leadership.

Harriet Rubin, “The Perfect Vision Dr. V.,” Fast Company, February 2001, 43, p. 146.”

At the Aravind Eye Hospital in Madurai, India, 82-year-old Dr. Govindappa Venkataswamy has solved the mystery of leadership: He brings eyesight to the blind and light to the soul.”

Leaders often find that the organizations they create miss the mark of their original vision. Dr. Venkataswamy overcame crippling arthritis to become “the most admired cataract surgeon in India who has defied retirement, runs five hospitals that provide 180,000 operations a year, 70% of which are charity cases. Those who can afford it seek him out because he is world class. “He is a doctor to the eyes and a leader to the soul.”

And what has he to teach us about leadership? First, that leadership is a personal quest to achieve a heartfelt mission. It is augmented by self-knowledge and a BIG vision. AND it is about building a culture of community in which others can realize their potentials, even in achieving higher consciousness.

Second, that money is helpful, but not the primary motivation. By cutting costs while producing high quality, his self-sustaining hospitals have attracted students and doctors from around the world and become the largest single provider of eye surgery in the world. And the reward from work is what you become by doing it.

Third, attracting patients (customers) is about being market-driving, not market-driven, and making a difference.

The Challenge

This e-journal is focused on the space between two important streams of development. It is about 21st Century leadership in business. It is about the ways coaches can effectively work with leaders in business and life.

Here is the meeting place of these two important elements in the future of business and coaching. I hope you will join us, leaders and coaches, in exploring how the development of leadership can yield important results. This is a leadership opportunity.

Thanks
Thanks for taking the time to consider this e-publication in a world of data overload. For leaders, collaborators, consultants, academics and coaches alike; I welcome you to some ideas and a dialogue that may benefit us all. I hope you will contact me soon with your idea, reference or article. Suggestions on improvement are welcome.
Russ Volckmann, PhD, Coaching Leaders in Business and Life
Email: russ@integraleadershipreview.com
Tel: 831.333-9200, FAX: 831.656-0110
Disclaimer:
This material is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Financial, Legal and Professional information is not Financial, Legal and Professional advice. You should see a Financial, Legal or Professional in the area in which you live if you need advice.
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Thank you.