BENGALURU: Women have good organizational skills and with proper guidance and little refining they could be efficient leaders as well. Sushma Rajagopalan, CEO and MD, ITC Infotech, explains ET in five points what it takes to emerge as a leader in the IT industry.

To be a leader is not an easy job and there are some important qualities aspiring leaders must possess. A well informed and efficient woman can make a good leader. Well to get there you must inculcate the following traits. These are the Five C’s recommended by Sushma Rajagopalan.

Firstly, Clarity of Thought, not just in the work place but this must be applied in every task taken up. Being clear of ‘what’, ‘why and ‘how’ must be made a habit. This habit is crucial to give credence to one’s convictions.

The Second ‘C’ is the Courage to act. Courage is the logical result of the first ‘C’, the clarity of thought. One must learn to capitalize on the opportunities to speak up and act. Act without fear or failure, there is actually no question of fear, if you are confident with your views.

Third comes the tricky ‘C’, that is the Charisma to influence. Charisma is not everybody’s cup of tea. Agreed, but it is also not difficult that one cannot master. One must be a people’s leader that doesn’t mean a horrible boss. It is important to earn the trust from your colleagues and manage them. This is a true leader’s charm.

Character is ultimate quality. Earn the respect by presenting yourself in the best possible behavior. Integrity, honesty, loyalty, courage, fortitude are some of the qualities you must possess. Be the best in what you do and show the commitment. Also learn not to compromise on your task.

The most important of all these ‘C’s is Competency. One cannot deny brash corporate work ethics. Be prepared for the worst and equip yourself with the latest technologies and stay updated with emerging business trends. And to outsmart others, it is essential to understand one or two domains of the industry extremely well.

The Five ‘C’s pretty much sum up the most essential qualities of a dynamic leader. Keep this in place and continue marching ahead.

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