In the chain of motivational lectures today it was Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Singh Yadav, SM, DGST& Senior Colonel Commandant who addressed the students of IIT Kanpur through a video message.

Col Ashok Mor, the Officer In charge NCC at IIT Kanpur told that Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Singh Yadav is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla. Gen is a graduate of Defence Services Staff College Wellington, Higher Defence Management Course from College of Defence Management, Secunderabad and National Defence College, New Delhi. Lt Gen MKS Yadav is a recipient of Sena Medal and COAS Commendation Card for distinguished service.

While addressing the students of IIT Kanpur on Leadership, General said that Leadership is an active living process rooted in correct force by experience and communicated by examples, to create impact, influence and inspirations. Leadership is not so much about technique and methods as it is about opening the heart. It is about inspiration of oneself and also of others.Great leadership is not only about processes but human experiences. Leadership neither has any chemical formula or any mechanical design nor it is a computer program, it’s a human activity that comes from the heart and considers the heart of others. It is in-fact an attitude and not a routine.

Lt Gen MKS Yadav said that the true art of leadership implies that leaders don’t create followers, they create more leaders. It is about making others better in their presence and making sure that it even lasts in their absence.Great leader don’t said out to be leaders they are said out to make a difference. They are never about their role it about their goal. The difference between a leader and a great is leader is that a leader only takes people where they want to go, whereas a great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go but ought to go. A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the need of others. He doesn’t said out to be a leader but becomes one by the quality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.

What is the test of leadership?

It is to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency.In - fact leadership comprises of so many attributes that if I keep listing them out then they will fall short, so I will briefly touch upon two most striking attributes with my experience.

The first attribute of leadership is vision. A vision without any action is a daydream and an action without a vision is a nightmare, and you don’t want either. That’s where you as a leader are acquired, who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way. Second most cardinal attribute is decision making. You ought to have the ability of quick and a swift decision making and once the decision has been made accept 100% responsibility for it and abide by it. You can be decisive only if you have the confidence which is a result of your professional knowledge, so keep acquiring knowledge by studying hard.

He ended his talk with a quote, frequently used by our Ex President Late Doctor A.P.J. ABDUL KALAM - If your want to leave your footprints on the sand of time, don’t drag your feet.

He wished luck to the first-year students for the coming times and the challenges that they would have to face in life and the path they follow.