Narendra Modi – From Chaiwala to India’s Highest Karyaalaya
Reading success stories of greatest professionals stimulates motivational enzyme within us and we all wish to emulate them on the path of success.
Exactly with this aim, we are presenting you series of success stories of Professionals who have carved niche in their own way and have become icons of Management Fraternity.
Following above you will read today motivational story of Shri Narendra Modi
The rise of Shri Narendra Modi is not your usual rags to riches journey. At every juncture, he has proved his mettle as an able manager, extraordinary leader, swift learner, and humble human being. Time and again, he has had rendezvous with failure and defiance, but every time he has resurrected himself and continued to progress in life. Here are some crucial lessons a management student can learn by looking back at his life.
Early Life
Narendra Modi was born on 17th September 1950 to a poor yet humble family of grocers. His childhood was just as tough as lakhs of those children who were born in the post-independence era when India as a nation was still struggling with demons like poverty and unemployment. Despite dismal conditions, Narendra Bhai helped his father raise his family. He performed meager jobs such as selling tea on railway platforms yet continued going to school. At a very young age, he understood the importance of learning, education, and being independent.
The lesson for Management Students
- Never stop learning.
- Learn, Unlearn and Re-Learn
- Keep expanding your skill-set.
Read More : Mr. Anand Mahindra, Naresh Goyal
Joining the RSS
Narendra Modi came in contact with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at a very young age. Narendra Bhai learned focus, discipline, and dedication while being an active member of RSS. He left his home shortly after completing his school education and later in some interviews confirmed that he appeared for college and university level exams via correspondence. He met many influential people and emerging leaders while being a member of RSS such as Lakshmanrao Inamdar, Vasant Gajendragadkar, Nathalal Jaghda. He kept strengthening his ties and was mentored by many of them.
Lessons for Management Students
- Strengthen your network
- Work with your peers and learn from your seniors
- Follow your passion, but keep adding new skills
Joining the BJP
Narendra Modi set foot into politics by joining the Gujrat wing of the Bhartiya Janta Party, an emerging party in the 1980s with a staunch Hindu ideology. It was one of the few parties that stood against the Indira regime who had enforced the Emergency in India. He primarily worked as an Innovative Field Officer and dedicatedly established the party’s foothold in his home state, Gujrat. He was known for his innovative organizational methods which catered to both – the growth of the party and well-being of the individuals. He is known to have designed and implemented many programs in his political party such as the 1000 Community level Group Meetings and efforts to involve women members.
Lessons for Management Students
- Always be a team player
- Bring the team together and work for the greater good (profit) of the community (organization/team)
- Always think ‘out of the box’ and be innovative
- Add a human/emotional element to your task
Read More : Mallika Srinivasan, Ajay Piramal
As Chief Minister of Gujrat
Narendra Modi is the longest serving Chief Minister of Gujarat and was re-elected four times. He is known to change the face of Gujrat, making it one of the most secure states to live and technologically robust. He started many initiatives and implemented schemes and programs during his almost 14-year tenure as a CM in Gujrat. With the IT booming, Narendra Modi made the best of it and digitalized his state and made it self-sufficient. He is also known to have pro-development policies that helped micro, small and medium scale industries flourish in Gujrat.
Lessons for Management Students
- Promote inclusiveness
- Keep upgrading yourself technically
- Think about every member of your team
- Take risks and keep progressing ahead
Read More : Sunita Williams, Naina Lal Kidwai
As Two-Time Prime Minister of India
Narendra Modi started as a chaiwala and paved his way to the Prime Minister’s Karyaalaya, not once but twice with a thumping majority. In 2014 he invited leaders of SAARC nations as special guests for the swearing-in ceremony, and in 2019 he has invited BIMSTEC leaders. If we look at the NAMO 1.0 cabinet, it was a carefully chosen one where the ministries were allotted on the merit and record of his ministers. By selecting MPs like Smriti Irani, he also showed his openness to young talent and instilled confidence in them. Even during the 2019 elections, he and his party chose a young 28-year old candidate (Tejasvi Surya) who ultimately ended up winning in his constituency. The NAMO 1.0 is known to implement schemes (Ujwala), policies (GST), and programs (Make In India, Skill India) that have helped boost the economy and bridge the rich – middle class – poor income gap. He has been criticized for some of his policies and decisions, but he has taken them with a pinch of salt and continued to work for the betterment of the country.
Lessons for Management Students
- Keep your ties secure with your allies and non-allies
- Be a visionary and inclusive leader
- Think of both short-term and long-term goals as a leader (or manager)
- Be trustworthy and trust your team
- Divide and delegate the work keeping in mind a team member’s caliber, credentials, and commitment
As an Election Campaigner
Narendra Modi- led election campaign has been by far the most ferocious, widespread, and with maximum ROI – complete majority in both the elections for his party. During both the 2014 and 2019 election campaigns, he has demonstrated some excellent management/leadership qualities that every management student must learn from. They are:
- Be goal-oriented
- Define short-term and long-term goals
- Be a team player and use their strengths and weaknesses to your advantage
- Plan and play your cards
- Keep motivating your team members
- Dedication and determination
- Stay relevant to your core belief
- Think globally, act locally, connect universally
- Strengthen your network
- Lead by example
In addition to the above, two qualities that have always been Narendra Modi’s strength throughout his life are – his communication skills and “ability to connect” skills. He is an excellent orator and has the art of adding a personal element to all his speeches, debates, and conversations. This is an essential lesson that management students who see themselves as leaders and change maters must possess.
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