It was in 1984 that Rajiv Gandhi led his party to a colossal election victory and took oath as India’s youngest Prime Minister. In my lifetime, I haven’t seen any other Indian leader whip up so much euphoria, excitement and expectation among a billion people regarding their individual as well country’s future.
As a high-school student at that time, I was least interested in either Rajiv’s credentials or his policies… I was simply bowled over by his personality. At 40, Rajiv was charismatic, suave, witty, and bursting with energy. The entire nation was charmed… and for the first time, Indians felt we could take on the world and win!
Seven years later, Narasimha Rao was sworn in as India’s 10th Prime Minister. He was the anti-thesis of Rajiv Gandhi in the truest sense of the word… he couldn’t charm a kid to have an ice cream! And he hardly ever uttered a word, notwithstanding the fact that he could speak 17 languages!!! What about his energy levels? Well, they were non-existent. Rao was a scholar and a poet, but at my age then, I clearly wasn’t inspired by my leader. His trademark pout wasn’t working for me… and for a majority of my countrymen (and women, if I may add).
Business leaders too face similar challenges in terms of having to strike an instant chord with team members and making a positive first impression on them. This can be critical because a good first impression can go a long way in being accepted as a leader and in winning the team’s support and loyalty.
But is the first impression always the best impression???
The dashing and magnetic Rajiv Gandhi won a record-breaking mandate from his people to create history, but failed miserably. On the other hand, the dull and boring Narasimha Rao formed a minority government and rewrote history! Rao will forever be remembered as the “Father of Indian Economic Reforms”… the man who paved the way for India’s emergence as an economic super power.
Only proves that a good first impression by a leader may not have much to do with his/her ultimate performance.
