This quote by Shashi Tharoor, newly elected Member of Parliament and a former UN diplomat made me sit up and take notice.
“It was an extraordinary moment to have the PM come on phone and speak and then handover the phone to UPA chairperson Mrs. (Sonia) Gandhi who also spoke”.
 Shashi has been inducted as a Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs and is a member of the Indian Parliament from the Trivandrum constituency in Kerala.
 He goes on to describe the moment as an ‘overwhelming experience’.
 When someone of his stature (a well known author and the former Under Secretary of Communications and Public Information in the United Nations) found a personal call from a leader so meaningful, what would be the impact of a leader in your organization directly connecting with employees?
 Shashi talks of the move to call him as something which they had ‘given a great deal of importance’.
 I think as internal communicators, we have a responsibility of educating and coaching our leaders to be more visible, be more direct in their communication and be heard more often.
 Especially during tough times, it makes a world of a difference to employees if a leader walks up or calls them to appreciate the great work they are doing or inviting them over for a conversation on how to scale challenges together.
 Have you come across other examples of leaders demonstrating their personal touch? Share them here.
Of course there are real leaders, i met one who mentored me and literally changed my life both professionally and personally. The experience left me braver, bolder and gave me a whole new insight into being more than just who i am. Consequently the bar was raised and i cant find myself accepting mediocrity, cant give less than 100% of myself to anything and try and be of use to everyone because this is a small world and small gestures go a long way.
I chanced upon your blog and found it very informative. The event blogs are striking enough to have a feel of the event, so, I would like to have a little chit-chat on your blogging interests. And even we are coming up with an event on startups on June 6th. So, can I have your contact details? Looking forward to hear from you.
Connecting with those lead ,by a leader ,is the hallmark of empathetic leadership,which is the essence of sustainable management. Only a person with an extended sense of self can be an effective leader,capable of inspiring people by just contacting them personally,enquiring about their work and welfare,mentoring them,appearing to be sincere in their well being in the organisation,trying to take care of the personal within the organisational matrix.
Like what MONISHA notes these are things that many know but few put to practice in organisations.Some of my friends in some good and performing organisations like Cognizant say they have an excellent HR policy in place,giving due credit for merit,mentoring people to become future leaders,tapping on potential,being proactive than hind sight oriented,helping to build teams alongwith developing individuals,meshing in the goals in an act of facilitation than forcing-Japanese are said to have succeeded because they have a godfather in the organisation for new employees who provide him with succour and sustenance while preparing him for the tough challenges ahead,giving him an hand when he falters,and encouraging him along when he does well.Now that is under change impelled by internationalisation of management thinking that puts the onus on the individual rather than the organisation chipping in,both to take credit and share blame.