How to Lead So Well Your Team Won’t Want to Leave?
The Irresistible Manager by Bhushan Kulkarni
In a world where leadership often feels like a series of checkboxes, given KPIs, quarterly targets, and performance reviews, what if we shifted the focus to something more apparent and simple? What if leadership was about connection, purpose, and the ability to inspire trust and loyalty? The Irresistible Manager: Managing, Leading, and Thriving in a Disrupted World by Bhushan Kulkarni offers quite a refreshing perspective on what it means to lead in today's complex and ever-changing landscape.
From Taskmaster to Trusted Leader
The book begins with a powerful question asking Why do people become managers? In many Indian corporate settings, individuals are promoted because they excelled as individual contributors. However, as the book illustrates through the story of Rajiv, a mid-level manager in a Mumbai-based pharma firm, elaborating how technical expertise doesn't automatically translate into effective leadership. Rajiv's struggle with team dynamics and aligning his personal values with the company's culture serves as a reminder that leadership is not just about climbing the corporate ladder but about finding purpose and fit.
Leading in a VUCA World
In today's VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) world, managers are expected to be adaptive leaders. The book emphasizes the importance of creating spaces where teams can co-create solutions, navigate ambiguity, and learn continuously. This approach aligns with Ronald Heifetz's concept of adaptive leadership, where the focus shifts from having all the answers to fostering an environment that encourages collaboration and innovation.
Embracing Technology with Empathy
One of the standout aspects of The Irresistible Manager is its emphasis on integrating AI and other emerging technologies in team and performance management. Rather than glorifying technology for its own sake, there has been a demonstration of how tools can amplify human strengths. For instance, a people manager in Hyderabad using AI-driven insights to personalize learning journeys for her team and identify burnout signals early exemplifies how technology can enhance human-centric leadership.
The Invisible Currency of Trust Building
Trust is the foundation of any high-performing team. The author draws parallels with Indian examples to describe how trust deficits can derail even the most well-funded and well-structured projects. Conversely, in organizations where trust is consciously nurtured, say in some new-age startups and agile corporate units, the teams become resilient, creative, and collaborative. This emphasis on trust underscores its role as the invisible currency that drives team performance and organizational success.
Thriving Amidst Disruptions
The book offers strategies to not just survive but thrive in the face of disruption. Whether it's remote work, multi-generational teams, or the rise of gig workers, each of these has been tackled with optimism and clarity. The approach is grounded in emotional intelligence, helping managers embrace change with empathy, agility, and authenticity.
The Irresistible Manager redefines management not as a static role but as a dynamic, evolving mindset. It's about making yourself so credible, empathetic, and value-adding that your team doesn't just respect you but they also want to work with you. They find you irresistible. The book doesn't preach, it partners. It doesn't just inform, it transforms. And in doing so, it becomes a must-read for anyone and for everyone who dares to lead with heart, courage, and wisdom.
Available on:
Amazon.in | Flipkart | WFP Store
From the Editor's desk
Vanshika Gupta