What makes KCR tick as an efficient and effective leader : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

What makes KCR tick as an efficient and effective leader

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

The Pioneer (07-05-2020)

Experts make a distinction between being efficient and proving effective whether one is talking about management or leadership. The word effective presupposes one who is adequate to accomplish purpose and produces the intended or expected result. The term efficient implies performing or functioning in the best possible manner with the least waste of time and effort.

According to management legend Peter Drucker, efficiency is doing things right, whereas, effectiveness is doing the right things. Effective leaders differ widely in their personalities, strengths, weaknesses, values, and beliefs. All they have in common is that they get the right things done. No matter the style of the leader, the effective ones also treat people with respect. An effective leader is a person with a passion for a cause.  He or she has a dream and a vision for bettering society in their own sphere of influence. For Drucker success in anything began with effectiveness.

From the above standpoints, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao is both an efficient and effective leader. This is reflected in his handling of the coronavirus crisis. Peter Drucker’s principle is most valid to our present-day circumstances prevailing in the country and in Telangana. To define and understand what is an effective leadership, it is better to briefly analyse the pre and Post Coronavirus situation in the country, how the Centre has responded and how Telangana under the leadership KCR responded.

KCR provided effective leadership to contain and prevent spread of Coronavirus without letting people panic. The speed with which the spread of the virus was contained in Karimnagar, much before the term ‘containment zone’ became a buzzword, is the quintessence of his effective leadership. Right from the beginning of the outbreak KCR has kept himself abreast of the ground realities, while taking preventive and corrective steps to contain the Corona virus.

KCR has proved that he is a leader with vision and foresight. Given his exemplary response to the Covid-19 or Coronavirus and the much talked about policies and programmes of his administration, he is a leader who knows pulse of the people. This is exemplified by the manner in which Telangana lifted ban on sale of liquor in the State in accordance with the stipulated guidelines of centre. KCR was left with no alternative except to lift as all the bordering states did so as soon as Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced relaxations. It would have been apt had the Prime Minister consulted the respective Chief Ministers before he took this decision through a video conference, the way he consulted while extending the earlier lockdown.    

During the Press Conference on May 5, KCR made studied observations on how the Central Government was trying to undermine the federal spirit in the country and how it was planning to usurp certain State powers. He referred to the proposed Act through which the Centre is trying to take control of the country’s power sector. Under the Act, the Centre would take all important decisions with regard to the power sector from appointing members to the Regulatory Commission to deciding on the subsidies, tariff to giving incentives etc. The new law could throw into disarray the systems in place in Telangana to ensure 24-hour-free-uninterrupted-power supply to farm sector and dismantle the concessions given to various categories.

KCR also touched on the rigid economic fiscal policies of the Centre regardless of the severe economic recession and deep financial crisis in the country prior to and post Coronavirus spread. He was the first CM to write a letter to the Prime Minister suggesting that the economic stimulus could be provided through Quantitative Easing (QE) and the effective use of helicopter money. The CM also advocated for more innovative economic and fiscal policies from the government to get over the present crisis.

KCR was also the first CM to argue in favour of extension of the lockdown period before Modi sounded CMs. KCR’s observations during the May 5 press conference, that any virus causing pandemic would weaken in a 70-day period reflects expert opinion. This observation was in tune with the statement made by Prof Isaac Ben-Israel and perhaps the World Health Organization, suggesting that Coronavirus outbreak could die out within 70 days. The extension of lockdown in the State to May 29, is significant, for it would mark the completion of 70 days. This is yet another example of effective decision making.

At the national level, we have the most efficient Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a leader enjoying credibility among the people across the country who respond eagerly to his occasional calls be it clapping, clanging of utensils, lighting a lamp, switching of the lights etc.

Still the Centre has left much to be desired in its handling the Coronavirus situation in the country. The public engagement seen in applauding, lighting the lamps, banging the utensils etc. could have been used effectively to come up with sound plans. There can be no justification for the manner in which the centre allowed prayers involving thousands of people at Nizamuddin in Delhi.   The centre’s handling of the migrant labour crisis and the unseemly row over collection of fare from the migrant labour returning to their native places by special trains reflect lack of foresight.