Shaping Leadership: Lessons from Life and Challenges!
During my tenure as a lecturer at the Government Polytechnics, I was deputed in 1996 for higher education (M.Tech.Ed.) under the World Bank Assisted Project (WBAP) at the National Institute for Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTTR), Bhopal. Prior to this, I served as an Assistant Engineer in the Public Works Department and held the position of Principal at a private Polytechnic.
My experience at NITTTR was transformative. The institute's faculty, under the dynamic leadership of Prof. R.K. Mani, who was nationally recognized as a champion of polytechnic education, left a lasting impression on me. I was particularly fascinated by the institute's Library and Learning Resource Centre, which housed a wealth of knowledge —national and international journals, magazines, and audio-video resources. I often immersed myself in case studies from the Harvard Business Review, management books by Peter Drucker, and leadership principles by Stephen Covey. For my studies in Psychology, I referred to the works of Sigmund Freud and Abraham Maslow. I also explored Peter Senge's contemporary model on Learning Organizations, which was groundbreaking at the time.
My passion for Leadership, ignited during my childhood through autobiographies of great leaders, was reignited at NITTTR. A three-day session conducted by Prof. Chandrashekhar, a former NITTTR faculty member who had come from the USA, further deepened my interest in Management and Leadership. Inspired by his teachings, I decided to delve deeper into this field.
Upon returning to the Polytechnic, I began applying the principles and strategies I had learned. I conducted numerous training programs for polytechnic teachers across Maharashtra. During one of the training programs I conducted, namely "Institutional Management," I had invited the esteemed Japanese expert, Mr. Masu Moora, to share insights on Kaizen; a philosophy centered around continuous improvement. His expertise enriched us to integrate the principles of Kaizen into organizational practices.
I also got an opportunity to work as contributory faculty in the Management Department at Kavayitri Bahinabai Chaudhari Vishwavidyalaya, Jalgaon. Dr. Ms. Kshipra Thakare was the Head of the Management Department. It was during this time that I decided to undertake the research under her mentorship.
In my research, l explored various leadership theories and styles. One that particularly resonated with me was the Situational Leadership Theory. This concept, championed by Dr. Paul Hersey and Dr. Ken Blanchard, emphasized that leaders should not be rigidly labeled as autocratic or democratic. Instead, leaders should adapt their style to suit different situations, considering their followers' capabilities and the nature of the tasks. This approach intrigued me, and I decided to examine how these styles were utilized by principals in polytechnics.
When I later had the opportunity to serve as a Principal in Government Polytechnics, I implemented these leadership strategies effectively. I granted autonomy to my colleagues, providing support whenever necessary. Breaking the tradition, I appointed women faculty members as Chairman of Admission Committee, and Incharge of Examinations. I appreciated their success, while shortcoming, if any, was addressed constructively. I take a great pride to mention here that our women faculty approved DBT scholarship proposals on the night of Diwali and Bhaubij as it was very much urgent and the given target was to be achieved. In heavy rains, I saw woman faculty with umbrella in her hand, controlling the situation when the explosion of the transformer occurred on campus!
During my life, my resilience and decision-making abilities were tested many times. One notable incident, I share here:
While working as Principal, one day a girl was found missing from the college hostel. The media sensationalized the story, alleging a kidnapping of a girl from the hostel. The college administration was held responsible by the parents. Police complaint was lodged by the parents. Investigation started. The police came to Hostel, checked the entry register with security, met room partners of the girl and enquired about the matter with the wardens and rector.
While the matter was being investigated by police, we were all worried about the safety of the girl.
One day, the police arrived with the photographs of a college girl who was found dead in the nearby vicinity, for identification. Thankfully, it was not our student, but the incident left us deeply shocked. The atmosphere on campus grew tense.
The police began visiting the campus daily, sometimes even late at night. At one point I found that policemen were unnecessarily exerting pressure on wardens and rector. So I urged them not to do that and focus on finding the girl.
By gaining the trust of the girl's roommates, we obtained crucial information. We learned that the girl had been in contact with her friends using a secondary mobile phone. The vital details were immediately shared with the police, and we requested them to send police party to the possible locations of the girl. The girl was successfully traced. We kept it secret as the matter had become very sensitive.
I called the parents in my cabin and informed them about the chain of events. I also informed the parents that their daughter had willingly left with a friend. I assured them safe recovery of girl. Then I advised them to take the girl with them. After completing all the formalities, I issued leaving certificate to the girl. With folded hands, the parents apologised for the allegations they had made against us and then left the cabin.
Reflecting on the experiences and insights, I reiterate: A leader is a person who is sensitive to the environment, who shoulders the responsibility, and who puts in earnest efforts to solve the problems.
My experiences as a Student Leader, Researcher, and Principal, which I have shared on my blogs, have taught me that true leadership lies in empowering others and standing firm in challenging situations!
Dr. Mahendra Ingale, Former Principal @Pune, April 14, 2025
