Dr Ankoor Dasguupta On How Leaders Make Difficult Decisions
Be a believer — however philosophical it may sound, your belief that you will sail through is the key. It is okay to be a catapult at times, like taking few steps back to swing in full speed! These all points are from my experience.
As a leader, some things are just unavoidable. Being faced with hard choices is one of them. Leadership often entails making difficult decisions or hard choices between two apparently good paths. What’s the best way to go about this? Is there a “toolkit” or a skill set to help leaders sort out their feelings and make the best possible decisions? As part of our series about “How Leaders Make Difficult Decisions,” we had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Ankoor Dasguupta.
A select Member of Leaders Excellence [MLE] at Harvard Square, Dr. Ankoor Dasguupta is ICF accredited Professional Certified Coach (PCC), a CMO and a Thought Leader. An active Keynote speaker and writer with close to 100 published works and multiple regular columns in global publications, Ankoor has been covered in multiple international magazine Cover Stories and winner of the coveted national level D. A.P.J Abdul Kalam Inspiration award 2024 and also recipient of Man of Excellence by the prestigious Indian Achievers’ Forum, while with 24 years’ work experience, Dr. Dasguupta lives with two wonderful ladies- his soulmate Arpita, little daughter Kiyaana, while he also believes in building delightful, sustainable and powerful teams bringing amazing experiences for people. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ankoordasguupta/ | Ankoor Dasguupta Indian Speaker Bureau | Ankoor’s Course
Thank you so much for your time! I know that you are a very busy person. Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’ and how you got started?
First of all, thanks to you for this interview. Born and brought up in New Delhi, have mostly lived in a joint family with my parents and grandparents and that has been an amazing experience. I love engaging conversations, and I deeply believe in nurturing relationships.
Regarding my area of work, I consider marketing and advertising as a romance rather than just a subject. It is an ocean with fast evolution and hence I also spend my time reading voraciously. My beginnings were almost like going with the flow; I was an average student in school and college and the best part is I have never had a problem with being average as it has always acted a blessing in disguise for me to become more disciplined each day and not take life too seriously. I feel good about how my life has evolved, and I am grateful. I have taken challenges in my stride and respected each day as it begins with a new sunshine. In the process I keep unlearning and upskilling, the most recent one going through intensive study and practice for becoming a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with my niche in Leadership, Communication & Business.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful for who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?
I am a believer that each and every one that I have come in substantial contact with, starting from my childhood has either hurt me in some way, or taught me something very important, or helped me get closer to something I wanted to achieve, or help me bring clarity of thought. So, I mean I when I say that all the people with both bad intent and good intent have only helped me rise in my life. If I got to think of few people, it’s been my grandparents, my wife and my daughter.
Thank you for all that. Let’s now turn to the main focus of our discussion. Can you share with our readers a story from your own experience about how you lead your team during uncertain or difficult times?
Certainly, there are so many of them! However, this one instance during the beginning years of my career is close to my heart where there was a lot of ambiguity, challenges in a International IP that we were getting in India for the first time. We won that because of few reasons that I observe- listen more than speak, if any one in or team felt demotivated there was someone who used to motivate us back and our leadership that time was fabulous , they empowered all in our team including myself and took the most pressure on themselves but they ensured that we have all that we need to do our work even in that ambiguity. Now when I look back, I understand at a senior leadership level there is more than just work and business- it is about your people first.
Did you ever consider giving up? Where did you get the motivation to continue through challenges? What sustains your drive?
Few times yes, for instance in my first job with GE, we were sent on an On-The-Job Training (OJT) for around 6 months to Melbourne. That was my first International flight as well. No doubt it was fun too, however, the initial first month was challenging to co-live with a team, to understand each other and work as a team as well. What I learnt is collaboration is beyond work, It applies to personal life as well and that spirit of collaboration was also laced with quite a few arguments with some team members and I learnt from there how to be assertive rather than aggressive and how to listen first carefully, before speaking.
What process or toolset can a leader use to make a choice between two difficult paths?
I’d say, don’t go for too many processes and don’t over-think. Take one step back when you can. Just learn from any bad decision and keep your communication effective. See, if you are at the top, it is expected that you will have a better and panoramic view than others, which means that you are expected to anticipate challenges better. My observation is forming your own style of navigating difficult paths as everyone’s path is unique. But yes, what helped me is my ability to unlearn fast which in turn helps me to stay relevant. In this process I am known to be super at nurturing relationships and building supersonic team culture where people get involved at the ‘value’ level which easily helps them focus on the business goal as well. At times, think of a catapult, it needs to go back first. So, knowing when to play on front foot and when on backfoot and when to catapult is what a leader must be excellent at as well.
Do you have a mentor or someone you can turn to for support and advice? How does this help? When can a mentor be helpful? When is this not helpful?
Having a mentor is always helpful if you are aware of the time that you need a mentor. Don’t just get a mentor for the sake of it, then it may not help. I have learnt that it helps to be aware as to what would you want ‘specifically’ to be mentored on and how will you apply the learnings. Yes, I have had mentors, and it definitely helps you think better and also help you understand your better version. The nuance is you must feel ‘ready’ to get a mentor or a coach. This is because both the roles are different. When I chose my mentor and my coach, I was quite aware of why roles I wanted my mentor to play. Not that a coach can is not a mentor, but I chose 2 different people who I trust as a coach and as a mentor.
What would you say is the most critical role of a leader when faced with a difficult decision?
In a nutshell — to see what others are not able to see.
Do you ever look back at your decisions and wish you had done things differently? How can a leader remain positive and motivated despite past mistakes?
Well, the only regret I have is I wasted quite a lot of time partying in my early years of life which I feel I could have better utilized. Otherwise, there is nothing I would change. A leader becomes a ‘leader’ because that person has better and deeper emotional regulation than others. Else what is the point of a leader? Most recently a professor I was speaking with, told me “you have a lot of calm on your face and you bring a lot of calmness”. What a compliment, isn’t it !
What is the best way to boost morale when the future seems uncertain? What can a leader do to inspire, motivate and engage their team during uncertain times?
There are not so called ‘best ways according to me. However, some practices that I’d say are effective -talk to your people consistently so that if there is an uncertain time period, they know that you are the same person. Most times leaders all of a sudden become visible too much and then disappear from sight. That my friend is not right. So, be it certain or uncertain times, just be there either way, talk, communicate with your people.
Can you share 3 or 4 of the most common mistakes you have seen other businesses or leaders make when faced with a hard decision? What should one keep in mind to avoid that?
Yes, and that includes myself in my early years of career journey.
- Their perplexity reflects on their face (and they may not be even aware), percolating to other people.
- The gap between stimulus and response is not handles with care.
- Over-thinking which leads to may be worse decision making.
- Leaders forget to smile.
- They suddenly dig so deep that other people may feel why so much digging is done now (the learning being normalize audit from time to time).
Based on your experience and success, what are the five most important things a leader should do when making difficult decisions?
1. Focussed Multi-Thinker- Well, whoever said multi-thinking or multitasking does not help, I’d say — “to each his own”. To me, multitasking is the most essential ammunition to be practiced with. As a CSUITE being good at multiple thinking ad execution is where leaders’ charisma works specifically while a difficult decision needs to be made. He ability to focus on multiple things also come with belief and practice.
2. Consult Immediately — Like the kings from ages had an Advisory Board, build your won trusted closed circle and listen what they have got to say
3. Don’t miss your sleep — a healthy brain does better work, so keep yourself hydrated and even if it for some time, get that nap, that rest to function properly. Know your priorities and communicate any delay in response to any expected ones early. And, always remember — it is only as complex as we make a situation of. So if something seems complex already, avoid making it more complex by over thinking.
4. Get a Coach — always have your Coach to go back to. A trusted Coach can do magic that no textbook of management can. What I understand, even the best of leaders have a Coach. I am not talking about a mentor here, talking about a Coach. However, spend time choosing your Coach (whenever you feel is the time to get one).
5. Be a believer — however philosophical it may sound, your belief that you will sail through is the key. It is okay to be a catapult at times, like taking few steps back to swing in full speed! These all points are from my experience.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
It is actually a simple thought yet one of the most difficult to pursue. There are 4 words — Unlearning, Listening practice and consistency. If I were to make a quote from these words it ‘d be something like — “With deep listening, I unlearn, to practice the things I need to while consistency bringing success”
How can our readers further follow your work?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ankoordasguupta/
Thank you so much for sharing these important insights. We wish you continued success and good health!
Thank you, Maria. Grateful that you were able to make time for this interview. You are an amazing host!
Dr Ankoor Dasguupta On How Leaders Make Difficult Decisions was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.