Prasad Narasimhan
CMO, Virgin Mobile
For the launch of Virgin Mobile in March 2008, we had invited Sir Richard Branson. True to his style, we had planned for him to jump 300ft off the roof of the Hilton Hotel in Mumbai, right into the middle of waiting journalists. Richard could not make it for the rehearsals. And despite all the precautions we had taken, his advisers were unconvinced about his safety. They were adamant that he jump off a much lower height (if at all) – 60 ft. This was clearly not going to create the magic for us, but the stalemate ensued. Enter Richard. He heard all sides and he then asked – “Who’s in charge here?” I stepped up. We were meeting for the very first time. He looked me square in the eye and asked – “How safe is this?” I told him that the contraption that managed the stunt was the same, whether he jumped off 60ft or 300ft. But the choice was his, as he was making the jump. Here was a multi-billionaire, world-famous icon, business rock star. He looked at me for a few moments, grinned, and said – “300ft it is!” He jumped to a great ovation and outstanding news coverage. How well he had internalised his own words – “I can’t do it myself; so I choose really good people across the world, and let them do their stuff!” For leaders, what can be more important than followership – and what can motivate more than this brand of total and unconditional trust in your people!
CMO, Virgin Mobile
For the launch of Virgin Mobile in March 2008, we had invited Sir Richard Branson. True to his style, we had planned for him to jump 300ft off the roof of the Hilton Hotel in Mumbai, right into the middle of waiting journalists. Richard could not make it for the rehearsals. And despite all the precautions we had taken, his advisers were unconvinced about his safety. They were adamant that he jump off a much lower height (if at all) – 60 ft. This was clearly not going to create the magic for us, but the stalemate ensued. Enter Richard. He heard all sides and he then asked – “Who’s in charge here?” I stepped up. We were meeting for the very first time. He looked me square in the eye and asked – “How safe is this?” I told him that the contraption that managed the stunt was the same, whether he jumped off 60ft or 300ft. But the choice was his, as he was making the jump. Here was a multi-billionaire, world-famous icon, business rock star. He looked at me for a few moments, grinned, and said – “300ft it is!” He jumped to a great ovation and outstanding news coverage. How well he had internalised his own words – “I can’t do it myself; so I choose really good people across the world, and let them do their stuff!” For leaders, what can be more important than followership – and what can motivate more than this brand of total and unconditional trust in your people!
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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2010.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).
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