Being Aggressive

Being Aggressive is one of the most talked about trait in a leader. But unfortunately, it is also one of the  frequently misunderstood trait as well.

To me aggression is not in the behaviour of the person, but how he is inside. Just because a person has a soft demeanor does not mean he is not aggressive. Nor being pushy and talking loudly means aggression. More often than not, people are quickly judged as being aggressive or not based on the way they talk, the way they move about on the floor or even by a handshake. I am not someone who can read into people's body language, but I am sure it cannot be read rightly always by the experts.

Aggression is what you deliver at work, not how. It is the ability to take on tough situations, stand up to the situations, and deliver what is needed, without faltering. Sometimes, it might be a new project to be delivered, a client to be managed, a people situation to be handled, a new challenge thrown with difficult deadlines. All these can be done successfully only if you are aggressive. Even when you fail, it is the aggression that makes a person to stand up again and push oneself to succeed the next time.

I learnt the art of being aggressive from seeing Rahul Dravid bat, especially in England and Australia. There would be bounce and swing in the pitch. Fast bowlers will try to unsettle the batsman, plus sledging to be handled. A lot of players will bat as if they can get out any ball. Dravid on the other hand was the strong guy. There would be times when he played and missed, nearly getting out, but nothing will show that he was weak. He will just get onto facing the next ball. To me that is aggression, to play as if your life depended on it, on a condition that is nearly alien, despite having your own problems and try to win.

I read this several years later when Rahul Dravid retired, a quote from Mathew Hayden - "All this going around is not aggression; if you want to see aggression on cricket field, look into Rahul Dravid’s eyes". To me, this is the best definition of being aggressive.

Talk to you next week.. until then, take care

ps: After about 5 years in my last job, I was talking to one of my friends after I got a promotion. He said " Raghu I have not known you as being aggressive but given the circumstances, your growth and in the group in which you are, shows that you are aggressive". 

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