Leadership - Introduction to "The Grey Zone"

This blog is an attempt to put down my experiences and insights as an evolving Leader. I feel I have value to add on this – as I was not born or made into a Leader, but I just “DID” by deciding to become one.

What I believe is unique to this is that, firstly, it is a view from the ground - a perspective from somebody who has grown into this understanding. Secondly, the contents have been culled from my personal experiences and observations. And finally, I hope to keep the topics relevant and real-world and not based on theory.

I do not claim to be an expert, nor am I an academician steeped in research on the topic. Much has been written and discussed at length by both such groups. I hope to bring a more down-to-earth kind of Guidebook to Leaders who “would be” and “who are”.

Many a time in my career, I have longed for two things - a Mentor on Leadership and a Handbook of Leadership. I found neither. That is not to say that I did not come across Great and not-so-Great advice/guidance along the way. But I certainly missed having some sort of guideposts and mile-markers for me to then decide the route to take in my quest to become a Leader.

What I hope earnestly is that this blog and others like it become one of a set of guideposts along the path.


Leadership begins with the need for a very fundamental understanding…Situations in life are very rarely black or white. They are more likely to be a shade of Grey. The greater the acceptance of this fundamental principle, the sooner and easier it becomes to cope with the realities of Leadership.

The challenges this throws up from a Leadership perspective are very akin to the challenges of dealing with Life – which is very much about exercising judgment, being honest, being realistic and most important of all – Persevering with Patience.

In my personal experience what I have found consistently about Leadership is, you learn as much about the situations and people you interact with, as you learn about yourself as an individual. For those on the path of Leadership, be prepared to be exposed and very often quite vulnerable.

One of the keys to succeeding in this Grey Zone of ambiguity and even at times murkiness is a simple acceptance of such vagueness. It is only through an acceptance that directions which at first glance would seem impossible, come through to become a reality.

Further, Leadership is about Belief. Belief in yourself, in the people you work with, in the situations you are faced with and most of all – in an attitude that can at best be described as Positive.

It requires a commitment and willingness – almost an embracing of the concept of Change. But I would like to add a caveat to this – Positive Change.

Not all change is good and most certainly, most change is naturally hard to accept. The successful Leader is one who will embrace change and make it positive while others are still struggling to explain it.

I intend to approach this as a series of posts in this blog and welcome comments and debate. And I hope a great many of these topics will stay as burning issues much into the future – because the day some of these issues diminish, the world will have no need of Leaders and Oh what a dull world that would be.