"Who would you say is your favorite leader?" someone from the interview panel had asked me during my B School interview a couple of years back. I was clueless. A couple of names popped into my head but honestly, I had never paid much attention to their lives except for the occasional news in the Business newspapers. ' I am afraid I don't have an answer' I said and prayed that this answer wouldn't be the proverbial last straw that broke the camel's back. Turned out my fears were unfounded because eventually I received the letter of acceptance.
In due course MBA was over and I started working again. Over the course of years, I completely forgot about this question. Until I started watching 'Grey's Anatomy' that is. If someone were to ask me this question today, my answer would be 'Dr. Miranda Bailey'. 'Why?' you ask. Okay, here's why.
First of all, she is very good at what she does, in fact one of the best. Then the way she manages her team is a perfect blend of assertiveness, supposedly a masculine trait and nurturing, supposedly a feminine one. She is not open to suggestions when she decides who gets to work on which case. She demands discipline and obedience. She is strict and doesn't give much allowance to her team. But she waits by Christina's bedside when she is operated upon due to the complications in her pregnancy. And is the one to tell Dr. Shephard off in no uncertain terms when she senses that his constant attention will do more harm than good to Meredith after their rather public breakup.
She has a good sense of humor and is quick to respond with witty rejoinders. She has the guts to take on the The Chief whenever the situation demands. And she is perfectly capable to put the annoying relatives of a patient firmly in their place. And yet, all this comes wrapped up with the sensitivity and practicality that is so essential to becoming a good doctor and a good surgeon.
Oh yes, Dr. Miranda Bailey is my idea of a perfect leader. I must confess that I wasn't too fond of her when I started watching the show. She was a bit too high-handed for my taste. But as the show progressed, my opinion changed. I was disappointed when she went on leave following her pregnancy. But I am glad that she has come back - time for more leadership lessons I guess :-)
In due course MBA was over and I started working again. Over the course of years, I completely forgot about this question. Until I started watching 'Grey's Anatomy' that is. If someone were to ask me this question today, my answer would be 'Dr. Miranda Bailey'. 'Why?' you ask. Okay, here's why.
First of all, she is very good at what she does, in fact one of the best. Then the way she manages her team is a perfect blend of assertiveness, supposedly a masculine trait and nurturing, supposedly a feminine one. She is not open to suggestions when she decides who gets to work on which case. She demands discipline and obedience. She is strict and doesn't give much allowance to her team. But she waits by Christina's bedside when she is operated upon due to the complications in her pregnancy. And is the one to tell Dr. Shephard off in no uncertain terms when she senses that his constant attention will do more harm than good to Meredith after their rather public breakup.
She has a good sense of humor and is quick to respond with witty rejoinders. She has the guts to take on the The Chief whenever the situation demands. And she is perfectly capable to put the annoying relatives of a patient firmly in their place. And yet, all this comes wrapped up with the sensitivity and practicality that is so essential to becoming a good doctor and a good surgeon.
Oh yes, Dr. Miranda Bailey is my idea of a perfect leader. I must confess that I wasn't too fond of her when I started watching the show. She was a bit too high-handed for my taste. But as the show progressed, my opinion changed. I was disappointed when she went on leave following her pregnancy. But I am glad that she has come back - time for more leadership lessons I guess :-)
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