Someone asked me how did I arrive at naming the conceptual learning framework as QTIME framework? It so happened because of the intentional paradigm shift from assuming the learning ends when we finish school or college to learning never ends and continuous with one difference – learning must take in multiple dimensions.
With that perspective, I had to think of the number of dimensions in which learning must take place and found that a must is a way to learn in a minimum of Four Dimensions with a provision for new learning to replace old learning or a provision to unlearn as a minimum.
This is what I saw at VLEAD and was excited to know more. The naming of the leadership institute as VLEAD highlights that We Lead – period. Once this mission is understood, the next thing that becomes evident is that the leaders see that they are alone in the front, they need to carve a path for the rest who follow them and that path should lead to growth and development of right kind.
The very name Vivekananda Leadership Institute, imbibes in one’s mind the strong moral values that are attached or that are present at the institute to learn to lead. The name Vivekananda is so well revered in India, it enthuses Trust implicitly. The Methods followed cannot bring down Swami Vivekananda in any way or the other. The Effort dimension is implicitly attached to the Methods followed as the great words of Swami Vivekananda not only energizes those who seek him, but puts away the fear from those who think they cannot achieve. I dare say that Swami Vivekananda’s pearls of wisdom should be starting point at any learning to realize what really should be the Effort and what really should be the Method in infusing learning in young minds.
What was left out from the QTIME learning framework was the Innovation dimension. I wanted to visit the Institute myself to gather that information or look for that information. An opportunity to meet the founder of the Institute Dr. R Balasubramaniam was made possible with the help from a few like-minded and very good friends.
An opportunity to meet the founder in person will be an opportunity to learn to start a new foundation that I was so committed to take up. The Doctor by profession turning around to feel the need to imbibe leadership qualities in young minds and to take up that task to do it was nothing short of herculean effort. I do sincerely hope I get his support and the support of his network of friends and colleagues to start the learning foundation. I am positively confident that Learn to Lead will get a boost that is worthy of the efforts put in by the founder and his colleagues.
The search for Innovation dimension of learning was either existing or not was the only thing left for me to do at the institute after the meeting. I was suspecting that as the strong values attached to Swami Vivekananda’s words would make it hard to think innovatively. I was wrong. As long as we look at these words of wisdom that has no expiration date like the air, water and earth, we can be rest assured that these will act as building blocks for a strong dam that can hold the precious values to be distributed later to where it is needed. figuring out those building blocks are the essence of leadership qualities.
I casually asked for a place that I can find to eat. I was instead offered to visit their catering service that caters to those who study at the institute. I was prepared to pay for the food as anyone else would expect it to be the case. However, the assistance I received to find the place, and a respectful welcome at the facility was enough to make you half-full already. Then the writing on the wall which said, “Eat with a smile”, was sufficient to make you feel satisfied even before you start.
I was not still sure of the things I was looking for. So I left, a bit deflated. Few weeks later, when I happened to take a ride to Mysore with another good friend, I learnt about the things that eyes could not see during my last visit. That has to wait for my next blog.