Name: Sandeep Jaiswal

Title: Partner, Deloitte India

Organisation: Deloitte

Sandeep is a Partner in Deloitte India, Tax practice handling Indirect taxes focusing especially on Financial services sector. He has 18 years of relevant experience in Indirect tax.

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Leadership!

I hope Sandeep's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. What have you found most challenging as a leader?

The most challenging thing for me has been to create a positive environment within the organization. Keeping the motivation level high for all my employees has been the key factor in my success story.

2. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

Being a CA, my journey towards leadership began right from my pre-qualification days when I started facing the pragmatic part of a professional. As a Chartered Accountant when I had commenced my post qualification career, I had to deal practically with the entire eco-system of a consultant's life- my colleagues, my seniors, my bosses, my clients and all the other facets of an organisation.

The real leadership qualities got imbibed when I started dealing with clients, tax authorities, and senior government officials and understood the practical work dynamics.

I have always led from the front and given them a clear-cut approach and directions to get the work executed. Today, all my team members consider me a colleague cum friend as I have always given them independence and option to handle things independently.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

Every morning, I ensure that I have an overarching exercise routine for my body before I go to work. I ensure I undertake one of the following activities every morning: meditate/ get into morning walk/gymming/yoga.

Waking up early has been a key to getting work done in a seamless and efficient manner. I ensure that I am always updated on the current affairs and hence I read newspapers on my drive to office.

Also, reading books has been one of the habits which I have learnt from my childhood days. I ensure the same before sleep.

Having Satvic food is essential to keeping myself energetic and healthy.

4. What's a recent leadership lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of?

Choose your battles, there will be various people trying to counter you/your existence as a leader. We need to fight for the ones that shall reap us future and long-term benefits. Also, I learnt that I should surround myself more with people who inspire me to improve!

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

The Art of Happiness by Dalai Lama. The book succinctly explains to us that materialistic happiness is not real happiness; it is only when the mind is consoled that one is really happy in life.

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young leader, what would you say to them?

Life is a marathon race- you may be lagging behind in the initial part of it, but you will end at the top at the end of the race.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader, so far?

During the time of Covid, my organisation backed up all the employees, and we ensured that everyone was taken care of and no one was sacked. We had to change our working style, and I ensured that all my employees were motivated enough during the crisis. We had video calls twice a day to discuss work and social aspects, and that kept the team motivated.