Underperforming in your job? Rs 3,500 crore man suggests it's not your fault but the manager's ...

Time of India

5 days ago

— 1kunalbahl (@1kunalbahl)
Kunal Bahl's Professional Journey
A capable and supportive manager can transform an average team into a high-performing powerhouse. Recently, Kunal Bahl , known for his role as a judge on Shark Tank India, emphasized the deep influence that leadership has on team dynamics and employee success. Taking to X, he highlighted that strong leadership doesn't just guide employees—it inspires loyalty, energizes individuals, and fosters long-term commitment. A manager with the right attitude and skills can shape average professionals into highly motivated and consistently successful contributors within an organization.In stark contrast, ineffective leadership has the opposite effect. Even employees who are naturally ambitious, skilled, and eager to make a difference can lose momentum under poor supervision. When leaders fail to guide, recognize, or empower their teams, it often leads to demotivation, missed targets, and a noticeable decline in performance. Talented individuals may begin to underperform, make excuses, and eventually disengage entirely, not because they lack ability but because they were not led well."A great manager can turn good people into stars who are high-performing, energetic, loyal, and long-tenured. A bad manager? They can take talented, driven folks and drain them into sluggish, excuse-making underperformers. People don't fail. Poor leadership does..." he wroteThe core takeaway from Bahl's perspective is clear: employee failures often reflect managerial shortcomings. Talent alone isn't enough; it must be nurtured, supported, and directed effectively. Organizations that do not prioritize good leadership risk losing their most capable team members to stagnation or attrition. To retain top talent and maintain high standards of productivity, companies must ensure that their leadership pipeline is strong, empathetic, and growth-oriented.Kunal Bahl is widely recognized as the co-founder of Snapdeal, a prominent Indian e-commerce platform that launched in 2010. Over the years, Snapdeal has grown into a broader business group under the umbrella of AceVector, which now includes subsidiaries like Unicommerce and Stellaro Brands.Bahl is also a driving force behind Unicommerce, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) enterprise that went public in 2024 with one of the most heavily subscribed IPOs of the year. His entrepreneurial ventures don't end there—he co-founded Titan Capital, a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage startups across India. Titan Capital has backed several major Indian startups, such as Ola, Razorpay, Mamaearth, Urban Company, and Giva, with many investments yielding returns over 100 times the original amount.According to a report from Financial Express, Bahl's estimated net worth stands at an impressive ₹3,500 crore, underscoring his success as both a founder and an investor.