Gaurav Mittal On Five Things You Need To Be A Highly Effective Leader During Uncertain & Turbulent Times
…I would say the number one principle is the ability to adapt to new tools and technologies, even if it means moving away from currently used solutions…
As part of our series about the “Five Things You Need To Be A Highly Effective Leader During Turbulent Times”, we had the pleasure of interviewing Gaurav Mittal. Gaurav Mittal is a seasoned IT Manager specializing in strategic IT planning, budget management, and project execution. He is an accomplished author and international speaker, recognized for his published articles. He has spoken at global conferences and served on several judging panels. In addition to his professional achievements, Gaurav actively contributes to non-profit organizations through volunteer work. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his children and playing sports.
Thank you so much for your time! I know that you are a very busy person. Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’ and how you got started?
Thank you for the opportunity to share my story! I come from a middle-class family where education was emphasized as the key to securing an excellent job. My hard work paid off when I earned a strong rank in college competitions, which led me to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication. After completing my studies, I was fortunate to land my first job as a Junior Software Engineer in an IT organization.
In the early years of my career in India, I worked with clients from the U.S. and U.K., and I was fascinated by the idea of working directly at client offices. I realized that while offshore teams often execute tasks, the key decisions are made onshore. This inspired me to seek opportunities to work closely with clients, which eventually brought me to the U.S. Over time, I have grown into IT management, building on over 18 years of experience.
Today, I focus on delivering innovative solutions, from creating automation frameworks to implementing cost-effective strategies and driving team productivity. Beyond my professional career, I am passionate about giving back to the tech community. I participate in international speaking engagements and judge hackathons, sharing my knowledge on topics like DevOps security and machine learning. I also dedicate time to volunteering, helping nonprofits optimize their data reporting processes.
These experiences have not only shaped my career but also deepened my commitment to using technology as a force for innovation and positive change.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
On my second day at my first job, I was having lunch when a senior colleague was looking for a seat. I invited him to sit next to me and, eager to learn about the workplace, I started a conversation to understand more about the job culture. As a new joiner, I introduced myself, and in my excitement (and lack of experience), I casually asked him how much he was earning.
He was taken aback but remained polite. He kindly explained that asking about someone’s salary is not appropriate and advised me to avoid such questions in the future. It was a bit embarrassing at the moment, but it was a valuable lesson in workplace etiquette that I have never forgotten!
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?
During the COVID pandemic, when everyone was working remotely, it was hard to understand how others were feeling or reacting in virtual meetings. My spouse, who also works in IT, was an immense help. We often talked about our work situations, shared challenges, and discussed how to handle tricky conversations or figure out what others might be thinking.
Her advice and ideas really helped me see things differently and communicate better during such a challenging time. I am very thankful for her support — it not only improved how I handled work but also made our bond even stronger.
Extensive research suggests that “purpose-driven businesses” are more successful in many areas. When your organization started, what was its vision, what was its purpose?
I would like to answer this question in the context of my own career. When I first started in the IT industry, my goal was clear: to excel in my field, climb the ladder, and take on the best roles where I could work on the most interesting and impactful projects. Over the years, as I gained more experience and achieved significant milestones, I realized that while my career progress is important, there is something more fulfilling I can do with my skills and knowledge.
Today, my perspective has evolved. While I still strive to be at the top of my game and pursue meaningful work, I have added a new goal to my journey: to give back to society. I find immense value in sharing my experiences and knowledge with others, which is why I author articles and speak at conferences. This allows me to connect with students and fellow professionals in the IT industry, sharing insights that could help them on their own paths.
Additionally, I actively collaborate with several non-profit organizations. I volunteer my time and expertise to help them tackle IT-related challenges. Whether it is streamlining their operations, analyzing data, or providing technical solutions, I find it incredibly rewarding to use my skills for a greater cause. This balance of personal growth and giving back has enriched my career and made it more meaningful.
Thank you for all that. Let’s now turn to the main focus of our discussion. Can you share with our readers a story from your own experience about how you lead your team during uncertain or difficult times?
During uncertain and challenging times, I have found that innovative thinking and effective resource management are key to leading a team successfully. In one instance, I identified an opportunity to reduce costs while maintaining efficiency. I proposed and implemented a solution to create a DevOps pipeline using open source tool, enabling automation tests to run outside of license tool. This approach reduced the number of resources requiring licenses, saving the company significant licensing fees.
Another time, to tackle the rising costs of cloud infrastructure, I came up with an alternative solution. Instead of continuing to spend on launching new cloud instances, I suggested leveraging existing machines. This eliminated the need for additional cloud resources and resulted in huge cost savings.
Did you ever consider giving up? Where did you get the motivation to continue through your challenges? What sustains your drive?
When I first started my career, I did not fully realize the impact of my work. As a developer, I often found myself struggling to meet deadlines and dealing with the complexity of tasks. At one point, I seriously considered switching to another industry because I felt overwhelmed. However, through conversations with friends and mentors, I came to understand that everyone in development faces these challenges at some point. What separates those who succeed is persistence, and the willingness to analyze error messages carefully when things go wrong. This realization was a turning point for me, and it motivated me to push through the tough moments.
Over time, I also discovered the value of online developer communities. I found forums where I could share my technical issues and get quick, useful feedback from others. This access to shared knowledge and support further fueled my determination to keep going.
Now, after years of experience and having moved into a senior role, I look at my work very differently. My perspective has shifted from just completing tasks to understanding how my efforts make a tangible difference in people’s lives. The feeling of knowing that I can help make someone’s job easier, solve a problem, or reduce stress, has become my driving force. Every morning, the first thing I do is check my emails to see what new challenges or issues need my attention. The thought of helping others — whether it is by solving a technical issue or finding a better way to do something — keeps me motivated. It is personal to me now.
Having worked in both the insurance and healthcare industries, I have seen how vulnerable end users can be. In these fields, people often face prominent levels of stress, and a slight problem can have a significant impact. Knowing that my work can alleviate some of that pressure is incredibly fulfilling. It is this understanding of the bigger picture and the difference I can make that helps me sustain my passion and drive, even in the face of challenges.
I’m an author and I believe that books have the power to change lives. Do you have a book in your life that impacted you and inspired you to be an effective leader? Can you share a story?
The book The Alchemist had an enormous impact on me. One of the important lines from the book is, “When you want something, the whole world helps you achieve it.” Whenever I face challenges and have trouble reaching my goals, I remember these words. They remind me to keep going because, with time and effort, I will eventually succeed. This thought has kept me motivated throughout my journey. I remember when I was assigned to code an automation utility, and it seemed quite complicated. However, I stayed determined with the belief that I could do it. After much effort and reading several blogs for guidance, I successfully completed the task. My demo went exceptionally well, and I received numerous client accolades for the achievement.
What would you say is the most critical role of a leader during challenging times?
Being supportive is the most important aspect for a leader to display in challenging times.
During difficult periods, employees often feel uncertain or overwhelmed, and it’s the leader’s role to provide reassurance and encouragement. A supportive leader listens to their team, acknowledges their concerns, and offers practical solutions to help overcome obstacles. For example, when my team faced tight deadlines on a high-stakes project, I made sure to check in regularly, help, and ensure that everyone had the resources they needed. By staying supportive and showing confidence in their abilities, I was able to help my team stay motivated and successfully complete the project on time.
When the future seems so uncertain, what is the best way to boost morale? What can a leader do to inspire, motivate, and engage their team?
A good leader can help ease uncertainty by drawing parallels to past technologies that sparked similar concerns. It’s important to communicate that these challenges are akin to reinventing the wheel — what’s needed is to upgrade skills to stay relevant. For example, with AI becoming more widespread, many people worry about job security. I often refer to the introduction of automation in the past when those in manual jobs feared losing their roles. Today, those same individuals have learned automation skills and now perform both manual and automated tasks.
To make my team more effective, I am encouraging them to learn coding and develop their skills in code analysis. This will enable them to conduct white box testing when defects arise, allowing them to pinpoint issues directly in the code while raising defects. This not only saves time for the entire team but also gives my team members the opportunity to enhance their skills, helping them grow and adapt in an ever-changing environment.
What is the best way to communicate difficult news to one’s team and customers?
It’s always recommended to communicate face to face and give them proper reason behind this tough choice so they can take care of any short comings if any in their future.
How can a leader make plans when the future is so unpredictable?
When making plans in an unpredictable environment, I focus on two key strategies. First, I ensure that team members are cross-trained, giving them at least a basic understanding of each other’s roles. This way, if needed, they can step in and handle tasks outside their usual responsibilities. Second, I prioritize utilizing internally built applications and existing solutions over purchasing new tools. This approach not only reduces costs but also ensures we make the most of our current resources.
Is there a “number one principle” that can help guide a company through the ups and downs of turbulent times?
I would say the number one principle is the ability to adapt to new tools and technologies, even if it means moving away from currently used solutions. To stay competitive, companies must embrace innovative technologies. With the fast-paced changes in the market, it’s crucial for businesses to continuously update their infrastructure to stay ahead.
Can you share 3 or 4 of the most common mistakes you have seen other businesses make during difficult times? What should one keep in mind to avoid that?
During challenging times, I’ve observed a few common mistakes businesses often make:
- Letting goes of talented employees: In an effort to cut costs, companies sometimes lay off valuable employees, especially those with critical domain knowledge. This can harm the organization eventually. Instead, companies could implement temporary pay reductions across the board, fostering a sense of unity and allowing key talent to stay during tough times.
- Rushing digital transformation: To meet client expectations, some businesses rush to launch new digital platforms without adequate testing or consideration of the user experience. This often leads to poor results, damaging brand reputation and wasting resources. The most successful companies take time to understand customer behavior, conduct thorough testing, and launch new platforms in phases — despite the market pressure.
Here is the primary question of our discussion. Based on your experience and success, what are the five most important things a business leader should do to lead effectively during uncertain and turbulent times? Please share a story or an example for each.
Good Listener
In such situations, employees often feel overwhelmed or anxious, and a leader’s ability to actively listen can help alleviate concerns, provide clarity, and foster trust. Listening not only shows empathy but also helps leaders gain insight into the challenges and ideas that might otherwise go unnoticed. By being attentive and responding thoughtfully, a leader can inspire their team, boost morale, and create a more cohesive and resilient work environment. This skill is also crucial in resolving conflicts among team members — listening to everyone patiently helps to understand their emotions and find effective solutions.
Effective Communication
Clear, honest communication is critical in tough times. A leader should keep the team informed about the challenges the company is facing and involve them in finding solutions. During a previous restructuring in my company, I ensured regular updates through direct team meetings, which helped to ease concerns and keep morale high.
Decision Making
Decision-making is an essential skill for business leaders. It helps in assessing the uncertain situations quickly and make informed choices that can help steer the organization in the right direction. Effective decision-making is what enables businesses to not just survive but emerge stronger from challenges. In one of my projects, we encountered numerous production incidents that took considerable time to analyze and resolve. I decided to focus on identifying recurring patterns behind these incidents. Although this required my team to dedicate time outside their regular project tasks, I believed it was a worthwhile investment to prevent constantly addressing the same issues. As a result, we identified several patterns that helped reduce 20% of the incidents, saving a substantial amount of time and improving overall efficiency.
Adaptability
The business world is constantly changing due to factors like technological advancements, market fluctuations, and unforeseen crises. Leaders who are adaptable can respond to these changes with resilience and agility, allowing their teams and organizations to thrive even in the face of adversity. For example, my team comprised of manual QA, and I guided them to adapt Automation, requested stakeholders to allow 5% of their bandwidth for this initiative. By the end of the year, the team had acquired new automation skills and successfully automated several tasks, significantly reducing manual effort and saving valuable time for the entire team.
Ability to Inspire
When things are unpredictable and challenging, employees look to their leaders for guidance, motivation, and a sense of hope. Leaders can help employees see beyond the immediate challenges, build confidence, and motivate them to push forward. This creates a sense of unity and purpose that can drive a team to work together, overcome obstacles, and achieve success despite the difficulties they face. As a Technical leader, I was tasked with managing a team during this financial crunch time. Instead of passing pressures from company to my team, I talk positively with my team highlighting how important their work is, talking high impact they are making to customers.
I also encouraged transparency, keeping the team informed about the company’s situation and future. By doing so, I helped reduce their fears and inspired them to contribute to solutions, like shifting our products to meet new needs in the market. Our collective effort paid off, and the team came together stronger, delivering key projects on time.
Inspiring leadership is not about motivating people through empty words — it’s about genuinely connecting with your team, sharing a vision, and leading with purpose. When employees feel inspired, they are more likely to stay engaged, take initiative, and work through tough times with determination.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
I strongly resonate with Marie Curie’s famous quote, “Be less curious about people and more curious about ideas.” Not asking questions is the greatest failure because it signifies a lack of interest in learning and growing. The more curious you are, the more productive and innovative you can become. Throughout my career, I have embraced this mindset, constantly exploring new tools and technologies. My success has been driven by curiosity and a relentless desire to move forward and improve.
How can our readers further follow your work?
The best way you can follow my work online is to go to my medium blog @gauravmittal1985. There, you will find all my blog posts related to technology and social area.
Thank you so much for sharing these important insights. We wish you continued success and good health!
Gaurav Mittal On Five Things You Need To Be A Highly Effective Leader During Uncertain & Turbulent… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.