BACK
TO BASICS
BUSINESS
LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE MANTRAS IN UNCERTAIN WORLD
BY
DR. PRAKASH.V.BHIDE
Business world is facing tectonic upheavals
in unpredictable, complex & uncertain world. Competition is coming from
unrelated sectors and unexpected new competitors. The only constant is
‘Continuous Uncertain Major Changes’. Shareholders, customers, employees and
society are holding the CEO’s accountable for quantum growth and accelerated
profitability. In this scenario, CEO’s need to stand on firm rock like
foundations and principles to guide them. Back to basics can help leaders in
sound decision making in this uncertain world.
India used to be the envy of the world. We
were Number One in every aspect of development. Pupils across the world turned
up at our door for seeking knowledge at our temples of education such as
Nalanda and Taxila (Like Harvard, Wharton and London Business School today).
The rich insights of our epics, such as Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana, Mahabharata
and Bhagwadgita, have stood the best test of times for guiding our lives over
centuries. Back to basics stresses simplicity and adherence to fundamental
principles and values for excellence. Our gurus & role models have always
shown us that Back to Basics is the best way to deal with crisis and uncertain
times. Principles and teachings of our epics are the gems and jewellary in the
history of mankind. They can act as ‘Amrit’ (nectar) which can be a Sanjeevani
(life giving) to all business enterprises. We are proud of Panini (originator
of grammar), Aryabhatta (great mathematician and astronomer) and Bhaskaracharya
(originator of concept of zero). India is the birthplace of three of the
world’s major religions – Hinduism (7000 BC), Buddhism (487 BC) and Sikhism
(1699 AD).
Recently, Business Leaders have been lured
by western management theories and best practices. We need to go back to our
basics & roots of Indian Cultural Ethos & Values. Building on the solid
foundations of character and Indian values, we can customize western
technologies & skills with discretion for modern times. We can thus move
from BEST PRACTICES to NEXT PRACTICES, which will come from India. Mahatma
Gandhi relied on the teachings of Bhagwadgita, Mahabharata, Ramayana, Upanishads,
Bible and Koran and scriptures for decision making in crisis situations.
The Indian concept of Leadership is the
TRIMURTI – of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. The leader has the role
of creator of new enterprises and things (Brahma), maintainer of business
prosperity and sustainability (Vishnu) and destroyer of all that is non-value
adding and evil (Shiva). The leader has to play all these three roles
simultaneously.
There are many nuggets of gold, and I have
selected a few to illustrate the ‘Back to Basics’ principles:
1.Golden
nuggets from Ramayana for Business Leaders:
A.Teaching the value of commitment to our
words (Vachan):
Many leaders are found to go back on their
commitments for short-term gains.
रघुकुल रिती सदा चली आई
प्राण जाये पर वचन न जये
Lord Rama went for fourteen
years of Vanvaas for the ‘Vachana’ given by his father, King Dasharatha, to
queen Kaikai and that too many years ago.
B.Ideal brother Bharata – Role model of
trusteeship
Business Leaders and CEO’s are the trustees
of shareholders for managing the business on behalf of them. When Lord Rama
went for fourteen years of Vanvaas, his younger brother Bharata did not crown
himself as the king. He ruled on behalf of Lord Rama and put his Padukas
(wooden shoes) on the throne as a symbol of lord Rama. Bharata handed over the
kingdom to Lord Rama after his victorious return after defeating Ravana.
C.Followership:
Lord Rama’s younger brother Laxman, is a great example of followership. He
sacrificed and voluntarily went for fourteen years Vanvaas with Lord Rama in
the crisis situation of Vanvaas. Similarly, Lord Hanuman is a role model of
followership to Lord Rama. To become a great leader, you have to also be a
great follower.
2.Golden
nuggets from Bhagwdgita for Business Leaders:
A.Philosophy of action without attachment
(Karma Yoga):
Business Leaders are many times attached to
material greeds, short-term gains and selfishness. The ENRON, Satyam and 2008
global meltdown was due to excessive and unbridled greed. Business Leaders need
to act to achieve super-ordinate goal for humanity and not get attached or
affected by outcome.
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्तेमा फलेषु कदाचन
B.The essence of ‘Action’ in ‘Karma yoga’ in times of crisis:
मयीसर्वाणि कर्माणि
संयस्त अध्यात्म चेतसा
निरशी निर्ममो भूत्वा
युध्यस्व विगतः ज्वर:
Act in the present and leave the outcomes of all
actions to me. Do not worry about the fuure or be tied to the past. Do not be
excited and lose self control even by the thrill of present action.
C.Leaders as role models (Walk the Talk)
यद् यद् आचरती श्रेष्ठः
तद् तद् एवो इतरो जनः
सः यत् प्रमाणं कुरुते
लोकः तत् अनुवर्तते
As the leader behaves, so do the followers. Leader sets
standards by actions and deeds, for followers to learn and act.
D.Leader as a Mentor and Coach:
Lord Krishna was the epitome of
‘Guru-Shishya Parampara’, and was the Mentor, Coach and Guru of Arjun. Business Leaders have to play the role of
a Mentor, Coach and Guru, to nurture and groom emerging leaders for future.
E.Importance of controlling anger by Business Leaders:
क्रोधात् भवति संमोह:
संमोहात् smRssmrutiस्मृति विभ्रमः
स्मृतिभ्रंशात् बुद्धिनाशः
बुद्धिनाशात्प्रणश्यति
When Business Leaders cannot
control their anger, they are likely to take decisions which are detrimental to
business and regretted by them later. Controlling anger is necessary for
Effective Business Leadership.
3.Golden nuggets from Vedas
for Business Leaders:
‘Yagna’ in Vedas , is a
symbol of sacrifice of wealth, ego and worldly attachment of material things,
desires and ‘Vasanas’. Business Leaders need to be servant leaders, and
sacrifice for good of humanity and followers. Mahatma Gandhi, Lal Bahadur
Shastri, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King and Mother Teresa are revered for
their sacrifice.
4.Golden nuggets from Arthashastra and Chanakya (3rd century BC)
for Business Leaders:
In face of competition
(winning the war), Chanakya, in ‘Arthashastra’, (Book 13 Chapter 1 Verse 1)
says:
“The Conqueror desirous of
capturing the enemy’s fortified town, should fill his own army with enthusiasm.
Leader has to:
1.Think positively even
during uncertainty.
2.Communicate and inspire his
followers.
3.Go for the kill (action)
It is reported that Ratan
Tata & Kumar Mangalam Birla were with their teams, in the ‘War Rom’, 24X7
for the last few days during their major global acquisitions of Corus and
Novalis respectively
5. Golden nuggets from Mahatma Gandhi’s Life:
Mahatma Gandhiji relied
heavily on the scriptures & basics from Ramayana,Mahabharata,Upanishadas,Bhagwadgita,Bible
and Koran for guiding his actions without fear.
A.In todays business
management, “Customer is the King” is the mantra for success . Gandhiji’s thoughts on customer care:
“A customer is the most
important visitor to our premises. He is not dependant on us, we are dependent
on him. He is not an interruption in our work. He is the purpose of it. We are
not doing a favour by serving him. He is doing a favour on us by giving an
opportunity to do so.”
B.Leadership and change:
Change has to start from the
leader himself, so that the followers are motivated by his role modeling to do
the same.
There is an interesting story
in the life of Mahatma Gandhiji:
One day a village woman came to the ashram with her
young son to pay respect to Mahatma Gandhi. She touched his feet, took his
blessings and requested Bapuji to tell her son not to eat too many sweets, and
that in spite of her telling him , he was not listening to her. Bapuji smiled
and asked the woman to come back after a week. After one week when the woman
returned, Bapuji again asked her to come back after one more week. When she
returned after a week, Bapuji smiled and told the young son not to eat too many
sweets, as it was not good for his health. The woman was surprised and asked
Bapuji why he had not told the same, the first time when she came with her son?
Bapuji replied that he himself liked sweets and ate lots of them. He said that
he decided to change himself first. The change had to start from him, so that
he had the moral right to advise her son. He said that he could change with
lots of efforts, during the last several weeks , and could control his urge to
eat sweets. Hence it took some time to advise her son. A simple but powerful
story that the change has to start with the leader himself.
6.Golden nuggets from Vedas:
अमंत्रो अक्षरो नास्ति
नास्ति मुलंश औषधीम्
अयोग्यः पुरुषः नास्ति
योजकः तत्र दुर्लभः
There is no syllable which
cannot be turned into a mantra. There is no root of any tree which cannot be
turned into a medicine. There is no person in the world who does not have a
unique potential and capabilities. The leaders are rare who can spot such
unique potential.
Modern management thinkers
such as Markus Buckingham, have recently written several books such as
‘Discover Your Strengths’ and advise everyone to leverage their inherent
strengths & potential and sculpt their jobs & careers around their
strengths to be successful and enjoy their life.
7.Golden Nuggets from Kabir:
Value of critics &
feedback:
निंदक नियरे राखिये
आंगन कुटीर सहाय
बिन पानी साबुन बिना
निर्मल करे सुभाय
The critics give us, at
times, feedback which we do not like, but is true. Kabir advises us, that we
should have some critics around us who can give authentic feedback for our
improvement. The modern 360 degree feedback methodology for leaders uses the
same principles and philosophy.
8.Golden nuggets from Rahim on building long-term relationships:
रहिमन धाग प्रेम का
मत तोडे छिटकाय
टूटे से फिर ना जुडे
जुडे गांठ पड जाये
Relationships are built over
trust and love. Make sure that they are not broken. Because even if the
relationship is re-established, the string can be joined only with a knot,
which will remain, and the relationship will not be as smooth as before.
In modern business,
relationships and networking make a huge difference and are crucial for the
leaders’ success.
Difference between Indian culture and ethos from Western culture:
Many modern management theories
& practices come from western world, based on their culture. Many times
they are not found to be effective in India. Hence, we have to go back to our
own scriptures & basics.
Indians are dependent, accept
authority and comfortable with hierarchy & power distance. Even gods and
goddesses, in Hindu mythology, have hierarchy with Lord Brahma, Vishnu and
Mahesh to be the supreme. Hence, when Lord Indra is on the verge of defeat by
asuras, he goes to Lord Brahma, Vishnu & Mahesh, for guidance, help and
blessings. Most of Indians respect their parents, elders and gurus, by touching
their feet. On the other hand, westerners are found to treat even their elders
as equal, and call their bosses & superiors by their first names.
Westerners want YES or NO answers,
and are digital in their thinking(0 or 1), (White or Black) etc. On the other
hand, Indians are comfortable with analog thinking and all shades of Grey
between White and Black. They are also found to be comfortable with many
questions which have no clear-cut answers.
While westerners are
individualistic & masculine in their behaviours, Indians are more
comfortable with collectivism, joint family and relatives, and hence, we have a
unique SIVA’s manifestation of ‘Ardhanareshwara’ which is symbolized as a half
man and half woman idol.
Indians believe in fate,
accept uncertainty and ambiguity. Indians have lived and accepted diverse
cultures, views, values and societal norms, to live with harmony with many
religions & cultures. The ideal Indian king & leader is Prabhu Ramachandra. Indians rever leaders
like Mahatma Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Narayan Murty of Infosys, who
lived like fakirs with simplicity, and worked for super-ordinate goals for
humanity, with not an iota of personal gains. They practiced Karma Yoga in
their daily lives.
Conclusion:
The business world is in a
crisis. For choosing the right business model for future, we need to go Back to
Basics of our scriptures & History, to find the golden nuggets &
principles for guiding us in these times of crisis and uncertainty.
pvbhide47@gmail.com
https://twitter.com/pvbhide
No comments:
Post a Comment