Friday, 17 July 2015

Management lesson from Gita (a Hindu scripture) - Part 1

Bhagawad Gita is popularly known as Gita. It is Hindu scripture whose background is Mahabharata-an Epic. The philosophy of Gita should not be viewed only from spiritual prospective but also as a guide in developing managerial effectiveness. This is relevant for people of all faiths. It does not ask anyone to alter or transform their current believe/faith but does encourages to adapt the lesson for their professional benefits.


Let’s take a look one at a time: -


(Do your work without thinking of its fruits!)


A popular verse of the Gita advises "detachment" from the fruits or results of actions performed in the course of one's duty. Being dedicated work has to mean "working for the sake of work, generating excellence for its own sake." If we are always calculating the date of promotion or the rate of commission before putting in our efforts, then such work is not detached. It is not "generating excellence for its own sake" but working only for the extrinsic reward that may (or may not) result.


Three stone-cutters were engaged in erecting a temple. As usual a H.R.D. Consultant asked them what they were doing. The response of the three workers to this innocent-looking question is illuminating.
 'I am a poor man. I have to maintain my family. I am making a living here,' said the first stone-cutter with a dejected face.
 'Well, I work because I want to show that I am the best stone-cutter in the country,' said the second one with a sense of pride.
 'Oh, I want to build the most beautiful temple in the country,' said the third one with a visionary gleam.

Their jobs were identical but their perspectives were different. What Gita tells us is to develop the visionary perspective in the work we do. It tells us to develop a sense of larger vision in one's work for the common good.

To be continue....


Thanks

Satender Kumar Mall

Twitter : satender.iiit


Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Satender-Kumar-Mall-Blogs


No comments:

Post a Comment