Dear All,
Starting a new series of articles with a common topic which will continue for the next 10 weeks,
Radhakrishnan Pillai
Name of paper: MUMBAI MIRROR (Times of India)
Date: Monday, 19th March, 07 (page 40)
The treatise Arthashastra by Kautilya, also known as Chanakya, is not only a compilation of the wisdom of Chanakya but also contains practical insights of the earlier teachers of management, politics, and strategy.
One of these is on the challenges of ‘Leadership’ something that today’s corporate world is juggling with. Arthashastra contains a wealth of wisdom on leadership, its development and application. Chanakya not only tells us what a leader should do but what he should ‘not’ do.
In Book 7’s chapter 5, from verse 19 to 26, Chanakya brings out 21 things that a leader should avoid doing. We will be studying these over ten articles. These can be applied not only to business leaders, but also to head of departments, project leaders, community leaders, politicians, and even as the head of a family or any other institution or organization.
Chanakya had said,
WHO ARE THE SUBJECTS?
Well, they are the persons who are reporting to you or are dependent on you. They wait for your directions, which in itself has a direct implication on their lives. In the case of a company, it’s the employees. In a department, they are your team members. In a family, they are your children and relatives. The first and foremost duty of a king (leader) is to keep his subjects happy.
Now, the first reason fro subjects to become unhappy is discarding the good and favouring the wicked. Subjects come to the leader for justice. When they do not find a solution to their problems among themselves, they seek the leader’s advice, direction and justice. If he favours the wrong and discards the right, it’s a very serious problem.
Here are some tips on how to understand who is right:
It’s very necessary to listen to both sides of the story. But after they have expressed their views together, do not hurry with our decision. When both are facing each other, there are a lot of emotions and personal feelings expressed. Therefore, listen to them separately too. Get the facts. You will get better idea who was right. At times we are not able to come to any decision, its called “Dharmasankath”. In such conflicting situations take the help of books (scriptures) and masters learned in the particular field.
After you have analyised the situation, announce your verdict. Also explain the ‘reason’ for the same. Be just. But more than anything else, be unemotional. That’s the most vital part.
The whole idea is not to hate the bad. As Gandhiji put it “Remove the wickedness not the wicked”. Even while punishing the wrong, one should give an opportunity to learn and improve.
(The author is the director of ATMA DARSHAN, a company that provides services, including spiritual tours. He is a management consultant and trainer. He can be contacted at [email protected] +91-9820374796)
Starting a new series of articles with a common topic which will continue for the next 10 weeks,
Radhakrishnan Pillai
Name of paper: MUMBAI MIRROR (Times of India)
Date: Monday, 19th March, 07 (page 40)
WHAT A LEADER SHOULD NOT DO – 1
- Radhakrishnan Pillai
(This weekly column will explore the relevance and application of Principles and Strategies of Chanakya as discussed in his 3rd Century BC treatise, Kautilya’s Arthashastra, in Today’s Corporate World)
The treatise Arthashastra by Kautilya, also known as Chanakya, is not only a compilation of the wisdom of Chanakya but also contains practical insights of the earlier teachers of management, politics, and strategy.
One of these is on the challenges of ‘Leadership’ something that today’s corporate world is juggling with. Arthashastra contains a wealth of wisdom on leadership, its development and application. Chanakya not only tells us what a leader should do but what he should ‘not’ do.
In Book 7’s chapter 5, from verse 19 to 26, Chanakya brings out 21 things that a leader should avoid doing. We will be studying these over ten articles. These can be applied not only to business leaders, but also to head of departments, project leaders, community leaders, politicians, and even as the head of a family or any other institution or organization.
Chanakya had said,
“Reasons for dissatisfaction of subjects: Discarding the good and favouring the wicked” (7.5.19-26)
WHO ARE THE SUBJECTS?
Well, they are the persons who are reporting to you or are dependent on you. They wait for your directions, which in itself has a direct implication on their lives. In the case of a company, it’s the employees. In a department, they are your team members. In a family, they are your children and relatives. The first and foremost duty of a king (leader) is to keep his subjects happy.
Now, the first reason fro subjects to become unhappy is discarding the good and favouring the wicked. Subjects come to the leader for justice. When they do not find a solution to their problems among themselves, they seek the leader’s advice, direction and justice. If he favours the wrong and discards the right, it’s a very serious problem.
Here are some tips on how to understand who is right:
- LISTEN TO BOTH TOGETHER AND SEPARTELY
It’s very necessary to listen to both sides of the story. But after they have expressed their views together, do not hurry with our decision. When both are facing each other, there are a lot of emotions and personal feelings expressed. Therefore, listen to them separately too. Get the facts. You will get better idea who was right. At times we are not able to come to any decision, its called “Dharmasankath”. In such conflicting situations take the help of books (scriptures) and masters learned in the particular field.
- ANNOUNCE THE VERDICT UNEMOTIONALLY
After you have analyised the situation, announce your verdict. Also explain the ‘reason’ for the same. Be just. But more than anything else, be unemotional. That’s the most vital part.
The whole idea is not to hate the bad. As Gandhiji put it “Remove the wickedness not the wicked”. Even while punishing the wrong, one should give an opportunity to learn and improve.
(The author is the director of ATMA DARSHAN, a company that provides services, including spiritual tours. He is a management consultant and trainer. He can be contacted at [email protected] +91-9820374796)