Thursday 3 January 2013

Corporate lessons from Mythology-2

Corporate lessons from Ramayana

The personality and leadership development programs have to recognize Lord Rama’s advice to his brother Bharata, who was supposed to rule Ayodhya kingdom during his absence.

Lord Rama advises Bharata to avoid these negative behaviors. They are de-motivators to positive personality, in his words.

What are these negative traits to be avoided? Let us see them…

Rage (Krodham), falsehood (Anrutham), delaying techniques (Dirgha Sutram), intoxication (Dramadam), becoming a victim to five senses (Pancha vritta).

He goes on with other negative traits – non-interaction with learned men (Adarsanam Gnanavatam), not keeping secrecy (Mantrasya Apriakshanam) and laziness (Alasyam).

Further negative traits to avoid as per Lord Rama are – non implementation of decisions (Nischinatanam Anarambhamam) and unilateral thinking (Arthanam anarta gnischa mantram).

Further, these negative traits such as misrepresentation of useless advice as a good one (Arthanam anartha gnischa mantram), non adherence to traditions (Mangaladi aprayogam) and frequent quarrelling (Prathythanam Sarvatah) are to be avoided.

A leader has to command respect and not demand respect. To command respect these negative traits are to be avoided. There are various behavioral theories like that of theory X and Y of McGregor.

On matters of pursuing objective judgments, we learn lessons from Vibheeshna. He could over rule his emotional attachments to Ravana and take an objective view of the scenario. He had the guts to say that Ravana did the mistake of holding ‘Sita’ as a captive. He walked out of his brother’s bondage to uphold his objective judgement.

All these have been stated in the advice of Lord Rama to Bharata and the interactions between Lord Rama and Vibheeshna. Many of us read the story portion leaving the advice portions.

For positive thinking we go towards west to read their theories. Ancient Sastras says it all.