Rethinking Management Through Bhagavad Gita

Indian Philosophical Congress 2011 Chidambaram

Presented by K.Gopalakrishnan, PhD V.Vijayalakshmi, PhD

Structure
Lessons and Inspiration for Organizations
Jnana, Bhakti, and Karma are required for sustenance with the first two supporting Karma Treading the dharmic path in Market Kurukshetra Alignment of individuals to organization Corporate Governance, Need for Mentor Respect to all 4 types of human effort Learning Organization (last sloka)

Lessons and Inspiration for Individuals

Choosing and Performing the action (Nishkamya Karma, Svadharma) Essential Qualities (worker, leader/mentor, knowledge sharing) Self-Awareness (larger window of perception, intrinsic motivation, inward-focus, managing dualities) Knowledge Sharing
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Lessons and Inspiration for Organizations

The Three Yogas of Sustenance

Karma Yoga (Action)
Iccha sakthi (mental), Jnana sakthi

(intellectual), kriya sakthi (physical)

Jnana Yoga (Knowledge/Skill/Hard Skills)

Bhakthi Yoga (Commitment/Devotion / Soft Skills)

Lesson Yoga and Alignment

One endowed with spiritual intelligence can get rid of both positive and negative reactions in this very life; therefore be diligent in the science of uniting the Individual Consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness in pure loving devotion, rendering unadulterated service is superlative genius

Arjunas woes arise from the fact that he is not yoked to Krishna (the Paramatma). When the Jivatma is not in union with the Paramatma, there will be

uncertainty and struggle.

When individual goals and aspirations are not in

alignment with the organization, then there is chaos and discordance. When there is union, there is unity in purpose and action leading to accomplishment,

progress and peace. Organizations should strive to make all employees part of its
self.. The supreme self shines in all beings
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Inspiration Corporate Governance

Such heinous deeds by all those destroyers of the family gives rise to a population of undesirable progency completely eradicating the

time honored spiritual traditions of the family and nobility of the

lineage (1: 42) An organizations reputation can be spoiled by the misdeeds of a few. So, it needs to put proper Corporate Governance in

place.
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Lesson for the Leader Handling Dualities

The crucial difference between a person, who can lead a contended (and even a successful) life and others is the ability to handle this world of dualities. It is important to develop and

nurture a capability to overcome the world of dualities

Leadership
Leading the Way
For whatever a great man does, others imitate. People conform to the standard which he has set (3:21)

No man can attain freedom from Initiator, activity by refraining from action; nor can Proactiveness he reach perfection by merely refusing to act (3:4)

Servant Leadership

All creatures are the product of food, food is the product of rain, rain comes by sacrifice, and sacrifice is the noblest form of action (3:14).
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Performance Management
An alternate form of measuring progress

Progress is a matter of increasing the inner peace and not the agitations of the mind. Fixing goals pertaining to the outside world of material objects always runs the risk of failures arising out of not attaining them. On the other hand, setting goals pertaining to the inner self does not have these risks. He encourages us to get inspired by the greatness of the ocean.
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The Path of Eternity

Just as a person discards an old and a torn shirt and wears a new one, the soul (Atma) also discards an old body and acquires a new one. Interpretation 1: In order to be successful and sustainable organizations need to continuously engage themselves in discarding old ideas (mind set!) & embrace new ones. This is the fundamental building block of innovation and creating competitive advantage.
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Inspiration Dharma as a Way of Life

Interpretation 2: CEOs and employees will come and go, but the organization remains. Hence, it should care about long-term sustainability. Taking a long-term wholistic view rather than a short-term reductionist view. Succession planning and knowledge transfer to ensure continuity of organizational existence. Interpretation 3: Just as an individual has a body and soul, an organization also has a body and a soul. Just as an individual soul can attain immortality or heaven or moksha by treading the path of dharma, an organization can also last till eternity if it is Dharmic in its principles. The Market is the Kurukshetra for the organization. But, it has to wage the war in Dharmic way. For organizations, the Market or the Economy is the Kurukshetra. It has to perform and compete in a dharmic way to ensure long-term success. Organizational Ethics becomes a significant factor here.
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Respect for Individuals

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4 types of human effort: Just as a Society requires 4 types of

human effort, Organization also requires 4 types Intellectuals (Management/Planning, Analysts, R&D), Warriors

(Marketing/Sales), Trade and Finance, Sudras (Production, Support)

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Employee Wellbeing/Engagement

While we take care of the Devas (through the basic act of Yagna), Devas in turn take care of us. Organizations need to take care of its Employees and vice versa. Only then their mutual existence is guaranteed in the long term.

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Becoming a Learning Organization

Wherever there is Krishna, the lord of Yoga and Arjuna, the archer, I think, there will surely be fortune, victory, welfare and morality. Organizations having workers like Arjuna and Mentors/Leaders like Krisha are sure to be Learning Organizations and will have sustainable success. (18: 78)

Lessons and Inspiration for Individuals

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The Self
SelfAwareness SelfConfidence Emotional Stability
The wise see that there is action in the midst of inaction and inaction in the midst of action. Their consciousness is unified, and every act is done with complete awareness (4: 18) The wise, ever satisfied, have abandoned all external supports. Their security is unaffected by the results if their action; even while acting, they really do nothing at all (4: 20) The wise man who has conquered his mind and is absorbed in the Self is a lamp which does not flicker, since it stands sheltered from every will (6:19). For one who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends, but for one who has failed to control their mind, the mind will be the greatest enemy (6:6)
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Mind Control

Karma Yoga and Business

Concept
Self-Doubt

Management Insights
Paralysis of Analysis

Selfless Action

Learning Organization Corporate Social Responsibility

Wisdom in Action

Mentoring and Coaching

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Lesson Sources of Confusion

Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of miserly weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me for certain what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me. (2:7) Arjuna has not fully understood himself. He is not clear of his purpose in life. His thoughts and actions are influenced by external locus of control, by external morality and society. In organizations, employees are stressed by peer pressure, perceived competition, performance metrics, etc. They lack self-awareness.
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Inspiration Knowledge Sharing

Giving, without thought of return, at a proper time, in proper circumstances, and to a worthy person, is Sattvic giving. Giving with regrets or in expectation of receiving some favor or of getting something in return is Rajasic. Giving at an inappropriate time, in inappropriate circumstances, to an unworthy person, without affection or respect, is Tamasic (17: 20-22) Let us take inspiration from the Gita and engage in Sattvic Knowledge Sharing at our work and in our personal lives.
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Idea1
Nishkamya Karma: Desireless action, detached work -> will do the duty with own rhythm and purpose. Cause and Effect: You are in control of only your actions. Cause for Arjunas despondency: Outward-focus, locus of control Blame game: Ch6: 5th sloka, intrinsic motivation Why are employees mostly not Satisfied with their job? Because, their focus is not on doing the job, but on the incentives and Transcending from Dualistic view of life to Wholistic view Mentoring is important; Just as Guru is important for Spiritual progress Niche competencies (Svadharma): Ch3, 35. Talent Management

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Idea4
Train only the deserving right knowledge to the right person

Chapter 18--- Gita to be shared only with the deserving

Training department or Mentors should not waste energies on undeserving candidates.

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Inspiration The Ideal Leader/Mentor

A good leader is one who is incapable of hatred towards any human being, who is kind and compassionate, free from selfishness, without pride, equable in pleasure and in pain, and is forgiving (12:13). Harmlessness, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, freedom from hate and vanity; these are his who possesses the Godly qualities. Hypocrisy, pride, insolence, cruelty, ignorance belong to him who is born of the godless qualities (16:2). Gita talks about the ideal and required qualities of a Leader.

Desirable characteristics: Courage, courtesy, nobility, straight dealing

Undesirable: Faint heartedness, Unmanliness
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Inspiration The Ideal Worker

Perform your prescribed duty, for doing so is better than not working. One cannot even maintain ones physical body without

work (3:8)
Perfection is attained when each attends diligently to his duty (18:45). Nishkamya Karma Action without attachments/focus on results. The mental energies are focused on the work done at this moment than on the results/outcomes that will happen at a later point in time. Svadharma: Understand your true self and choose actions/job/tasks that would suit you. Dont do things that wont suit your nature.

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Jnana Yoga and Business

Concept
Devotion Divine Qualities

Management Insights
Morale, Cohesiveness, Stick to the Knitting Detachment, Learning Organization

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Bhakti Yoga and Business

Concept
Divine and Demonic Natures

Management Insights
Code of Ethics, Standard Operating Procedures

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Thank you! Your Thoughts?

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