GITA IN MANAGEMENT Session 8 - LEADERSHIP

Session

Leadership

1. DIVISION OF DUTIES 2. DIVISION OF LIFE SPAN

3. CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EFFECTIVE LEADER

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DIVISION OF DUTIES 1. Now, go to next one. These are analysis of only gunas or qualities. But then the Vedas and Bhagwad Gita recognizes four kinds of persons. You have Type A and Type B and etc. you know. So, there are four types of persons. You will find that you require t h e s e f o u r k i n d s o f p e r s o n s f o r a n y o r g a n iz a t i o n t o a c c o m p l i s h a n y o b j e c t i v e . W e require four kinds of persons. 2. One is called a Brahmana, other is called a Kshatriya, third is called a Vaishya, fourth is called a Shudra. These are the names. A Brahmana is a person who is predominant i n s a t v a a n d i s t y p i c a l l y a s c h o l a r . H e i s a p er s o n w h o h a s a l e a r n i n g m i n d , a m i n d that is learning. He loves to learn, he loves to think. At young age he is a spiritual person because he has value for self growth and also a value for helping others. This is a Brahmana. 3. Second is a Kshatriya. Kshatriya is a leader. What is the composition of the mind of a K s h a t r i y a ? R a ja s , s a tv a , t a m a s . A B r a h m a n a i s s a tv a , r a j a s , t a m a s . M e a n i n g s a t v a i s p r e d o m i n a n t f o l l o w e d b y r a ja s f o l l o w e d b y t a m a s B r a h m a n a . A K s h a t r i y a i s r a j a s , s a tv a , ta m a s . I n K s h a t r i y a r a j a s i s p r e d o m i n a n t f o l l o w e d b y s a t v a a n d t h e n f o l l o w e d by tamas. So, what happens is because the Kshatriya has predominance of rajas he is an active person and because his rajas is followed by satva usually his activities are non-selfish. An active person at the same time an unselfish active person. Therefore a Kshatriya is an ideal leader. He protects others. So role of Kshatriyas in our society used to be to protect the society and Brahmana was to learn and teach the society. Kshatriya was to protect the society and rule the people. 4. T h i r d i s V a i s h y a . H e i s a t r a d e r . I n V a i s h y a p r e d o m i n a n t l y r a ja s , ta m a s , s a t v a . T h i s i s a V a i s h y a . R a ja s i s p r e d o m i n a n t t h e r e f o r e a c t i v e f o l l o w e d b y t a m a s . H e i s s e l f i s h . K s h a t r i y a p r e d o m i n a t e s r a ja s h e i s a c t i v e b u t f o l l o w e d b y s a t v a . H i s a c t i v i t y i s l i k e l y t o be unselfish. Vaishya is predominantly rajas but followed by tamas therefore his activities are likely to be selfish. He is a trader. Stands for himself. F o u r t h i s S h u d r a . T a m a s , r a ja s , s a t v a . O p p o s i t e o f B r a h m a n a s a t v a , r a j a s , S h u d r a i s t a m a s , r a ja s , s a t v a a n d t h e r e f o r e h e d o e s n t h a v e i n i t i a t i v e , h e doesnt have motivation. He has to be motivated. So, he is generally a labourer. 6. So, a scholar, a leader, a trader, a labourer. In any organization you require these four, is it not? You require people who are consultants, who plan, who have vision, who can plan, who can guide others, who can provide the consultation or advise others. This is one kind of people you require in the organization. Second a r e t h e m a n a g e r s , t h e l e a d e r s . T h e y t a k e t h e i r d i r e c t i o n f r o m s a tv a a n d t h e y w i l l execute. So they are the leaders. They are the bread winners and so they administer and rule, lead others. Third are the people who are the business people, accountants, salesmen, marketing people. Thats a third category of people and fourth are the shop floor laborers and others. 7. So, even in a home, you need such people at home. You require all the four people. At home also you require persons who are wise and experienced so you always consult that person what to do now. A wedding is coming up what should we do or such a function is coming what should we do? So, these are people, wise people who guide others. At home also there are bread winners, a leader. At home 5.

tamas.

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you have an accountant also who keeps account of income and expenses. At home there must be labour also who washes dishes, who washes clothes and things like that. It is possible that one person may do all the four also but four kind of functions are required. You may not have four, you just have one or you may have fifteen but the point is any system can function provided these four kind of functions are performed. 8. Therefore Lord Krishna says - Hey, Arjuna I have created these four castes and divided or allotted the duties according to their disposition. The duties are tasks are a l l o t t e d t o t h e m a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i r c a p a c i t ie s , t h e i r t a l e n t s , t h e i r a p t i t u d e . S o , t h i s is how the Vedic society was organised. One characteristic about the Vedas is that there is recognition of prevailing diversity - that people are different, they have to respect the diversity, respect the differences. You cannot have one prescription for everybody. So, based on the diversities, four kinds of people are there. Therefore four kinds of duties or four kind of tasks are assigned to them.

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DIVISION OF LIFE SPAN 9. In fact, even during the span of their life time we do not remain the same therefore four stages of life also are recognized. First stage is that of a student, second stage that is of a householder. 10. S t u d e n t i s c a l l e d a B r a h m a c h a r i . B r a h m a c h a r i m e a n s s tu d e n t i n t h e V e d a s . S e e t h e traditional way of learning was the students would go to a teacher in a Gurukulam, live with the teacher and learn from him. Serve the teacher and learn from him. This was Brahmachari a student. The advantages of going to a teacher was the student was protected from other influences which are there in a home, in the society and other inputs and is in the atmosphere of learning and serving so that is how the only agenda that a student has is to study. No other distractions are there. No T.V. In the home there are going to be means of enjoyment and entertainment. In Gurukulam that is not there. Thats how the students focus only on studies. 11. Second stage is of householder. Having completed the studies, he is equipped now to how to live his life. Comes home and enters the life of householder. Thats the second stage. Life of householder also is meant as the life of karmayoga ideal. So, even a couple, when they get married, man and woman get married also the relationship as s a i d i s o n e o f y o u k n o w s a p ta p a d i . S o , w h e n t h e w e d d i n g t a k e s p l a c e t h e n t h e r e a r e seven steps are there, different vows are taken. One of the vows in saptapadi is that we stand as friends of each other so both these man and woman says that now we are friends. Friends means both of them enjoy equal status meaning that they respect each other equally. They respect each others role also. Woman naturally does a certain kind of task because her personality is most suited for that. A man does a different kind of task because his personality is suited for something else. 12. So, thats how man and woman or husband and wife do different things, share different tasks but at the same time enjoy the same respect and honor and dignity. Thats how you become matured. Thats what you call a healthy relationship. These scriptures did not look upon the life of a householder as a life meant for simply fulfilling ones passion it was a life of growth. So this life of householder is meant for the emotional and spiritual growth of both the man and woman. 13. When they accomplish the growth now they are ready for retirement. Thats called life of Vanprastha, retirement. Vanprastha literally means that you go to forest. Meaning that they have handed over the administration and everything, all the responsibilities t o t h e e l d e s t s o n a n d t h e r e i s n o m o r e a n y th i n g t o d o n o w a n d t h e y g o , r e t i r e t o t h e forest. An ideal situation. These days these parents even though they grow old they never give up control. The mother-in-law always keeps the bunch of keys with her. So the daughter-in-law must always seek her permission and father also you know he says I am retired I will just go to office for two hours a day but all control is in his hand, you know? 14. Page 4 of 10

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Anyway, but the thing is what is meant by Vanprastha is that now you have done enough, you have done your job, now you retire, now you enter a different stage of life. So handover whatever you have to your children. Your life is now devoted to worship, prayer, meditation and finally the life of renunciation. The life dedicated to pursuit of knowledge and dedication. 15. So, these are the four stages. Even though they are said to be equal 25 years of student. 25 years of that is just, I should say a broad division in it but really these four stages are not four divisions of life span. They are four stages of emotional maturity. Leading the life of student properly you gain the maturity to become a householder. On account of leading life of householder in a responsible way you gain maturity to become a retiree. Because of that you become a renunciate. 16. So, four stages of life and four divisions of labor. In each stage of life also different tasks and four castes. Also different tasks so all tasks are divided into 16 ways. So this diversity is recognized, respected and this task division is done so that each one is compatible with what he or she does. If what you have to do is compatible to your nature and aptitude and talent then you do the task in a very comfortable way, in an effective way. Thus the task also is done well, you also grow. Thus, each one contributes to the prosperity of the society, In this process each one also grows in prosperity. 17. Ideally these castes are not by birth, the castes are by disposition of mind. What happens is, this so called disposition of mind is a subjective thing. There is no objective way of measuring the disposition of a person. That is why the immediate indicator was his birth and thats how the caste system came to be determined by birth because we dont have a better way. Just as let us say as going to engineering school, medical school, business school whats the criterion? Criterion is a test score. Y o u w a n t t o g o t o I I T o r I I M o r w h e r e v e r y ou w a n t t o g o t h e n a l l t h e s e , w h a t i s t h a t what are the tests, you know? (CAT) Common Admission Test is there and usually the selection is based on the scores in the test. Now, you cannot say that just because a person scores more in the test, that he is necessarily more suited as engineer or a doctor then a person who scores less. 18. The score in a test is not an ideal criterion to judge the capability of a person but you dont have better criterion, you follow? So, then you have to choose the criterion which is as closest. Similarly, birth is not the ideal criterion to judge the disposition of a person but thats the objective criterion that you have. That is how caste came to be determined by birth. Also, there was a reason, another supporting reason. Here you believe that a person scores well if he enjoys the capacity which is generally true but not necessarily true. Similarly law of karma says that you are generally born in an environment which is most suited for you. So, we understand that a person is born in a Brahmana family is most likely to have karma which has brought him to a Brahmana. Therefore he is most likely to possess disposition of Brahmana. So, this is how the division of caste was equated to be based on birth. Not an ideal criterion. Therefore you should have some provision in your selection process also - even though this person has scored a little less let us take interview also and you also try to judge whether the person possesses other kind of traits. So even though the score may be

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less you may still be selected. I am sure in all the good selection processes, this is done. 19. And so we try to compensate for the lack of accuracy in one criterion namely test score by improving other subjective criterion. What we should have done even though birth is an objective criterion, we should have some subjective criterion by which we could judge the people and then classify them, re-classify them even if that fellow is born here looks like he is more like a Brahmana so give him the status of Brahmana. This is not done. It is possible that injustice may happen because birth is not an ideal criterion. That is how the caste system became sort of unjust, instead of becoming effective. It was working very well in the Vedic time when this country was very prosperous and very predominant in all branches of knowledge and accomplishment but later on this system became degenerated because it did not reform and as somebody says there is injustice, that is true. Its not because of system; its because of not proper management of the system.

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CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EFFECTIVE LEADER 20. T h i s i s j u s t f o r y o u r i n f o r ma t i o n s o t h a t y o u w i l l u n d e r s t a n d . H a v i n g s a i d a l l t h e s e now I have chosen here the character of Kshatriya. Kshatriya is typically a leader. So, Kshatriyas in our society are leader class. They were the kings so what is the trait of a Kshatriya the leader? One is courage. Bhagwad Gita says. Shouryam courage, tejah a b i l i t y t o d o m i n a t e o t h e r s a n d n o t b e i n g d o m i n a t e d b y o t h e r s , t h a t s c a l l e d t e ja h . Dhriti strong will power; not submitting to obstacles. Dakshyam quick in responding to situations, quick in judging the situation and responding to situation. Kshatriya never runs away from battlefield, ready to face challenges meaning not running away from challenges. Ready to face challenges. Danam generosity, a Kshatriya is a generous person. A leader is supposed to be a generous person, an inclusive person. Ishwar bhavasya - The ability to rule, ability to lead, guide others, if necessary discipline others. A ruler should be able to lead others, guide others at the same time where necessary, discipline others. And finally practicing dharma, a Kshatriya is committed to following dharma or righteousness, protecting righteousness and helping other people to also follow dharma. He practices dharma at the same time he makes others also practice dharma. So, practice dharma, protect dharma and make other people follow dharma is a role of a Kshatriya. 21. So, you know what is an ideal leader, an ideal manager, everybody is a leader not only manager is a leader, everybody is a leader of a few people at least. Even at home you are parent, you are leader as far as your children are concerned, as far as your y o u n g e r b r o t h e r o r y o u r s i b l i n g s a r e c o n c e rn e d a s f a r a s f e w p e o p l e w h o l o o k u p t o your concern, you are a leader. Therefore, the third point says, Bhagwad Gita says teach by example. There is a verse in Bhagwad Gita which says - whatever leader does other people automatically follow because most people want to imitate what a leader does. So, when you are in a position of leadership, it becomes your responsibility to conduct yourself in a manner which can be exemplary to those who are following you. So, leader should be exemplary he should teach by example. Preaching is one way of teaching and set an example is another way of teaching. Lord Krishna says that rather than preaching communicate by setting an example. That is how there is an expression called transformational leadership, you know where you can transform others. Let me relate to you an incidence from life of Mahatma Gandhi it just comes to my mind. 22. How you can help and transform other person by setting the example and by being generous and compassionate. It is said that once, Mahatma Gandhi was travelling in a train. You know that he used to travel in third class. Those days there were three classes - first class, inter class and third class, those days three classes in the train. Now, you have only two classes first class and second class. So, Gandhiji insisted t h a t h e w o u l d t r a v e l o n l y i n t h i r d c l a s s w h i ch w a s o n e o f t h e p u b l i c c l a s s . W h a t i s t h e class, what is it called? Cattle class. You know that expression? Who uses that? All right. Thats correct. So, cattle class. So, Gandhiji chose to travel in cattle class because he looked upon himself as one of the cattle, that is why. He wasnt snobbish and always going to distinguish himself from others. He wanted to include others. This travelling in cattle class was not to make a show. It was to include others. So, he was travelling. 23.

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Trains are crowded usually. So, Gandhiji is sitting on this berth and other people are sitting and there was one person sitting in the berth opposite Gandhiji. He was coming from village. Not a very cultured person. That man was suffering from cold and so from time to time, you know, he would spit out and you know how uncultured people do, spit out where he was sitting. So, Gandhiji is sitting here so when Gandhiji saw this you know what he did? He was reading a newspaper he tore a piece of newspaper, cleaned that thing and threw it out. Other man didnt like it. Who is this? So, he did it again. Very patiently Gandhiji again tore a piece of paper, cleaned it. Third time, fourth time, a number of times you know that man must have been so insensitive, he kept on doing it. He challenged Gandhiji, let me see how much you can do? How often can you do? Very patiently and very kindly Gandhi did this. Then came the station V a r a n a s i . G a n d h i j i h a d t o g e t d o w n t h e r e w a s c r o w d o f p e o p l e . M a h a tm a G a n d h i k i j a i with all garlands and that man hey, this is Gandhiji. He fell into the feet of Gandhiji. Says, Bapu I am very sorry for what I have done. Gandhiji says fine. Well I am really sorry, I am really sorry. Then do this. Next time when you travel in a train you find somebody creating dirtiness or making a mess you clean up patiently. Ill do that.

24. So, how can you teach and transform a person? So, this is called transformation not so much by preaching as much as by setting an example not in a snobbish way. Setting an example very humbly, with compassion, with patience. So, you need patience with people. You cannot afford being intolerant because people will not meet with your expectation, they are not quick enough, they are not efficient enough. You get intolerant because you are quick, you are efficient others are not. You are intolerant, you make a demand - my way or highway you have heard this? My way or highway. Just you want to control others so this is what people think this is the way to live. Thats how a manager should lead, be able to control others. Be able to dominate others. Create fear in them. By threat you get things what you want. My way or highway. As I said in the morning that does not work too long. Because there are many highways that a person can go to. They will be on your highway as long as it is convenient to them, they will find another highway. 25. And what do you get by that? The leader wants to win over these people not dominate people. You dont want a slave with you; you want a friend with you. A slave always needs to be instructed a friend just thinks without instruction. You understand? They talk of three kinds of servants. One is the servant who knows what the master wants and he does things without being instructed. An ideal servant knows what the master w a n t s a n d d o e s w h a t i s n e e d e d w i t h o u t b e i n g i n s t r u c t e d . U tt a m a - t h i s i s t h e b e s t k i n d of servant. The middling one does when instructed, as instructed; a third one does not do even when instructed. 26. What kind of people do you want? You want to keep on instructing people and micromanaging other people then you are always busy instructing and managing other people. You want people who can take their own initiative, who know what you want and can do things then you can do some better things. So, for a manager or a leader wants to create people who are with him and not scared of him, not afraid of him, not looking for an opportunity to escape. When you threaten people and create fear in them then they will deceive you. In front of you they will act in one way and they will tell lies to you because they are afraid of you. On the other hand, if you have won

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over people, they will be open with you, frank with you and they can also share their difficulties. 27. When you demand from a person my way or highway, if you cannot come in time tomorrow you dont come. In New York subways there is one sign. Talking about the old days you know? If you cannot come on a Sunday do not bother to come on Monday. Sunday is a holiday but then these laborers thats how the master, when labor unions were not there, this was an advertisement by labor union by the way you know. This is how it used to be in olden days if do not come on Sunday do not bother t o c o m e o n M o n d a y . T h u s t h e w o r l d c o n d u c t s b u s in e s s . Y o u c a n n o t g e t b e s t o u t o f that person. When can you get best of a person? When you win over, when the person is comfortable with you then you win over that person. You have to understand that person. Understand the person, he is not able to do something isnt that he doesnt want to, you can assume that he doesnt want to do, he is not sincere, you need not assume that. May be that person has some difficulty, he has some problem, may be he needs help, he doesnt need just to be punished he needs help. 28. This morning I related to you one example of a man in subway with his two children. The children were rowdy and you know other people and they were just scolding this man, you are not controlling your children. They learnt that the children have lost their mother and thats how they are behaving like that. Then there is sympathy. So also a person who does not perform as expected; he is not punctual; whatever, be sympathetic with that person. Dont reject the person, be sympathetic and the person can open up with you. May be he has problem at home; may be his child is not well; may be his wife has a problem; may be his mother has a problem; may be he has some problem; may be he has some stress; may be he has some personal things. If you exclude - you are you and I am I, do as I want otherwise you dont belong here thats one way or you and I are not different. What is your problem is my problem also, whats your problem? What way can I help you? In that case, you include that person with compassion, with sympathy. That person will be with you when you share his problems or difficulties. He will be with you for the life time he will never leave you because people are not with you just because of money. 29. Everybody wants money no doubt but they want other things also, isnt it? Do you only want money? Many other things you want. Is it not so? You want to be respected; you want to be accepted; you want to be loved; you want to be included; nobody likes to be isolated; nobody likes to be excluded so what you like from others, give to others also. 30. Thus, a Kshatriya is a large hearted person, an inclusive person, a generous person; as best as possible a selfless person. So, higher you go, more matured you should become. Then only you should take the position. And maturity means you are more inclusive, you are less self-centered that you also include interests of others in your interest. That was Mahatma Gandhi. He recognized that two kinds of spiritual sadhanas are there. One spiritual pursuit is you are for yourself, that you do your meditation, you do your yoga, everything else and you will grow, that does not include others. Gandhi says no, that is not adequate. Its not enough that I grow, thats how Gautam Buddha also said. Gautam Buddha says that and that is why Gandhiji likes that

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verse, that I do not want heaven, I do not want even the highest world, I want to be born again and again to suffer along with suffering people so that I can help them. 31. It was Jesus Christs thought also. So, Christianity also preaches suffering for others. Gandhiji also believes that my growth must include the growth of others and therefore he lived life of setting example to others, teaching others, including others and raising others along with him. Now, thats a very big thing. We are small as yet but I am saying what ideal is or in which direction you should go? What they are teaching you is to be selfish, to be dominating, to be controlling, to be assertive, to be snobbish. Thats what they teach but what these scriptures teach is quite different - to be humble, to be inclusive, to be sensitive and as less selfish as you can. 32. Nobody can be truly selfish when you are a perfect man. We dont expect that but still there is a value for value. Let there be value for inclusiveness; let there be value for including others; let there be value for their well being. A leader should stand for the well being of those who need him. You should be helping them. If you lift them up they will push you up. You follow? If you lift them up, they will push you up, they will be with you. Thus, all of you grow together. Your growth is not excluding their growth. A growth must be inclusive growth. So, if you care and are concerned for those who work for you, you genuinely care like your children. The king has to look upon his subjects as children. Praja is nothing but progeny (children). Praja means subject. Praja also means progeny. For a king ideal thing is to look upon his subjects as his children. Care for them. Be concerned about them. Protect them. Help them. 33. Swami, what will happen to me? The next question is but what will happen to my progress? What progress do you want? The progress is measured in terms of emotional maturity, in terms of what makes you successful and happy, thats what makes you more effective. You are always a more effective person when you are inclusive not when you are exclusive. So you take care of growth and well being of your team members that is an ideal leader.

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