Management Lessons from Srimad Bhagvat Geeta

We have read and heard about the “”warriors” who would waste your energy. They would also create all kinds of distraction (Physical, Psychological, or any other means). Let’s discuss now to work around and succeed without wasting energy to identify and defeat these warriors without shedding any blood. The solution lies within us. When we are getting distracted we are not because of noise factors outside. The story of deaf frog in my earlier blog should reiterate this.

The key lies in converting ourselves and our abilities that can enable us to focus on what we want to achieve.

41. “On this auspicious path, O Kurunandan (Arjun), the resolute mind is one, but the minds of the ignorant are divided and many.’’

The most important step towards this would to build a mind which is earnestly and firmly oriented to selfless action towards the goals that has been set. If we have to compare with those who propagate more than one mode of action, we must observe at the dilemma they constantly enter into. The minds of such employees are endlessly divided and that is why they conjure up endless ways. This is often visible in form of confused state of functioning by such employees.

It is these employees who tend to blame every one else for their failures. I am reminded of statement from the book by Jack Canfield, the co-author of

47. “Since you are entitled only to the performance of action but never to the fruits thereof, you should neither desire rewards of action nor be drawn to inaction.”

This is most misunderstood or misinterpreted part of the text from Geeta. The word means both action and its consequence. We should not worry about the fruits that we would get. Consequence here is with reference to the user of output of the processes that we manage. In my view its fits in with process approach to management where the belief is that OUTPUT is result of your PROCESSES and INPUTS. The concepts of Process Approach to Management include:

1. Focus on the Inputs criterion and quality

2. Focus of the Process controls and factors that lead to Process Management. They are

   1. Rules of the process

   2. Methods (Steps) deployed

   3. Skills and experience of the people managing/ executing the process

   4. Facilities and equipments provided for the process.

3. Understand consequences of errors and omissions in following the process. This would need to be understood from end user perspective whether a final customer or internal customer.

The characteristics of KARMA as described are

1. Initial trigger of action is indestructible. Once it is initiated, we would not be able to eliminate the same. (The Chinese proverb “Journey of 1000 miles begins with the first step” is true) Having taken the first step it is not possible to erase the footprints left.

1. Any flaw in action will never abandons us

2. Performance of this action, even in small proportions, can give us great amount of confidence and motivation.

Zig Ziglar