|
 There is something very interesting that '22 Biggest Mistakes that Managers make and how to correct them" lists as the fifteenth mistake. Failure to seek advice. Managers shy away from their subordinates and do not ask for their advice. After all, a boss is a boss and he cannot be advised by someone from below. Listen to a manager who adopts the following techniques to get advice from his subordinates. He says:
-
The first thing I do is to get my employees in the proper frame of mind to be able to ask their advice.
-
I need to be open to their suggestions and not allow my management position get in the way.
-
When I ask my subordinates for their ideas, I am sincere.
-
I realise that all of us are more interested in our own problems than someone else's.
I therefore make my employees understand that my problem is their problem too.
-
I do this by asking for their help and advice and admitting my ignorance.
-
Once I do it, my subordinates automatically see it is their problem as well as mine.
Once again, apply all the rules to Sri Rama. Were the rules written for him or from him?
Rama, the model administrator, would not hesitate to seek help and advice from others in such circumstances. He knew whom to seek advice from. Vibishana Saranagathi was one such instance when he asked for the opinion of each and every one of his allies and listened to Hanuman, the only one apart from Rama himself, who spoke in favour of Vibishana. Now Hanuman himself was crestfallen. He was not in a fit state of mind. Lakshmana could not be consulted. His mind was consumed by rage. Rama never considered Sugriva could play the part of a wise counsellor. He had never sought his opinion, excepting in one instance - Vibishana Saranagathi - and that was an occasion when everyone was asked to speak. He looked at Vibishana. 'Tell me O Vibishana, is there any way of reaching Ayodhya quickly? Let me call this war off. Let everything else take a back seat. I have to reach Ayodhya now and kill that Indrajit. I will come back here after seeing crows pecking at the eyeballs of Indrajit (after his death).' He asked the right person. The right answer was in the making. However, Lakshmana intervened before he could speak.
Lakshmana was now reminded of the valour of Bharata. He tells Rama that there was no need to go there because Indrajit was no match to Bharata and he could dispatch Indrajit, without much effort. Hanuman, volatile in uncontrolled emotions now, intervenes to say, 'Climb on to my shoulders my Lords! Let me take you to Ayodhya this moment. Or permit me to go there, alone. Let me go there and finish of the scoundrel.'
 The brothers prepared to climb on to the shoulders of Hanuman. Vibishana stopped them. 'I was grieved at your grief. I could not think for a while. I am now clear. I do not think that there is any need to go to Ayodhya now. If the slaying of Sita was a fact, the world would not be able survive after that. That we exist now is proof enough that some illusion has been employed. More over, Ravana would not permit such a thing to happen. Therefore, the incursion into Ayodhya must also be a bluff. I prithee to wait for a while. Let me verify the facts of the matter and we will decide the necessary course of further action after my verification.'
Only a rakshasa knows the heart of another! Seek for help, wise counsel from the right source. Rama, the greatest of anyone who trod this earth, did not hesitate to seek the advice of Vibishana, his follower, who took refuge in Him.
And, finally the manager in the book adds something more interesting.
I don't ask for advice. All I want is reassurance that my idea is right. Vibishana Saranagathi was one such instance that needs our attention now.
(To be continued)
Hari Krishnan
More
Articles
|
|
