'Influence without authority' - is it the norm rather than exception?
A story on how a thoughtful Jijamata influences young Shivaji to convert crisis to opportunity
We often cringe at situations where we seek favorable outcomes, but we lack the authority to influence the outcomes. Historically, albeit the history of modern management is quite puny compared to human history, authority has been a key driver in making things happen. Right from warring kingdoms to fighting nation states to competing economies or corporations, leadership has been a key element in success. In leadership, authority has been a key element in aligning groups, directing them and winning key moments.
The corporate world, as of today, is loosely based on the military style of leadership where the higher you rise, the wider you get to spread your authority. In the earlier years of industrialization, where troops of human workers and machines/assets formed the resource pool, this style of operations was efficient. But, in the era of flushing capital, overpowering technology and decentralization of resources, this style of functioning is losing its effectiveness. Here is why -
As access decentralization happens, hierarchy loses its footing
Earlier, authority controlled access to basic necessities of life. This resulted in unwitting alignment with authority; standing out meant falling out, and falling out meant isolation.
Today, marketplace-driven economies have decentralized and thereby slashed the price for food, healthcare, clothing and roof on the head. This implies a plethora of options and therefore choice for the seeker. Hierarchy and thereby authority is not influential in controlling access.
A decade back, access to finance was hard. Today, the spectrum of microfinance-to-lofty venture capital chases every opportunity to lend money at competitive rates. Do you need to bow to any authority then?
As incentives become dematerialized, authority devolves
Earlier, one of the prime challenges of any skillset was to earn money to facilitate access to the primary needs of life - food, clothing and shelter. Opportunities to earn a living were concentrated in few skillsets and few places. As generations evolved, technology matured and banking systems matured, primary needs of life are being largely fulfilled across most skillsets.
Today, talent is seeking a purpose to deliver on and not just financial rewards or power. It wants to be driven by a passion to make a difference, to contribute to the larger good. No authority can claim stake to passion or purpose. No authority can drill passion or purpose. It comes from within. If you need good talent to work with you, you need to incentivize it with a purpose that resonates.
The race to get talent through higher financial rewards is a race to the bottom. How long can this sustain? Sustainability of talent comes through purpose; purpose that drives through thick and thin, highs and lows of the VUCA environment we are in. Can you authorize purpose?
As complexity rises, collaboration becomes essential
Complexity is everywhere today and evolving rapidly. Earlier, doing business was simple and straightforward. With time, stability set in and largely, the change in political, economic or even the climate barely mattered. It is not so now. ‘Unprecedented’ is the new normal. Collaboration with niche talent as the need arises is the new normal.
When COVID struck, traditional brick-and-mortar businesses plugged into tech startups to go online and thrive. They engaged with delivery startups to re-energize their choked supply chains. Did the startup depend on the traditional business? Not really, the collaboration was on an equal footing - each bringing their own niche to attack the problem at hand.
So, how do we influence outcomes without authority ? Here is a story from history that tells us how. What is interesting about this story is that the character, despite having authority, chose to influence through ideas to achieve the outcome.
A young Shivaji was visiting his exiled father Shahaji Raje in Bengaluru. He had traveled from Pune with his newly wed wife and his mother Jijamata to seek his father’s blessings.
Shahaji and Jijamata, vexed by the atrocities of the ‘shahi’ rulers had taken an oath to begin laying foundation of ‘Swarajya - a free state ruled by people’. Sacrificing their personal comforts and riches, they toiled endlessly towards this cause. As a young boy, Shivaji saw this closely and had grown on the stories of valor, sacrifice and injustice meted out to indigenous communities. He harbored a fierce ambition to realize his parents dreams and a deep disdain of the Adilshah.
Led by Jijamata, Shivaji and his comrades had started clawing into the Adilshahi territories in a bid to establish ‘Swarajya’. When news of Shivaji visiting his father reached the court, Adilshah extended a royal invite to visit Bijapur. Shahaji and Jijamata were caught in a dilemma. Travelling meant the risk of getting trapped in Bijapur or even killed in an ambush. But, declining the invite would be contempt of a royal decree. Caught between a rock and hard place, Shahaji urged Shivaji to visit.
Shivaji vociferously declined saying he would never visit an enemy’s court. Shahaji and Jijamata tried to reason, persuade and then coax. But nothing worked. Jijamata sensed that the father-son were becoming increasingly distant. Shivaji would likely not budge, rather lay his life for his father; but not go. After all, she had lit the fire in him.
Jijamata then told Shivaji about the possibilities of learning from this trip.
Jijamata : Shivba, keep your anger within you. Control it with the mind. Think what you can learn from this trip….
Shivaji: What can I possibly learn at an enemy’s court? All I will see are the atrocities he commits on his people, the helplessness and shame writ on our people’s faces…
Jijamata: Well, you do want to defeat Adilshah, don’t you?
Shivaji: ( with fists clenched ) there is no doubt in this… but, now, we are too weak to do so. Are you suggesting we attack in court?
Jijamata: Not at all, but we learn in this trip. Learn so that we can defeat them tomorrow…
Shivaji: (looking quizzically) Learn?
Jijamata: What is the first rule of warfare, Shivba? It is to know your enemy inside out. This trip is your best chance to know your enemy inside out. Study the city, its defenses and layout. Look at his ministers, note how they behave, probe their soldiers, assess their strengths and mentalities. Play the role of spy so that we do not need to send a spy tomorrow….
Shivaji was amazed at his mother’s visionary thinking. He was no more angry and refusing to go. He was now focused and raring to go.
In one conversation, Jijamata had changed the young man’s outlook - not through a mother’s authority, but a counsellor’s influence. This young man, coached with such brilliance, went on to build a kingdom purely on influence and his stratagems, even to this day, continue to influence our military and naval strategies. Not just India, there are stories of Vietnam uprising getting inspired by his ‘guerilla warfare/ganima kava’.