Looking at Ramayana's Ram as a leader
Relevant learnings for corporate culture seeking growth with harmony
Raghav opened his eyes from the meditation and bowed in prayer to the small picture of Shri Ram in front of him. His eyes fell upon his mobile as he saw 2 missed calls from his staff. He called back to speak and then told them he will join the team in the second half.
It was Ram Navami that day, celebrated as the birth anniversary of Shri Ram - venerated as king, worshipped with great devoutness in India. All over the country, there were celebrations in temples, communities and media blared devotionals songs. Some immersed themselves in the glory of the epic - Ramayan, some cringed at the blind faith. A small section harbored an intellectual hatred for a prince who gave up kingdom for his father’s word to embrace exile in forest with a newly wedded wife, fought a war to rescue her, only to bade her to the forest to uphold the people’s will. Largely though, corporate world ignored the epic-the man and thereby the day.
Later, as team was catching up over tea, Raghav - the 42 year Director of Corporate Communications sensed an uneasy calm when he explained the reason for the delay. He spent time at home with his teenage son and daughter explaining the significance of the epic. His team was full of rising stars - most were on rotation as part of companywide rotation program. Young, bright, quick learners and energetic executors - each had a feather in his/her cap that made them the choice of many a Department in the enterprise. Raghav was an astute people person and realized that the Western philosophy-fed minds of these youth were untouched by the real lessons from the epic.
He smiled and told them that he taught his kids management lessons for tomorrow which he gleaned from the Ramayana. Instantly, the eyes sparkled, side conversations halted and with rapt attention, the young minds looked at him. They always had questions - Is this epic history or mythology? Is it relevant? Or is it just propaganda to drive faith?
“You may feel a story that happened millennia ago or perhaps that did not even happen is irrelevant. Their context was different, their lifestyles were different. Isn’t it?”
A girl blurted - “Yes, in families, maybe, but in corporate world, I don’t see any similarities”
Another quipped- “Ram had the best superhero - Hanuman with him! No such luck today!”
Raghav responded - “Let me talk about three things and then see if it makes sense”
Equanimity
Terrible things happened one after the other to Ram, but he acted with grace and utmost respect for everyone. He was at bliss in the palace and at bliss in the forest.
There was pain, but never resentment. He sought justice, but never revenge. Even when the mighty Lanka king Ravan was finally killed, Ram went into an year of penance. Lakshman, his doting younger brother, was aghast at this act and when he probed Ram, he learnt - “Ravan had 10 heads, 9 were full of malice, but 1 head had great wisdom, generosity, piety. I regret taking that head…” (Ref: Ram-Penance)
Look at us today - even if another car cuts our lane, we pull out daggers and guns.
If we lose a competition, we cry. If we are rejected, we collapse. How many times we spill our office frustration on our family?
In such turbulent times, Ram’s life is an inspiration on how to live a life of tranquility - businesses might swing high and low, but maintain a balanced approach to work and life.
Purpose bigger than self
But what use is equanimity if it does not allow one to serve the world with one’s talents?
This brings us to the next learning which is serving a larger-than-life purpose. Ram-rajya is often used to describe an ideal kingdom, community or an organization. Ayodhya mattered more in every decision Ram took - accepting the exile or refusing Bharat’s plea to return past Dashrath’s death or even the banishing of Sita to the forest. He treated himself as a trustee of Ayodhya and not owner. His decisions had consequences for sure, but his intent was always the larger good, earning him the devotion across generations.
How many of us can even think of the larger purpose where we do not need to sacrifice ourselves?
In an increasingly decentralized world, ownership is trickling away and morphing into a trust-trustee relationship. Corporate history stands testimony that long standing organizations with clear actionable missions have survived all the ups and downs. Management leaders rise and wither away, but a solid purpose earns customer hearts along with their wallets through the sands of time.
Influence without authority
And can we achieve the purpose alone?
Here comes the third learning that is inspiring others to achieve their purpose and therefore the larger good.
One often wonders if Ram could really rescue Sita if it was not for Hanuman’s superpowers. We may never know the definitive answer to that, but what we do know for sure, is that Hanuman willingly served Ram. He was bound by duty to serve Sugriv, but over time, Ram helped Hanuman discover who he was and his immense potential.
Observing Ram uplift everyone around him, while still struggling with his own longing for Sita, many great beings rallied behind Ram to fight the mighty Lankan army. As the volunteer army hit one obstacle after another, Ram inspired everyone to become their best versions to find solutions. Through transforming them, Ram got transformed from an exiled prince to a venerated King - a king that ruled hearts, not just Ayodhya.
In the knowledge economy, can we really force anyone to do a good job? Materialistic incentives go only so far.
The corporate structure of today is a loosely knit community of skilled artisans, designers, accountants and builders. With free flowing capital and limitless digital landscapes, opportunities are galore across the spectrum. An effective leader needs to imbibe the ability of Ram to influence others through his own actions and inspire them with a stirring vision. Incentives are withering away in influence, it is the purpose and the vision that unlocks the skills and efforts to deliver sustainable business value.
Raghav then concluded - The weapons of the corporate world are capital, code and ideas. But the questions that are posed to us or the answers we seek are still the the same
There is a sense of emptiness despite the material wealth, comforts and ease of life. The fear of unknown still clouds the best minds. The story of Ram - with his grace through trials and tribulations stands testimony to the reverence he earns; for it helps answer these eternal questions.
Great analogy to make the epic very contemporary!
Our history carries such wealth of wisdom , it’s timeless. In a world that largely focuses on immediate self content over everything else can no longer understand sacrifice and larger good that drove so many decisions. I loved the end of your article …