Say, “Leadership”, and visions of charismatic icons, swaying crowds with fiery speeches take over the mind. Corporate/Political leadership get most eyeballs but what about the silent leadership from parents, teachers, senior society members? Our attention is consumed with the media-coverage on senior-level embezzlements, shady misconducts etc. But what the real-time common issues that pull a leader down? Well, so let’s see some of these issues and discuss a few leadership lessons from the Bhagavad Gita quotes that could remedy them.
Here’s broad summary of 4-pronged issues that plague a leader while juggling priorities between himself, his team, stakeholders and the market’s vagaries:
We know how incisive the focus is on building leaders’ capabilities on technical and management side, but leadership surveys report a different story. Team members, stake-holders, customers all find simple gaps in their leader’s humane qualities, unbearable. Everything else is secondary.
That is to say, negative leadership qualities such as lack of courage, lack of empathy, non-collaborative approach, lack of resilience, short-term approach, low self control (greed, anger, pleasure-seeking), muddled thinking, inability to prioritize, inability to think creatively all lead to non-cooperation from team, murky office politics, poor lifestyle, stress related illnesses etc. are a complete No-No!
Here’s a survey by Harvard Business Review that exactly chimes with this very same thought
See?! Mostly human interpersonal skills. Meaning, if you are fundamentally good inside, half the battle is won already! So, Lets see how Bhagavad Gita’s leadership lessons can help bring about deep-rooted changes from inside-out. How this holy book can burnish aspirants with character/ personality traits to lead beautifully in the 21st century.
1. Be a great role- model
Leadership lesson #1 from Bhagavad Gita quotes; Chapter 3 Verse 21.
‘Yadyad aacharati shreshthas tattadevetaro janah; Sa yat pramaanam kurute lokas tad anuvartate’
‘Whatever a great man does, other men also do; whatever standards he sets, the world follows’
Can you imagine nations rallying behind Gandhiji or Lincoln or Mandela if they themselves didn’t have high moral standards, didnt live the ideals that they preached?
Look back at any great leader and that’s the one thing that will stand out. How they lived, breathed their philosophies and why their support grew like wildfire.
Isn’t it hard for a father who is himself hooked on drugs to sermon his son on the ills of addictions? How can the lower level executives be honest when when their leaders stink of corruption.
Whatever you want your team to be, to do, the leader must set an example for that and more.
Bhagavad Gita lists some qualities as moral standard. These may be tough to follow in todays age, but one can work towards it.
Friendly, compassionate, forgiving, content, steady, self-controlled, fearless, pure, alert, stoic, free from hate/attachment/ agitations/egoism/greed/envy/lust but perfectly equanimous be it pleasure/pain, joy/sorrow, gain/loss, honor/ dishonor; devoted to Divinity and dedicating all actions to Him (Chapter 12, Verses 13-19)
2. Whatever you think you will become, so manifest a positive blossoming in one & all
We know this, millions of books and scriptures across religions say the same thing.
Whatever we desire and worship for with faith, it materializes. Thoughts create our world. Thoughts are part of Prakriti that get together with the Eternal Spirit Purusha and create matter. Here, in Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna promises his devotees the same.
So don’t be afraid to aim high or to make changes to your personality or to have a bold vision. Just let the energy flow towards that goal unceasingly so that it gathers momentum to manifest itself. Withdraw thought energies from toxic patterns, unlearn them. Shoot for the stars. When the naysayers laugh, remind yourself of this Gita verse. Then keep going.
Leadership lesson #2 from Bhagavad Gita quotes; Chapter 7, Verse 21
‘Yo Yo yaam yaam tanum bhaktah shraddhayaarchitum icchati; Tasya tasyaachalaam shraddhaam taameva vidadhaamyaham’
‘Whatever form a devotee desires and worships with faith, I make that (steady and) concrete.’
3. Magnify your lens. Question the seemingly ‘impossible’
One of the most defining qualities of a leader is the vision. A vision here is a simple bold statement of future. A lofty dream, that makes everyone stretch themselves to achieve.
Making a vision may be relatively easy but keeping faith in that lofty goal, going after it day after day while naysayers brand it as a ‘pipe-dream’ is hard. Not to mention keeping team members motivated.
Let’s take an example of an average sales person. Now, one day, the central office calls him and to his delight tells him that they will be diverting the upcoming advertisement leads to his catchment. His eyes pop out with the possibilities of the windfall coming his way.
How will his attitude change?
Even if he is moderately optimistic, he will start firing all cylinders eager to optimize on the opportunity. He would dress better, prepare better, carry himself with more elan, meet more customers, pitch larger ticket sizes, handle objections better, follow up more rigorously and convert many times over. All because he believes Grace is shining over him!
Exactly this way, when we give up identifying with our small, limited selves and instead identify ourselves with the Supreme Self inside (an extension of God), our world view expands exponentially. We begin to feel potent Grace all around us!
Things that seemed impossible before, now become doable, viable. Our divine possibilities shine over venues that we were blinded to before. Things effortlessly fall into place as a Higher power guides us towards Supra-Achievements.
Leadership lesson #3 Bhagavad Gita quotes, Chapter 6 verse 30
‘Yo maam pashyati sarvatra sarvam cha mayi pashyati, Tasyaaham na pranashyami sa cha me na pranashyati’
‘He who see Me everywhere and in everything, neither he get separated from me, nor Me from him.’
4. Failure is almost certain for the ‘intelligent’ skeptic
Go back and reflect for a moment. Have you ever met a successful leader who loves empty intellectual debates, guns down fresh ideas and initiatives and buries them with toxic skepticism?
No, almost never!
You see, optimism is one of the prime qualities of a leader. How can a leader convince a team to take the leap, try new things, when he himself is a rank sceptic? How will the team blossom if they don’t try new ways, then fail and then with that lesson try over again?
Gita doesn’t mince words when it warns us against a lack of faith either in Self or in God. The person who doubts everything, argues over everything and knows all the reasons why just about anything wont work may look smart but will end up being unhappy, unsuccessful and unfulfilled.
Leadership lesson #4 from Bhagavad Gita quotes; Chapter 4, verse 40
‘Ajnashchaashraddhadhaanashcha samshayaatmaa vinashyati, Naayam loko’sti na paro na sukham samshayaatmanah’
‘The ignorant, the faithless, the doubtless suffer. Neither in this world nor another is there happiness for them.’
5. Be in the thick of action, to keep team on its toes
How much respect does a leader get who keeps barking out orders from his plush corporate office with a seaside view?
We know how a team member responds to the leader who frequently steps down from his fancy palace to mingle with the team, to accompany them on those ‘important’ customer calls and to celebrate minor achievements.
Besides, placing oneself in the thick of action also gives one real-time feedback on how the market functions, how the vendors, customers, product /service is received by them.
Krishna’s confession here that he needs to do nothing as a God. Yet he comes down from time to time to act so that people may not fall into the trap of inactivity, a potent message for all aspiring leaders.
Leadership lesson #5 from Bhagavad Gita quotes; Chapter 3, Verse 22/23
‘Na me paarthasti kartavyam trishu lokeshu kinchana, Naanavaaptam avaaptavyam varta eva cha karmani, Yadi hyaham na varteyam jaatu karmanyatandritah, Mama vartmaanuvartante manushyaah paratha sarvashah.’
6. Don’t confuse, scatter team energies, Be resolute about a few K.R.A’s
Whatever goals, decisions, R&R, feedbacks sessions you execute, they make must all be in line with your vision. If you keep changing your stance and chase 10 different lines of target then your teams psyche will be like that of a confused herd of sheep.
A confused mind is as good as an invalid mind because it loses its potency to create meaningfully.
So clarity, focus and one pointed efforts are a must that a leader should himself practice and foster within his team.
Leadership lesson #6 from Bhagavad Gita quotes; Chapter 3 verse 41
‘Vyavasaayatmika buddhir ekeha kurunandana,Bahushakhaa hyanantaashcha buddhayo vyavasaayinaam’
‘Many branched and endless are the thoughts of the irresolute. But here (Karma Yoga) there is single pointed determination.
7. Nurture your intuition, your Inner Voice.
Leaders with humble beginnings invariably attribute their success to a strong voice inside them. The one that egged them to go on a path even when the whole world dissuaded them, even when things got rough. Many leaders have relied on unconventional choices of strategies and team members simply because their gut told them to do so.
Logic, data crunching, market trends, resumes, consultancy firm advice etc all have their own merit and must be given due consideration.
But when a voice inside you asks you to back an unconventional path, an infamous team member, a bizarre vocation, an unpopular decision; don’t ignore it as a foolish emotion.
The Gita/Upanishads remind us that we are not merely a body with a mind, intellect and a soul. Rather that we are a Soul with a body, mind and intellect. And this Soul is supra-intelligent if only we would listen to it. It can open up wonderful realms of possibilities if only we would listen, reflect and contemplate upon what it tell us.
Leadership lesson #7 from Bhagavad Gita quotes; Chapter 2, verse 29
‘Aashcharyavat pashyatikashchid enam, Aashcharyavad vadati tathaiva chaannyah, Aashcharyavacchainam anyah shrinoti, Shrutwaapyenam veda na chaiva kashchit.’
‘One sees ‘This’ as a wonder, another speaks of it as wonder, yet another hears of this as a wonder, but none understand ‘This’ at all’
And how do we train ourselves to listen to this soft-spoken soul?
8. Meditate, unleash the latent powers of your mind
Meditation has become an over-used concept now. A million styles of meditation and accompanying tools are marketed along with variants of yogic postures.
Bhagavad Gita gives out simple time-tested methods of meditation in Dhyana Yoga (Chapter 6). Simple details like correct posture, correct seat, correct technique etc.
The moot point here is that meditation means making the mind one-pointed on the Inner Self. Meaning, resist the two powerful forces that tend to sweep this mind on turbulent waters. These are Internal agitations created by endless desires and External temptations created by sense objects.
Leadership lesson #8 from Bhagavad Gita quotes, Chapter 6, verse 12.
‘Having made the mind one-pointed, controlling the actions of the senses and the mind, let him be seated, practice Yoga for the purification of self.’
9. Nurture these 5 personal qualities of an evergreen leader
History and personal experience tells us how high-adrenaline leaders have a promising start but somehow lose steam along the way.
So, the war- cries, burn-outs and rave parties can keep the machinery going only till the system starts getting weary of it.
The Gita says that a true leader can nurture progress till the very end, attaining both his material and spiritual goals. How can he do that?
By imbibing these five qualities in his basic mental make-up:
Discarding Pride and delusion:
Many budding leaders become over-confident with early success and let pride creep in. They delusorily start attributing the successes entirely to themselves disregarding the support of seniors, team members and most importantly of Grace. And this unfortunate leader then closes himself to all opportunities of learning or growing, since ‘he already knows it all’
We know how this leader ends up. Life humbles them with their fair share of humiliating failures till they learn their lesson
Discarding attachment :
A leader must learn not to get too attached to his projects/efforts. Getting attached is akin to bringing the ego into play, the great destroyer of peace. Instead he must foster an attitude within himself and his team of doing the best for each assignment. Quickly execute it with utmost concentration. And then seamlessly, move on to the next..
Dwelling in the Self always:
Meaning being centered in one’s spirit, one’s soul vis-à-vis letting the over-calculating mind take over.
Freed from the pairs of opposites:
Maintaining equanimity no matter what. Not going wildly jubilant over successes nor sinking into depression over failures. Not going overboard on praises nor losing mental poise when under criticism.
Desires being retired :
Leaders who are open to gratification of the constant stimulus of personal desires have difficulty pouring themselves into a mission.
Think of any great leader that we truly respect and see how they have lived their lives, frugally. Notice, how their mission was the sole bright light beckoning them at the end of the tunnel, firing them to go on disregarding the petty sensual pleasures of life.
Leadership lesson #9 from Bhagavad Gita quotes; Chapter 15 Verse 5
‘Free from pride and delusion, victorious over the evil of attachment, constantly centered in the Self, desires retired, free from pairs of opposites like pleasure/pain, the wise reach the Goal.’
10. Stand up against evil, no matter how outnumbered you are.
This piece of advice is often mistaken as a ‘unionized’ approach towards management. The idea being that people in power are always wrong ! What an erroneous and toxic attitude!
However the Gita alludes to something else here.
At times, there may be genuinely toxic bullies, hugely popular within your team. Antagonizing them would mean antagonizing most of the team .
Or at times there may be a boss nice to you but outright exploitative of your team members. Antagonizing him would mean antagonizing your own future.
The Gita says follow your conscience. When an issue has been looked at neutrally without prejudices and still the perpetrator comes across as outright unfair, Stand up and fight.
In the modern day, fighting as in physically punching a guy could land you in jail. But one could use other ways of confronting the bully. Talking, counselling, coercing, threatening subtly etc. Don’t leave any stone unturned to set things right.
Leadership lesson #10 from Bhagavad Gita quotes; Chapter 2, Verse 3
‘Yield not to impotence, Partha. It does not befit you. Give up this mean weakness of heart and stand up!’
11. Power, Arrogance and Anger keeps one away from perfection
True leadership is meant to set the teams heart on fire. Leadership is so much more than plain ‘managing’ the team. A leader must inspire trust, camaraderie and loyalty first, then demand results.
Now if a leader has an abnormal sense of ‘I’ ness i.e EGO, one can imagine the resultant fits of arrogance, power display and anger in his dealings with the team and stakeholders. Not to mention their consequences.
Additionally, an arrogant leader drunk on power will be inclined to misuse his authority, cross the line way too often and create a low trust environment that stifles employee productivity and creativity.
Keep these three evil addictions of power, arrogance and anger at bay which invariably lead to more cascading evils like lust, greed, envy, ego wars etc.
While the Gita’s message here is for people wanting success in reaching Perfection (that is uniting with Brahman) it is just as relevant for leaders striving to bring out their best.
Leadership lesson #11 from Bhagavad Gita quotes; Chapter Verse 53′
‘Ahankaaram balam darpam kaamam krodham parigraham, Vimuchya nirmamah shaanto brahmabhooyaaya kalpate’
‘He who has abandoned egoism, power, arrogance, desire, anger, aggrandizement, who is peaceful and free from the notion of ‘Mine’, he is fit to reach Perfection.
12. Be generous with credit to team members/ stakeholders, frequently pass on your individual achievements.
A cardinal mistake that has prematurely ended many a leader’s career is snatching away credit from a team member. Worse still, presenting it as his own achievement!
Here leaders must try to this rule with their team, ‘Praise in public and Admonish in private.’
Try this! Share your critical feedback if any in private, strictly one on one. But in public especially before your seniors or other stakeholders, praise their achievements within earshot. In fact, if you know anyone who’s suffering a bad month despite a ton of effort, pass them the credit of some of your individual achievement. See how your team/stakeholder morale shoots up and how much more happier and peaceful you feel with this act.
For this, of course the leader must have first completely rid himself of his egoistic ‘I’ ness and ‘My’ ness. Meaning, his overriding desire to look better than others including his team members/stakeholders at all costs.
Leadership lesson #12 from Bhagavad Gita quotes; Chapter 2, Verse 71
‘Vihaaya kaamaan yah sarvaan pumaamshcharaati nihsprihah, Nirmamo nirahankaarah sa shaantim adi gacchati.’
“That man attains peace who has given up (incessant) desires and who carries on without longing of ‘I-ness’ or ‘My-ness’”
13. Stop & Think, on realizing that you are over-doing the effort
Over-doing, over-effort needn’t necessarily mean a better quality of effort. So watch out for this trait in yourself and team. Quickly correct it by centering everyone, bringing them back to peace and self awareness. Go over their options and focus energies on the ones with most potential. Save them from an impending burnout so that the momentum is carried over for longer term.
Leadership lesson #13 from Bhagavad Gita quotes; Chapter 15, Verse 11
”Yatanto yoginashchainam pashyantyatmanyavashthitam, Yatanto pyakritaatmaano nainam pashyantyachetahsah’
Seekers striving (for perfection) find it in the ‘Self’ but the unrefined, ignorant keep striving without seeing ‘Self’
14. Add value, bring your unique take to the table.
One of the key differentiators between a leader and a follower is the perspective they bring to each situation. And the enablers that they put in place, proactively.
How they foresee possible market downturns and prepare for it. What do they do to they mine opportunities for team in a dull and bleak market environment.
How they approach problems, what measures they take to smoothen out processes, ease frictions between support and sales teams etc all add value and comfort to the team and stakeholders lives.
So, when things looks dreary and dark, business seems to have hit a dead end, yours will be one team that keeps chugging on productively.
So read up a lot, know your business inside out, make efforts to learn markets, competition, customers and success stories within the industry. Spend time foreseeing future problems . Above all meditate to bring your intuition and creative powers to the fore. Be the rock that your team can rely on for support, insights and problem solving.
Give them one reason to respect and revere you. Then see how far they stretch themselves for you.
Leadership lesson #14 from Bhagavad Gita quotes; Chapter 2, verse 69
‘Yaanishaa sarvam bhootaanaam tasyaam jaagarti samyamee, Yasyaam jaagrati bhootani sa nisha pashyato muneh’
“That which is night for all, keeps the self controlled man awake, in this night he ‘sees’ (when others cannot)’
15. Focus and monitor the process not the results
One of the most famous quotes of the Bhagavad Gita, this ideology is an elixir for all leaders suffering from stress related disorders.
Dedicate yourself selflessly to the task on hand but don’t get obsessed with results. Rephrased in the current context, focus on the process and not just on the results.
You win some and you lose some, that’s the law of life. Imagine the amount of stress you would subjecting yourself if you keep worrying over every single initiative.
What this attitude does is keeps the leader and the team fully focused on optimizing the opportunities on hand instead of ruining that with undue anxiety. Secondly since the mind is open to the present, creativity flows in from all directions. This brings out the most sublime output each and every time. Additionally awareness/concentration on the present, lets one perceive each new upcoming avenue. Unfortunately, the ones consumed with anxiety over rewards for past actions will be blind to these.
At the same time Bhagavad Gita does not advocate callousness but rather promotes complete immersion into the task on hand with Nishkamya Karma (Selflesss dedication to work without obsession over results)
Leadership lesson #15 from Bhagavad Gita quotes; Chapter 2, Verse 47
‘Karmanyevaadhikaaraste maa phaleshu kadaachana, Maa Karmaphalahetur, bhoor ma te sango’stwakarmani’
“Thy right is to work only, but never to its fruits. Let not the fruit of action be thy motive, nor let thy attachment be to inaction.”
16. Develop deep empathy towards others shortcomings
Understand that each one is on their own path of evolution but that does not make them superior or inferior, as they all arise from One.
Bhagavad Gita warns leaders to remind themselves from time to time that there is a reason why they have been chosen to lead.
It is simply because they a mostly on a higher plane of evolution than others. This is not some arrogance inspiring idea to pump up the Ego.
It is simply a reminder that each Soul is on a evolutionary journey towards reaching perfection. Their accumulated good and bad karmas decided how far they have progressed on this path. And yet every Soul is but a part of the Divine Whole.
So while the leader mostly is more evolved, evident in his maturity and character, he should have empathy for others growing up spiritually to where he is.
With this understanding, he assumes the role of a true senior, mentor and Guru. He no more finds pettiness, sloppiness, tardiness in his team, annoying because he knows that he must guide them firmly but tirelessly.
And when the team sees the leader invest in their finer aspects and believe in their potentialities, they actually rise up to it!
Leadership lesson #16 from Bhagavad Gita quotes; Chapter 13, Verse 31
‘Yadaa bhoothaprithabhaavam ekastham anupashyati, Tata eva cha vistaaram brahma sampadyate tadaa’
“When he sees all the variety of being as resting in the One, and spreading forth from that One, he is then perfect”
17. Look for talent within the team
Here Bhagavad Gita says that for the one who has progressed to knowing the true inner Self, all the scriptural knowledge is like a storage of water in a flood- afflicted area.
Applying this learning to leadership parlance, often times good leaders, after having invested and progressed their team members up the knowledge and skill curve, hesitate when its time for one of them to assume his role.
A wise leader upon promotion would choose his successor from within the team, that he has so carefully nurtured; which is the exact reason why he is promoted in the first place.
Bringing a fresh person from outside to fill in his shoes would be akin to getting a fancy Packaged water bottle when one is right next to the Himalayans springs.
So trust yourself, find the best successor from within the team and go ahead and take a bet of him. Continue to support and guide him. Chances are that you will not only be be delighted in him, but also have an ally for life!
Leadership lesson #17 from Bhagavad Gita quotes; Chapter 2, verse 46
‘ Yaavaanartha udapaane sarvatah samplutodake, Taavaan sarveshu vedeshu braahmanasya vijaanatah’
‘To him who knows the Self, all the vedas are of as much use , as is a reservoir of water in a flooded place.’
18. Mentor judiciously. Excessive lofty download might lead to confusion/inaction
Often times otherwise brilliant leaders falter when they with grass-root workers. They make the classic mistake of ‘excess download’. That is to say, they try to sell them the thoughts, ideas and philosophies that he is mature enough to practice.
While the intention is noble here, it can potentially backfire.
Remember when the team is raw and full of energy, they don’t need too much philosophy. Maybe they simply need good old motivation. A good pat on the back when the job is well done, a celebration, a congratulatory mail and a general nudge in the right direction.
But philosophizing their achievements or failures can create undue pressure and confusion in young minds. It could lead to inactivity along with a culture of fruitless debates and theorizing.
While Gita says avoid this, the word ‘ignorant’ needn’t be taken literally. By ignorance, Gita means fresh young blood that needs maturing.
Leadership lesson #18 from Bhagavad Gita quotes; Chapter 3, verse 26,
‘Na buddhibhedam janayed ajnaanam karmasanginaam, Joshayet sarva karmaani vidwaan yuktah samaacharan’
“Let no wise man unsettle the minds of the immature (ignorant), who are attached to action. In fact he must engage them in action, himself involved devotedly.’
19. Give back, Contribute to the wheel of life.
Here practice the famous adage ‘Do unto others as you would want done unto you’
It is not uncommon to find various departments battling with each other trying to pick faults in another’s way of operation. We want greater ownership from the support teams, the processing team, the policy team, the operation teams and we balk about it all the time!
Here Bhagavad Gita’s advice on being a ‘giving’ person rather than only receiving can be a game-changer for leaders.
Distilling the Gita’s advice into action, this would mean leaders actively making an effort to spread the love. Not just maintaining friendly relations with peers and subordinates of support groups but also trying to be their ‘go-to’ person. Share resources, recommend them for R&R, aid them with enablers, send frequent congratulatory notes etc to keep up their morale.
Find ways and means to collaborate fruitfully with all stakeholder teams not just on projects but on day-to-day operations. The resultant trust, synergy and support from them will be a gift that your team will thank you for.
Leadership lesson #19 from Bhagavad Gita quotes; Chapter 3, Verse 16
‘Evam pravartitam chakram naanuvartayateeha yah, Aghaayur indriyaaraamo mogham partha sa jeevati’
‘He lives in vain who does not contribute to the Wheel that has been set revolving.’
20. Find out what makes one tick, don’t get fooled by external appearances, dig deeper to get to the essence
One shoe size never works for all. Similarly while dealing with your heterogenous team have a personalized approach to each and every person.
Don’t get fooled by personal appearances. Sometimes the seemingly ‘self-assured’ would actually have deep insecurities and the apparently naïve would turn out to be the smartest and most pro-active.
So, use your wisdom, go beyond the masks and try to relate to the real person within. See how you can add value to each team member. For instance giving data support to a team-member who is already good with data mining would be useless. Maybe he needs support with his sales pitch or with the understanding of certain approval matrix. And maybe he is so good with data mining that you could make him the data specialist of the team, thereby motivating him further.
Leadership lesson #20 from Bhagavad Gita quotes; Chapter 2, Verse 16
‘Naasato vidyate bhaavo naa bhaavo vidyate satah, Ubhayorapi drishto’ntastwanayos tattwadarshibhih’
‘The (wise) knowers understand the truth that the unreal has no being and there is no ‘non-being’ of the real.’
21. A winning leader’s persona
A leader becomes unstoppable and meets with success, prosperity and happiness sooner or later when:
- Krishna is his charioteer, meaning his Inner Self, his deep spiritual understanding, is guiding him through life.
- Partha (Arjuna) is his archer, the leader’s body/mind/intellect that has shaken off all doubt, confusion, fear and is charging ahead with his bow/arrow to pour himself into his leadership challenges.
Nothing can stand before a person who is so well integrated from both inside and outside.
Leadership lesson #21 from Bhagavad Gita quote; Chapter 18, Verse 78,
‘Yatra yogeshwara krishno yatra paartho dhanurdharah, Tatra shreervijayo bhootirdhruvaa neetirmatirmama’
‘Wherever there is Krishna, Lord of Yoga, and Partha the archer, there is prosperity, success, happiness and stability, my belief.’
22. When beaten and down, remember the Divine Promise.
At times, despite our best efforts things fall flat. Further, we are forced to move on without getting any rewards for the ‘failed’ efforts.
For all such people remember Krishna’s promises :
Leadership lesson #22 from Bhagavad Gita quotes; Chapter 6, Verse 40.
‘Paartha naiveha namuthra vinaashas tasya vidyate, Naho kalyaanakrit kashchid durgatim taata gacchati’
“Neither in this world, nor the next is there destruction or grief for him who strives to be good.’
Meaning: Be good and make genuinely good efforts. One way or the other, in this life or the next, you shall receive your due and more.
Leadership lesson #22 from Bhagavad Gita; Chapter 9, verse 22.
A three point reminder from the Bhagavad Gita that leaders can go back and check on from time to time .
‘Ananyaashchintayanto maam yeh janah paryupasate, Tesham nityaabhiyuktanaam yogakshemam vahaamyahams’
‘For the ones who worship me one-pointedly, being self-controlled, I secure that which is not possessed by them and preserve what they already possess.’
Meaning: For those leaders who are constantly willing and pouring out efforts and energies one -pointedly while and maintaining absolute self-control (being immune to ego filled desires and attachments) there is succor . To such a leader Krishna promises to secure what he doesn’t already have and also retain what he already has.
With this, I hope these Gita verses have added value to the thought process of all budding leaders of the 21st century!
References
The Bhagavad Gita: Swami Sivananda
The Holy Geeta: Swami Chinmayananda
