By K. C. Narang, Chartered Accountant
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Namaskaar
A garden is normally a square or a rectangle, so is life and
it has four quadrants. In the first two write-ups we have considered the
triology of ‘mind and body’ complex, the ‘family’ and the ‘society’. This one
aims to focus on ‘work-place’ — a place where an individual either
physically or mentally spends, according to some sociologists, 70% of his
working life. It is the work-place which completes the garden. It is the area
where one seeks the fulfilment of one’s goals in the arena of materialism — it
is the work-place which gives him success, fame and wealth. Money is important
and is required to meet the material needs of an individual, his family and also
enables him to discharge his obligation to society. The contribution of
work-place depends on how one approaches it — some disdain it, whereas others —
leaders — cherish it, because they consider the ‘work-place’ as their Karma
Bhoomi.
However, I believe that everyone of us is a leader. In other
words, both the ‘peon’ and the ‘president’ are leaders, though their arenas of
operation may be different. The first quality of a successful leader is a sense
of ownership. We all have experienced peons who own the
‘work-place’. They take pride in keeping the work-place clean, ensure things are
in place, report on time and observe discipline. They also ensure customers are
attended to. A ‘peon’ is essentially the first point of contact with the
customer. The second person who controls the work-place is the secretary who
owns the boss. This is the individual who at times enthuses — nay enforces
discipline on the boss. How many times we have experienced when in the midst of
a discussion the secretary reminds us of another appointment for which we may be
getting late. This person through exemplary dedication enforces ‘discipline’ —
the second essential ingredient of being a leader.
What applies to a peon or a secretary, applies equally to
everyone at the work-place. I have taken these two as an example to emphasise
basic qualities of ownership, dedication and discipline required in an
individual to enjoy and enrich the ‘karmabhoomi’.
Coming to what makes a leader a ‘leader’ — the
boss. I believe in addition to the qualities of ownership, dedication,
discipline and pride in one’s work, a leader should have the capacity to
envision and execute with passion, coupled with a strong sense of
care and share. To give credit where it is due is the hallmark of a leader.
To discipline and be disciplined, to exhibit patience with impatience, to be a
catalyst of change & progress and to have the capacity to blend autocracy with
care, are the ingredients of the cocktail that is the ‘leader’. He is an enigma,
yet simple and straightforward. It is these qualities which make the leader make
the work-place a challenge — a battlefield — which also in full measure has the
elements of ‘care and share’. Let us not forget that success can be achieved by
instilling ‘fear’, but success based on fear is not lasting. Success lasts where
both ‘vision’ and ‘execution’ are shared by the entire team. In other words, a
good leader not only rules the heads, but also the hearts. So let us also make
the fourth quadrant of our garden beautiful by tending it regularly with
discipline, dedication and the manure of ‘care and share’.
Let us always remember that leadership is a privilege
and is the prerogative of everyone of us. It is the exercise of this
prerogative that makes the garden of life complete.
In conclusion, I would urge that to make all the four
quadrants — our garden of life — beautiful, successful and satisfying, let us
‘tend it regularly’.
We work to earn a living to survive. We work to earn money to do things we
enjoy. We work because we enjoy work. Above all, work should bring in personal
satisfaction.
