Leaders as Role Models & The Power of Duty Over Status
Wishing all the business leaders from India a very prosperous new financial year.
Lord Krishna through Bhagavad Gita verses 3.20 to 3.22 explains the importance of ‘Leading by Example’. Let us explore 3.22 in this blog.
"O son of Pṛthā (Kunti), there is no work prescribed for Me within all the three planetary systems. Nor am I in want of anything, nor have I a need to obtain anything – and yet I am engaged in prescribed duties."
Lord Krishna as a Role Model
This sloka teaches us a great leadership lesson demonstrated by Lord Krishna i.e. being a ‘Role Model’. Leaders must live as ‘Role Models’ whatever level, status and popularity they might have attained.
Lord Krishna is the lord of seven worlds. There is no one in all the worlds who could question Lord Krishna on his work. There is no ‘Job Description’ defined for Lord Krishna. Everyone is accountable to him, but he is not accountable to anyone. Still, he does not shy away from his responsibilities. He is there whenever he is required doing whatever required from him. He is not accountable to anyone but he self declares his responsibility in Bhagavad Gita i.e. 'dharma-sansthāpana' i.e. ‘Re-establish dharmic principles in the world'. He pronounces that he will reincarnate yuga after yuga (sambhavami yuge yuge) to discharge his responsibility.
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Maslow's Need Theory
Lord Krishna has everything he needs and he need not work to obtain anything.
Maslow's Need Theory is accepted as sacrosanct in explaining Motivation in Work. Lord Krishna's motivation is not bound by Need Theory. As per Lord Krishna, there is something beyond needs and that is Accountability.
As per Maslow’s Need Theory, humans are motivated by satisfying their needs such as physiological needs, esteem needs, self-actualization needs, etc. Lord Krishna has none of these needs as explained by him in the sloka. How is he then motivated then? By sense of commitment to responsibility.
Lord Krishna demonstrated this leadership principle in multiple occasions in Bhagavad Gita. He has no obligation to be a charioteer for his friend and disciple Arjuna. No leader will agree to take up a ‘not so popular’ job like charioteering for a lesser mortal, yet Lord Krishna did. He not only readily agreed to be a charioteer but also ensured to perform his job with complete commitment.
In another instance, Lord Krishna went to the Kaurava camp as a simple messenger of the Pandavas. He could have sent someone else but he went himself as he thought it to be the best possible option in that circumstance.
Not only Lord Krishna, almost all the religions preach the same. Lords take up their responsibilities seriously and behave as good ‘Role Models’. If that is the principle established by the Lord, why do some leaders think that they are not accountable to anyone and hence need not take any responsibility. Why do some leaders think that they have come above 'getting their hands dirty' and their responsibility is limited to managing.
Even after taking the leadership responsibility of a company, I feel very happy and comfortable taking part in the field work rubbing shoulders with the employees, wherever and whenever required. That is also part of being a 'Role Model' as preached by Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita.
Many people think that they need not work as they have acquired enough wealth to sustain their life. This sloka answers them. You work to discharge your ordained responsibilities and not necessarily to acquire wealth.
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