When DD announced re-telecast of Ramayana and Mahabharata and with the new IN thing WFH, I could manage to pip in for few episodes which as a child, I had watched with a religious mind, as a war story and to learn ethics.
The re-telecast gave me an opportunity to look at these serials from a management perspective, especially Rama’s management skills.
King Rama is still revered and will always be in our hearts as an ideal son, true brother and a role model husband. However Rama also possessed excellent management skills which stand true even to date.
The first glimpse of the real prowess were realised at the time of ‘Sita-Swayamvar’. Rama did not rush towards the bow( till his guru ordered). He observed others, understood the challenge and when it mattered, won over the challenge posed.Wait for the right moment is an important aspect of management.
When Raja Dashratha, asked Rama to go to Vanvasa, without blinking his eyes Rama accepted the verdict. By no means, it’s on the lines of following the commitment given by the management to its stakeholders. A real management representative will adhere to the organisation expectations and goals.
As the time to confront Ravana was a reality, it was by all means a Big Bang opportunity. But, ShreeRam chose an agile approach to arrive at the final result. Rama first focused on team building to have King Sugreeva(and his army) on his side. Then he had his due-diligence completed through Hanumana who got a details of Lanka, in short, ‘Scope’ in today’s world. A real management person will never take up any project or an assignment without understanding the deliverables in hands.
For Ramasetu, Rama chose Nal and Neel as architects. A real manager will handover the task to a competent person rather than going to his favorite follower. Skillset is more important than favoritism.
Rama ensured that the good performers like Sugreeva, Vibhishan were rewarded for their hardwork and given their dues when the time was appropriate.
Mythology might look at Ramayana as a battle between Rama and Ravana, but when one observes Rama, it seems to be a team effort. During the journey to Lanka, Rama let his team drive the goals and when it mattered most, himself took the pole position as leader.
As the war erupted, Rama chose to lead from the front. He was visible to his team all throughout. A typical management principle tells that morale of team is high when the leader is visible.
Sita and Laxmana were true believers of Rama’s capabilities. Trusting abilities of each other is a key to success and if either of them had faltered, Ramayana might had a different story unfolded.
Ravana on his part was a warrior par excellence but did not work on his shortcomings. A leader has to know the loopholes and lacunae for the task in hand. Even after repeatedly being told to revisit his strategy, he chose his own path and failed. A good leader is one who has good listening capacity and abilities.
End of the day, a leader who works on his plan succeeds and the one who drives it on his gut feel fails. A real management will work according its plan, goals and strategy and the one which doesn’t, is bound to bite dust.
King Rama, our beloved ShreeRam has so many qualities to be imbibed but in this 21st century, probably his management skills are the most desired ones which we should try to learn.
Image Courtesy: Naiduniya
Disclaimer: The article is written from management perspective and does not look at Ramayana from religious angle.
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