Emulate Narada to be a good manager
I had read this article in September 1998 and had liked it a lot. I have shared it time and again with my MBA students since it gives some valuable tips to the generation of today as to how to become a good and an effective manager.Here it is,for my readers to ponder upon and reflect :
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This is based on a question as to why is Narada so much revered and respected which is asked by Yudhisthir in the Mahabharata, as was elaborated by Swami Parmanada Bharati to a group of professionals and managers.
Narada is a grand strategist just as a leader also has to be. Generally in our films we portray him as a schemer and manipulator but it is not so. The fact is that Narada is an excellent strategist; which is a quality that all managers must have, to be able to manage things in an organisation to meet specific aims and objectives. We should however note the difference between how a manager manages his work and how Narada does so. Narada is not serving any self-interest. He is doing everything for a higher purpose and never does anything for any selfish gain. Narada causes conflicts, only to direct the people involved towards the higher goal of self-realisation.
A good leader is also one who is prepared to strive and to extend himself for the sake of the spiritual development of himself or thepeople whom he manages. If you manage people so that both they and you grow spiritually, then this is the highest form of management. This is the ideal which we have to follow as leaders, as professionals and as managers.
Some of the other qualities we have to emulate to be an ideal manager are as follows:
Qualities of Narada :
The more the knowledge and skill and goodness you have the more humility you must have. The less the ego, the more effective you are as a manager.
Not indulging in sense pleasures but ever engaged in doing his duties.
No trace of anger.
Not resorting to restlessness and not undertaking unnecessary work, no extra movement of hands, legs, etc.
Fearless.
Not indulging in procrastination.
Never be afraid or hesitate to do what is dharma.
Fulfils his promises and forgoes his own gains or wants.
Well versed in theory and practice required and acknowledged as an adept.
Ever ready to forgive but not as weakness.
Ever alert and energetic but not a slave to sensuous pleasures.
Does not say unpleasant truth. Truthful, but because it is the truth he does not go on saying it, and speaks pleasantly and pleasing truth; does not lie merely to be pleasing and pleasant.
Simplicity (but of nature that does not mean he is a fool or that he dresses in tom or outdated clothes).
Is susheel (difficult to give an English equivalent but means full of good qualities.)
If we practice any one sadguna, gradually all good qualities shall come. There is nobody who has no sadguna. At least one good quality is there in everyone, every animal, every plant, etc. By that one good quality that person can develop himself. Similarly, we must avoid even a single bad quality.
Contented.
Detached involvement.
Moderate in sleep, food, etc.
Speaks pleasantly.
Does not have jealousy.
Does good without talking about it.
Does not feel happy when others are in sorrow.
Samatvam. Maintains his equilibrium.
No strong likes and dislikes.
He is full of joy and jokes but does not hurt anyone.
Is a good communicator and explains things through verses from Vedas, to illustrate the points.
Has forbearance. He forgives personal insults but not society or group insults.
Takes action whenever a wrong is committed to anyone, not merely when it is against him.
Does not insult anyone.
Does not quarrel over money, woman, etc.
Has firm devotion to God.
Does not criticise.
Good communicator and orator.
Never praises himself nor expects a reward for performing his duties.
As a leader he is fully alert to see who is doing good/ bad work and is ever ready to reward and punish as needed.
Soft spoken.
Notices and observes strengths, faults of all but never tells faults of one to another. Does not speak unnecessarily of one to another.
Has excellent judgement on what responsibilitycan be given to whom and to what extent without letting extraneous considerations like friendship affecting his judgement.
Does not try to find faults in the shastras but has shraddha in its teachings. Has firm principles and lives without deviating from these.
Never wastes time and thus sets a good role model for others to follow.
Is always in full control of the situation.
Has high standards and understands the essence of the shastras, and has a firm grasp of its application.
Is always active, fully alert and is never careless or callous.
Is ever conscious of the right time, muhurta and follows it exactly, very punctual.
Is modest.
Is ever interested in the well-being of others.
Never reveals the secrets of one to another.
Not a miser, does not indulge in self-pity.
Is scholarly, without anger and without cheating or falsifying.
Always happy either in loss or gain.
Is unattached, with a firm mind and is expert and skilful in what he does
Is free from disease.
Regular and moderate in habits — food, sleep, etc.
Understands the value of time and makes full and good use of it.
Knows the atmatatva the reality that he is the Atman and therefore a good human being.
His world-view of reality is firm and based on the foundation of the shastras and therefore the whole superstructure of his personality is sound and perfect.
Because his foundation and inner convictions are based on a perfect understanding of the truth therefore his whole life and personality are always directed towards the goal — the goal of self-realisation, which is the common goal of everyone.
Dharma: It is necessary today for managers to understand the complexities of dharma. Why? Because the managers are the leaders of the nation. It is their job to manage things. Specialists, professionals even administrators or politicians cannot be as good in managing things as the managers.
If managers are the leaders,and since it is their responsibility to manage then they have a lot to learn from the ideal managers — Rama, Krishna and Narada who is a master manager and whose qualities are being discussed .
These qualities have to be our role model and these qualities are necessary in a good leader and an effective manager.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd. ( FE 12.09.1998)
From :Managerial Effectiveness Edited by Sunil Kumar–Excel Books Price :Rs 395/-
Compiled by J S BROCA
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Sellers are the significant players in the real estate process. Sometimes, there is a tendency to behave like the monkey with the hand stuck in the jar for a few peanuts. Instead of drawing back, taking the hand out of the jar to reconsider options and listen to sound counsel, so many get trapped by the peanuts. 
Kind words