Kabir, a pioneer saint poet of India has explained the virtues of honesty, truth, conviction and simplicity, in his famous dohas or couplets. His couplets lack the erudite tone and have a refreshing rustic quality. He uses simple examples and metaphors to explain the basic truths of life. Kabir was a weaver by profession and he draws certain similes and inspiration from weaving profession in his poetry. However, one finds that the thought of Kabir is extremely relevant to any other profession.
Kabir speaks to us in a direct crisp language that has the quality of shaking us out of our slumber-like existence. His candid and frank style affects our psyche giving us simple yet deep instructions about the code of conduct. Like a true master, he always spoke the highest truth regardless of the circumstances. This is the reason that his simple teachings have a great relevance to a corporate manager. He provides a logical framework for his ethical teachings and makes us believe that being ethical is all about being logical and reasonable.
In one of his couplets he says –
Kal kare so aaj kar, aaj kare so ab,
Pal mein parlay hoyegi, pher karego kab.
Tomorrow’s work do today, today's work nowif the moment is lost, the work be done how
In this Doha, Kabir tries to explain the human tendency of laziness and procrastination. In today’s corporate world the most successful companies are those who have this simple work ethic imbibed in their employees. A tendency to postpone matters leads to indecisiveness, which leads to confusion resulting in low efficiency levels and in general a de-motivated work force.
On the other hand if people have a promptness to finish the work, it leads to satisfaction, enthusiasm, a willingness to take challenges, high efficiency levels and a highly motivated work force. It is in the now, in the spontaneous ness that one gets energized to do, to achieve and to realize. As they say, it is NOW or NEVER. This is a popular version of Time Management that we teach in business schools. A proper Time Management keeps a person always energized to do the work and also to enjoy his achievements. Time Management is all about not postponing things for tomorrow. A good time manager does not postpone things. A poor time manager is always postponing things disturbing his work schedules, resultantly having fewer achievements. Time Management is all about making your schedules in such a way that you do not have to reschedule anything. A bell of alarm should be raised when you are often rescheduling your meetings, appointments etc. Kabir simply says – avoid rescheduling and you are a successful manager.
In another doha Kabir says –
Aisee Vani Boliye, Mun Ka Aapa Khoye
Apna Tan Sheetal Kare, Auran Ko Sukh Hoye
Speak such words, sans ego's ploy
Body remains composed, giving the listener joy
In this doha, Kabir crystallizes the power of the spoken word. He teaches us to speak in such a manner that keeps us harmonious and composed thereby making the listener feel a sense of joy in the communication. Vibrations created by sound affect both the speaker and the listener. Moreover, if speech expresses positive outlook then it not only pleases the listener but also brings joy to the speaker. Soothing, compassionate and loving words breed togetherness, while harsh speech breeds hatred. This doha brings out a basic psychological fact. Relationships Management should be based on this fact. The idea is to create such relationships, which are mutually fulfilling. Companies should work on the linguistic code of conduct to be followed by the employees in order to develop better interpersonal relationships among the employees and also to develop congenial work environs. This is true for modern jobs, which keep a person busy for the large part of the day, leaving little room for other social interactions. If companies go for linguistic workshops, which train people to speak pleasant words, perhaps it would be easy to avoid many organizational conflicts.
Kabir’s thought on leadership is expressed in this doha -
Bada Hua To Kya Hua, Jaise Ped Khajoor
Panthi Ko Chaya Nahin, Phal Laage Atidoor
In vain is the eminence, just like a date tree
No shade for travelers, fruit is hard to reach
Kabir uses the simile of a date tree to give a very important lesson. A date tree grows very tall, projecting eminence and a distinction of its own. Yet, it does not provide shade to weary travelers. Besides, its fruit grows so far that one cannot easily pluck it. Kabir points out that a position of eminence is useless if it is neither compassionate nor helpful to others. A leader should be compassionate. He should understand the problems and concerns of his subordinates. He should be sensitive to their needs. A leader who is compassionate can utilize the full potential of his subordinates. He creates an atmosphere in which people feel free to voice their opinions, use their skills and be creative. If subordinates know that their problems will be heard with sympathy by the leader and they will get his moral support during hard times; they dare to innovate and take initiatives. Companies, which have such leaders, often have a phenomenal growth. Leaders like Dhirubhai Ambani and Aditya Birla possessed these qualities and were able to create large business empires.
A Manager should empower people. Vanity grooms narrow-minded attitude and false ego. If an eminent person does not use his power and resources to help others and becomes selfish, then he also becomes insecure for the fear of losing his position. On the other hand if an eminent person uses his power to empower others then he wins respect of his subordinates. He in return gains a confidence to maintain his position of eminence and is secure.
In another doha Kabir states –
Kabir Man Nirmal Bhaya, Jaise Ganga Neer
Pache Pache Har Phire, Kahat Kabir Kabir
Kabir's mind got cleansed like the holy Ganges water
Now everyone follows, saying Kabir Kabir
This doha has a great managerial significance. Everyone desires to be known, to belong. Yet due to the chaotic states of our minds, we find ourselves secluded and limited.
If a person has a clear vision, if his thoughts are expressed in such a way that people are able to grasp his ideas clearly, if he is able to visualize the future scenarios and forthcoming problems and also able to generate proposed solutions for them, everyone looks up to him and wants to associate with him with confidence. A person generating creative solutions to problems will find followers very easily. The need is to break the mental shackles, broaden our vision and expand the mental horizons. Once the mind is free, we find ourselves relaxed, loving and compassionate. Only those with relaxed and loving mind find themselves in harmony with everyone.
A Corporate Leader has to have a clear vision and foresightedness. If he has an ability to visualize future scenarios and generate creative solutions for them, he can easily get a committed workforce to work for him. This is a time-tested success paradigm for a corporate leader. He has to be a visionary, looking out for new ideas and creative solutions to the problems. His prime job is to acquire knowledge of the current systems, understand them and visualize future requirements. If he successfully accomplishes this job he is a successful corporate leader.
In two of his dohas, Kabir finds a cause of stress and therefore suggests a stress management technique -
Chinta Aisee Dakini, Kat Kaleja Khaye
Vaid Bichara Kya Kare, Kahan Tak Dawa Lagaye
Worry is the bandit that eats into one's heart
What the doctor can do, what remedy to impart?
In this doha, Kabir says discontentment causes worry and worry itself becomes the cause that creates chaos in the mind. The more a person entertains worry the more armored 'she' becomes to destroy the very vitality of a man. Once a person suffers from the disease of worrying too much then there is no prescription that a doctor can suggest him.
Kabir gives a philosophical solution to this problem in another of his doha -
Kabira Kiya Kutch Na Hote Hai, Ankiya Sab Hoye
Jo Kiya Kutch Hote Hai, Karta Aur Koye
By my doing nothing happens
What I don't does come to pass
If anything happens as if my doing
Then truly it is done by someone else
Here, Kabir shows the supremacy of the divine will. He implies that everything happens according to God's will. Man is limited, both in his abilities and his resources. One cannot do anything without being interdependent upon others. Similarly, one should not hold oneself responsible for all the causes and the consequences of events. This is a sound philosophy and a very powerful stress management technique. Often in the corporate world a manager calls for a lot of stress when he claims his success to be his singular achievement and fails to recognize the contribution of others at various levels that makes any noteworthy action to be accomplished. Then in case of failures also his ego tells him that he is entirely responsible for it, which causes a lot of stress for him. In order to overcome that stress he tries to blame others for his failures or find excuses to get away from them, causing further stress for himself.
On the other hand, if a manager learns to give a credit of his success to the people who work for him then he gets relieved of the personal stress that is caused in case of failures. Shared achievements and shared failures often keep a person in good mental health.
Thus we find that Kabir’s deep thought on the problems of mankind and his simple teachings are also relevant in management. In order to teach management ethics, ‘gems of Kabir’ can be utilized to a great extent. Kabir’s profound thinking expressed through simple, rustic language provides answers to behavioral as well as ethical questions faced by a corporate manager.
An inclusion of Kabir’s thought in management education will be highly rewarding. Kabir gave a philosophy of life, which has been a part of popular psyche for centuries. It is easier for Indians to relate to Kabir’s teachings. When we teach leadership styles in an Organizational Behavior class, for many students it is limited to understanding the concept and learning the terminology. It does not go deep down into the psyche. Many students end up referring to something else when they have to take decisions in similar situations in life. If we teach the same concept through the Popular Verses of Kabir, the students relate to it much easily and also revert back to them quickly when in need. Ethical education should be like snow, the softer it falls the deeper it goes. Popular verses of Kabir have this quality and are therefore, extremely relevant to management education.
Note : The translations of Kabir’s dohas in the article have been taken from the translation done by Rajendra Krishen.
Reference : www.boloji.com/kabir
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