'Karmanye Vadhikarasthe
Ma Bhaleshu Kadhachana'
This verse from Bhagavat Gita embodies the difference between Indian Management Philosophy and Western Management Philosophy.
Gita calls for you to do your duty without looking at the returns from it (fruits of your labour). It exhorts you to raise yourself to the lever of 'Self Actualization' (remember Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs?). One has to “detach” from the fruits or results of actions performed in the course of one's duty. The philosophy has to be“working for the sake of work, generating excellence for its own sake.”
If we are always calculating the date of promotion or the rate of commission before putting in our efforts, then such work is not detached. It is not “generating excellence for its own sake” but working only for the extrinsic reward that may (or may not) result.
Working only with an eye to the anticipated benefits, means that the quality of performance of the current job or duty suffers - through mental agitation of anxiety for the future. In fact, the way the world works means that events do not always respond positively to our calculations and hence expected fruits may not always be forthcoming. Gita tells us not to mortgage the present commitment to an uncertain future.
Some people might argue that not seeking the business result of work and actions, makes one unaccountable. In fact, the Bhagavad Gita is full of advice on the theory of cause and effect, making the doer responsible for the consequences of his deeds. While advising detachment from the avarice of selfish gains in discharging one's accepted duty, the Gita does not absolve anybody of the consequences arising from discharge of his or her responsibilities.
Thus the best means of effective performance management is the work itself. Attaining this state of mind (called “nishkama karma”) is the right attitude to work because it prevents the ego, the mind, from dissipation of attention through speculation on future gains or losses.
(compiled from various sources)
