The title of this article to many “professionals” would be rebelliously heretical; for what has a “monk” got to do with the ‘Business World’. Monk, in very simple terms, is seen as someone who has association with the world of ‘spirituality’ and how can spirituality have anything to do with the ruthless world of business management, would nag the professional reader.
The title of this article to many “professionals” would be rebelliously heretical; for what has a “monk” got to do with the ‘Business World’. Monk, in very simple terms, is seen as someone who has association with the world of ‘spirituality’ and how can spirituality have anything to do with the ruthless world of business management, would nag the professional reader.
Monks are persons who dedicate themselves (their life) to divinity, and partly or fully give up all aspects relating to worldly life. There is a deep sense of renunciation towards the glory of present life or the temptations relating to allurements of the now and here. Most monks till a few decades back were hermits. They removed themselves from the challenges of this life; not as an excuse for escapism, but to avoid the temptations of the current life. They believed that temptations would lead them towards being covetous, with the attendance of negative feelings, they would have the potential to despoil the pristine purity of the human soul.
Monasticism was practiced, not only in the mystery shrouded oriental culture but also in medieval Europe; it took shape in providing services of care to the old, nursing the sick and to provide emotional anchor to the less privileged. Monks aren’t supposed to be only in divine service, nay they work towards establishment of peace and harmony in society.
The word monk is derived from the Greek language and means ‘solitary’. Monks do not have armies to instill order, they do it themselves by way of personal sacrifice and effort. Individual reform and behaviour is the centrality of thought towards gaining the status of ‘monkhood’. Hence in my view, a monk doesn’t have to belong to any specific religious order. Any individual who can ’ feel’ and be ‘ empathetic ’ towards fellow humans, for seeking supreme felicity of mind, can be a monk.
All monks have some commonalities of behaviour and attitudes. They are always well directed, their focus is unwavering; they would never get into disarray by concentrating on what doesn’t concern them, be it an issue or a person. They demonstrate a very high sensitive quotient towards their operating environment. Monks rarely are human savages; they mostly are seen as compassionate and caring. They subscribe to the thought that personal inadequacies are a realty too; hence they seek participation and collaboration to plug the loopholes. Monks demonstrate a significantly high standard of personal values. This ultimately leads to a heightened sense of self-control.
Corporate monks aren't dressed up in saffron robes; no they operate in the usual business suits. They are different from other corporate members only from the standpoint of their attributes. These are inclined more towards humaneness and goodness of heart. To be a corporate monk, age is not a consideration; the very young and the old, each of them can aspire to be one. The corporate leaders who have the management skill to visualise and anticipate, are akin to being like any monk, who have these skills sharpened to perfection; these corporate monks have the ability to see things beyond today. Their predictions are based on intuitive thought, of deep reasoning and a keen sense of understanding of nature’s behaviour and man’s responses to such dynamism of change in conditions. Managers and leaders who lead by intuition are individuals who can establish a rapport with the higher spiritual plane of satisfaction.
These types of leaders work beyond numbers. The numeric targets are only stepping stones to reaching a higher pedestal of human understanding. A quieter and untroubled retreat for any is in his/ her soul (this is a borrowed thought). The inner satisfaction that a manager gains whilst at work is a major tool of motivation and inspiration to other colleagues. It is never by fear or intimidation that a leader can accomplish the goals that are a common objective of the team, the support of moral dimension is the most important ingredient that has the true potential to foster better productivity.
“There is one spectacle grander than the sea, that is the sky; there is one spectacle grander than the sky, that is the interior of the soul,” wrote Victor Hugo, the French Senator and famous romantic writer, remarked at least a hundred years back, when business wasn’t as ruthless or devoid of morality as it is today. In the dehumanising of colleagues, no manager can hope to achieve any success. The work itself must have within itself the quality to give inner satisfaction. The soul must feel, enriched too, by the activity. The definition of such work would embody goodness towards humanity in general. It is an extremely natural impulse, something significantly innate, to arrive at something other than the natural state.
Corporate monks are docile outwardly but are equally firm and resolute in the inner being of their skills and abilities. They make no compromises on quality but have the heart to deal with those who are unable to, perform at their best due to multiple reasons; the monk manager has the blessed quality to bear such situations with patience; they are also quick to hold hands, with the weaker units of energy, with the intent to make them more enabled to perform. The interpersonal relationships the corporate monks enjoy with their teammates is of unique quality that is based upon mutual trust and respect. Nothing ever is more motivating to a colleague than to have the active support of the supervisor.
Corporate monks, whilst do care for their own growth and success in the organisation, but they also expend considerable energy towards endeavouring at making lives better for their colleagues. They believe in growth, not just for self, but for all others too. The future in their scheme of effort belongs to others, not themselves. They plant seeds, with the hope and expectation that future generations benefit from their efforts. The corporate monks are selfless and hence are endearing for all. The nobility of their purpose and actions makes them fearless. They dare to take risks for accomplishing goals; yet are extremely mindful of not to be adventurous. They also have a dominant streak of forgiving and forgetting. They do not nurture ill will and will not carry baggage of negativity.
Corporate entities need more corporate monks and less ruthless professionals. Regrettably over the past two decades the use of “professionalism” has come to denote aggressive behavior that shows scant respect to human ideals. Managers who can lay-off people with a smile on their faces are seen as professionals. Those who cannot are condemned as meek and weak leaders. That's a very incorrect position to take; for ultimately, human goodness will always prevail.
The writer is a senior banker and freelance columnist
