Self Awareness

Visagan completed a project recently related to Attitude. Being a grade 12 psychology student, his analysis on emotional intelligence based on Daniel Goleman's thoery taught me a few bare truths. At the corporate world, people with high IQ and high technical skills have failed when promoted to "real leadership" positions. Whilst real leadership is also a debatable topic, let us for simplicity purposes say positions whose success is not based on historical learning’s, incisive/analytical acumen and smart ideas. These are the People who succeed based on original thoughts - though the intention of this blog is not to replicate Goleman's theory (you can well read about it widely in public domain), what is interesting is that technical skills (IT, accounting, marketing etc. etc.) and cognitive skills (analytical, big-picture thinking, visioning etc. etc.) are not sufficient for success at leadership positions. These are without a single doubt, ingredients for excellent performance - but what is needed for true success is emotional intelligence (self awareness and self regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills)

Thiruvalluvar's chapter "To identify and avoid one's faults"  is a wealth of wisdom on Self awareness. The following Kural is quite famous and I have seen this used in the family very often.

Varumunnark kaavaadhaan vaalkkai erimunnar
Vaithaaru poalak kedum

The good fortune of a man who does not anticiapate and guard himself against upcoming untoward developments, is as vulnerable as a haystack kept before an advancing fire.

A stack of dry straw has no chance of survival in front of a steadily rising wind of fire. Like wise, a man who does not identify his weaknesses (a part of self-awareness) and who does not take action to protect himself against the consequence of weakness (such as unforeseen developments) will have the untoward happenings overtake him, which means he will not be successful in achieving in goals. Thiruvalluvar's style is to be curt and direct, in his words "such a person’s life will be surely ruined".

For a leader, lack of foresight and lack of rightful forethought will not only affect him personally, but also all under his administration (his people or department).

Let’s contemplate for a minute here, are we doing more of - Fire-fighting problems that have happened due to lack of preparedness? or Identifying and preparing towards untoward developments?

Lets us look at another Kural - this is about understanding others (Empathy is one of the pillars of emotional intelligence)

Nanraatra lullum thavarundu avaravar
Panparindhu aatraak kadai

If the nature and needs of beneficiaries concerned are not taken into account,
Even in doing good, one may fall into error

Even when our intentions to do good are pure, the effects may not be correctly realised if we do not consider the unique nature of the recipients

Thiruvalluvar propounds directly modern management theory here.

We tend to do things based on "It worked very well there, so it should work here". We tend to make decisions on what "we" consider is good for people, take a top down approach and thrust it down on people. Only when these decisions do not get accepted, do we start realising the "other side" and look at the reasons for failure with surprise. Meanwhile, substantial amount of effort, money and time is lost that could have been well avoided.

Thiruvalluvar's sound advice is applicable to administrators for public service as much as it is for the C-level corporate leadership.

In every step taken in doing good things for people, there are 4 dimensions - the need (what), timeliness (when),  place (where) and last but not the least the important dimension of "Acceptance" should also be satisfied. This will happen only if we "understand and empathise" the needs of people and tailor make our proposals to suit their acceptances. Only if we spend time and effort understanding people's emotional makeup and make appropriate decisions, the effectiveness of the intentions will be met.

This is a modern management concept, but I'm very surprised at the ease with which Thiruvalluvar has propounded it. I seem to be continuously awestruck by the depth and the applicability to modernity of these verses, a few more will be shared in my next blog.

Regards