7 Effective Leadership Skills In Valmiki Ramayana – Ep 17

उत्साहः पौरुषं सत्त्वमानृशंस्यं कृतज्ञता।
विक्रमश्च प्रभावश्च सन्ति वानर राघवे।।
— Valmiki Ramayan 5.37.13।।

Maryadhapurush Ram practiced seven traits which are essential for a good leader and they are

1. Enthusiasm
2. Fearlessness
3. Goodness
4. Kindness
5. Being Grateful
6. Commitment to work and
7. Prowess

as told by Sita Maa to Hanuman when Hanuman met her at Ashok Van.

It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action, and discipline that enabled us to follow through. – Zig Ziglar

For leaders, commitment is a critical component of trust – you have to be committed not only to your goals and ideas, but also to the people on your team.

If you can wake up every day and find a way to take one more step forward, that’s progress.

Another sloka from Valmiki Ramayan on the power of Commitment. This comes in Yudha Kand and composed as Lord Ram praising Hanuman’s commitment:

यो हि भृत्यो नियुक्तः सन् भर्त्रा कर्मणि दुष्करे
कुर्यात्तदुनुरागेण तमहुः पुरुषोत्तमम् |
— Valmiki Ramayan 6.1.7

One who performs with devotion a difficult task assigned by his master is said to be a superior person.”

This one sloka covers three of the seven leadership traits ie Zeal, Gratitude and Commitment. Lord Ram extols Hanuman as the superior person and hugs him with compassion and gratitude on hearing the difficult tasks executed by Hanuman on his behalf.

Lord Ram has also shown similar commitment to the tasks taken up by him.

“Commitment is what transforms a promise into a reality.”  Abraham Lincoln

Trait 7 – Prabhava – Prowess

Prabhava translates to Greatness or Splendour. Can mean Importance, Beautiful, Brilliance, Energetic. Let us take ‘Being the Best in the chosen field’.

Getting recognized as the ‘best in the chosen field’ not out of birth or luck but out of choice, out of commitment and hard work.

Here is a Thirukkural:

தோன்றின் புகழொடு தோன்றுக அஃதிலார்
தோன்றலின் தோன்றாமை நன்று 
– Thirukkural 236

If man you walk the stage, appear adorned with glory’s grace;
Save glorious you can shine, ’twere better hide your face.

If you are born (in this world), be born with abilities conductive to fame. From those who are destitute of them it will be better not to be born.

Thiruvalluvar through the above couplet says that every man born in this world must have a purpose and ambition to become great.

Seven steps to master the seventh trait ie Prowess are:

1. Practice makes a man perfect

“Practice isn’t the thing you do once you’re good. It’s the thing you do that makes you good.” The book “Outliers: The Story of Success” by Malcolm Gladwell

In the second chapter of the book, Gladwell introduces the concept of  “10 000-Hour Rule” and how it helped the Beatles become world famous musicians by having the opportunity to perform live as a group in Hamburg, Germany over 1200 times between 1960 and 1964. Although they initially started at strip clubs, they accumulated more than 10 000 hours by playing nonstop. Throughout his book, Gladwell repeatedly refers to the “10 000-hour rule,” asserting that the key to achieving true expertise in any skill is simply a matter of practicing, albeit in the correct way, for at least 10 000 hours.

2. Network with Leaders / Experts

You continue to learn and grow by networking with leaders in your chosen field.

3. Mentor someone

In the process of mentoring, both the mentor as well as the mentee grows.

4. Innovate

5. Stay updated on trends in your field

6. Never stop learning

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.”—Henry Ford. 

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” Mahatma Gandhi

7. DO what you LOVE & LOVE what you DO

‘Seven Leadership skills – Learning from Valmiki Ramayan’ will complete with the next episode.  There are many more learnings from Valmiki Ramayan.