Learnings from the Gita for women aspiring for the Top jobs
Bhagavad Gita is one of the greatest management books written in the history of this earth. There are many interpretations of the Gita — as a religious book, as a guiding light to living life well, to attain immortality, a guide for leaders & rulers. To each reader, Gita caters to their objectives and perspectives. However, in simple and straight terms, the Bhagavad Gita is a book that prepares a confused, emotional, yet the physically strong Arjuna for a ruthless war. It is a book for warriors that offers invaluable lessons to succeed in their chosen battles. In today’s scenario, life outside of home, the work life is the greatest battle that one can go to, everyday.
What is our war here? The race to the top job, a right for equal opportunity, the right to express your truest self and achieve your highest calling is the war. Now one may ask, why consider a career as a war? Life in the corporate world is no less, if you are serious about going all the way to the top. The competition, the grit that one needs to show in pursuing forward, the cut throat decisions one needs to take/face, the audacity with which you need to persist on your decisions call for very similar approach as what Krishna preaches in the Gita.
One of the biggest takeaway for women from the Gita is what Krishna says in one of the verses -
“The opportunity to fight a war, that is rightfully yours is akin to hitting a golden treasure for a true warrior. To miss this opportunity and hide behind cowardice is uncharacteristic of a true warrior”.
I am specifically contextualizing this for women, because, most women do not consider ourselves as warrior women fighting wars in careers — definitely not in such a serious perspective. Careers are mostly looked upon as a means to support the families financially, or towards financial freedom and not as an avenue to express their true selves and conquer wins for themselves. This kind of a secondary positioning for themselves puts women in a back seat right from the word Go, especially among men who come in with a view to express their talent, conquer and become the reigning kings of their chosen field.
Why do we need to relate to this? Women, mostly shy away from assertive behaviors & making that are needed for the roles at the top. I am not saying confrontational, which is self defeating but more of definitive, assertive, determined positioning. Women are known to backtrack, not speak up, avoid unpleasant conversations and hold back. Worse, we think being assertive is unethical and that flexible is the right thing. This is probably one reason why we do not find many women at the top. We lack the fundamental making and demands for the top job through some of the unwanted niceties we bring to the forefront.
Here are key 4 strategies to play by that Krishna preaches Arjuna to go for in the battle, which we women can carry on as major takeaways in our race to the top.
- Being detached and non emotional
Hey it is a battle and you have thrown yourself out there for attack. You are not afraid to die. What has emotions got to do here? While diversity could be bringing in the feminine aspect and an emotional angle to the table, when it comes to handling the self, being non emotional is very key. It eliminates a lot of confusion and creates a very fine boundary between the self and the purpose. The two are not to be mixed up. When the self is removed from the purpose, all we work towards is the end goal with a certain vulnerability and a readiness for failure. Krishna says the key emotions to control are fear, anger, hatred and greed. When we keep these four emotions out of the work we do, we acquire a resolve that cannot be shaken easily.
2. A state of self awareness & mindfulness, self-control all the time
When in a battle, you are at an all time alert — for your life. It is very vital to be mindful — starting from your body language, the moves you make, the words you say, your strategy, your response to opportunities and challenges. Everything. One wrong move, one wrong behavior can derail the road to success by twice the progress made so far. To this, the Bhagavad Gita says — Stay outside of yourself, your body, your five senses and your mind. Be the master of these tools and let them not master you. Be in a state of extraordinary alert. To train yourself to be an outsider and be the master of your body and mind is a very key skill to develop. A woman is always stereotyped whether we like it or not. Once you enter the workplace, switch on to mindfulness. Become a master of your every move.
3) Do what you need to — Be a Karma Yogi
The famous Raghuram Rajan said “I do what I do”. Probably what he did not add was “I don’t care what others do or think”. Mahatma Gandhi taught this in his most basic non-violence form, which is to continue to do what you need to, fearlessly. That fearlessness, the audacity to persist and “grit” — come what may attitude and to not drop off, is a very essential trait for the top. Gita says one of the ways to attain immortality is do to your work as a worship, as your highest offering to the universe and not to look at it with selfish, outcome based motives. The focus should be on your purpose and the actions to achieve that purpose. Not the by-products such as fame and money nor what others would say or think and talk. Women need to abstain from excessive focus on others, their opinions and pursue on their actions, 10X more everyday.
4) A Trust beyond doubt that it will all end well, more of Yes and less of No
Gita says — Just surrender and put all your trust on the higher god and surge ahead in life. Interpreted for the current context, take every chance and risk it without fear. Steve jobs said the same thing — Just trust in something and that it will all connect looking backwards. Sheryl Sandberg said “If you are offered a seat in a rocket ship, don’t ask which one”. Just grab it. All of this tell us one thing — Just say more Yes, be visible, be seen, be heard, be there everywhere. You are serving yourself no purpose doing one thing, hiding behind someone else. Come to the forefront with courage, with an unshakeable trust that though it may seem very painful now, it will all be great and wonderful in the end.
Thanks for reading.
