Essentials for Effectivity - increasing productivity at work / home

[Guest guest]

Namaskar Mitra,

 

Essentials for Effectivity, Editorial of Prabuddha Bharata Sept 2004 issue.

Excerpts below -

http://www.esamskriti.com/html/new_inside.asp?cat_name=life&cid=1094&sid=179

"No one likes to work for nothing. Even a dunce does not work without a purpose,

says a well-known Sanskrit adage. Yet, there are as many different ways of doing

work, as there are people. Irrespective of how we work, all of us would

certainly like our endeavors to be effective and successful. Is there a recipe

for affectivity? Yes, says the Chandogya Upanishad. Its first chapter tells us

what contributes to effectivity: ‘Yadeva vidyaya karoti sraddhayopanisada

tadeva viryavattaram bhavati; Whatever is performed with knowledge, shraddha and

meditation becomes more effective.’ The word viryavattaram literally means

‘more strengthening’. It is also taken to mean

‘effective’ or ‘more powerful in bearing fruit’.

Effectivity has two dimensions external and internal. ‘External’

refers to the effective accomplishment of the work to one’s satisfaction.

‘Internal’ refers to the work’s long-term influence on the

individual’s inner growth. Knowledge, shraddha and meditation-we discuss

these factors one by one.

 

A. Doing Work with Knowledge

According to the Tamil classic Tirukkural, one should Think well before taking

up any work. To start thinking after beginning the work is disgraceful. A sound

knowledge of the nature of work, technical expertise, tools required and so

on-obviously, all this is needed to be considered before embarking on any

venture. But is there anything more? Yes, according to the Bhagavadgita there

are certain important things we need to know before taking up any work. There

are both objective (external) and subjective (internal) factors. First, the

objective; these are discussed in the Gita, 18.25.

 

1. Consequence - Every work leaves its pleasant and unpleasant effects on people

- one who does the work as also those affected by the work. ‘No work is

free from blemish, even as fire is covered by smoke,’ says Sri Krishna,

and advises Arjuna not to shun work just because it is associated with defects.

For work to be effective, one needs to consider all possible consequences of

work and choose that option which will mean maximum good to the maximum number

of people.

 

2. Expenditure of Power and Wealth -Cost of human resources, fixed and running

costs of systems need to be studied beforehand in order to be free from

surprises and shocks later. Of course, we have cost escalation during project

execution due to incompetence, inefficiency and other factors, but that

doesn’t concern us here.

 

3. Injury - Any possible violence to people or animals resulting from work

needs to be anticipated earlier.

 

4. Human Resources - This is perhaps the most important factor influencing

effectivity. Having incompetent people at the helm of an organization is a sure

recipe for ineffective work. The inefficiency and incompetence at the top

effortlessly percolate down the line. Even otherwise, competent people too

reach their level of incompetence sooner or later, following the Peter

Principle: ‘In a hierarchy, every employee tends to rise to his level of

incompetence.’ A sound knowledge of who is suitable for what and periodic

quality audits of human resources can greatly contribute to the effectivity of

an organization.

 

So we have seen some of the objective factors, knowledge of which can make-work

effective. Now for the subjective factors; these are discussed in the Gita,

18.30.

 

5. What to Take up, What to Leave Alone

 

True assessment of one’s abilities: A dispassionate knowledge of our

strength and limitations helps us maintain sobriety and ensure that we

don’t live in a fool’s paradise. Embarking on a venture without

adequate competence is a compelling invitation to inefficiency, ineffectiveness

and frustration. Says Swami Vivekananda:

 

“There is, however, one great danger in human nature, viz. that man never

examines himself. He thinks he is quite as fit to be on the throne as the king.

Even if he is, he must first show that he has done the duty of his own position;

and then higher duties will come to him. When we begin to work earnestly in the

world, nature gives us blows right and left and soon enables us to find out our

position. No man can long occupy satisfactorily a position for which he is not

fit”. (Emphasis added)

 

Taking care of the means: Cutting corners or adopting unethical means might help

further the end sometimes, but the negative samskaras (mental impressions)

arising from the questionable means can cripple an individual’s

character. It is good to keep in mind Swamiji’s golden pronouncement:

‘Let us perfect the means; the end will take care of itself. For the

world can be good and pure, only if our lives are good and pure. It is an

effect, and we are the means. Therefore, let us purify ourselves. Let us make

ourselves perfect.

 

Trying to change others: We will understand the futility of our attempts to

change others when we reflect on how difficult it is to change ourselves. In

trying to effect to external change, it is good to remember the well-known

prayer. ‘God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the

difference.’

 

6. What to Fear, What Not to Fear - ‘Fear arises from duality,’

says the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. True fearlessness is concomitant with

God-realization, since in that state of Oneness, there is no second object to

fear. Till we reach that blessed stage of realization it is profitable to

cultivate some healthy fears. These fears have been discussed in ‘From

Fear to Fearlessness’, editorial for April 2004.

 

To read the entire article,

http://www.esamskriti.com/html/new_inside.asp?cat_name=life&cid=1094&sid=179

 

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