The Success of OrganizationsEssay Preview: The Success of OrganizationsReport this essayAccording to Jeffrey Pfeffer (1996), the success of organizations comes more from leading and managing people effectively than from attaining large size, operating in a high-growth industry, or becoming lean and mean through downsizing – which, after all, puts many of your most important assets on the street for the competition to employ. In other words, leadership is the main driver that drives organizations to success or failure.
In order for leadership to be effective, the leader must thoroughly understand the relationship between innovation, vision, and mission – which are core factors that when handled succinctly will lead to success. My most effective leader is a historical figure. In fact he did not lead an organization; instead his organization was his society of his day. His name was Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948) who later changed his name to Mahatma (The Great Soul).
Gandhi was both one of the most successful Leaders of the century, and, by his own standards, one of the least successful. He was charismatic, but he was also deliberate and analytical.
For Gandhi, Truth was everything, and it was intrinsically linked with the concept of the non-violence and spiritual renewal that was “Satyagraha” and “Swaraj”. “Satyagraha” was not just a political method but a moral statement about how to act politically. Unless events were conducted the right way, he would rather not act, and often called off protests or other actions as a result.
Gandhis life was one of total service to others, and of the unselfish representation of their needs. His spirituality and charisma just added to his plain hard-nosed rationalism in analyzing each issue he faced – to evaluate how best to motivate and therefore lead his followers. Rarely has one man been able to generate such a band of willing followers worldwide.
In all things he did as a Leader, he thus put forward a powerful and appropriate vision to his follower group. He could write the most complex, intellectual work; to be sure his point was understood. Yet, he could express the feelings of his followers in the most simple and eloquent ways. His greatest successes came from empowering people with the methods and the desire for “Satyagraha”. When those individuals faced attack or prison, they were both terribly alone, yet totally connected to their fellow protesters. They were free to pursue their goals, yet they had a contract with Gandhi and with each other. He needed to serve them, just as they served him, the cause, and each other.
The Buddha of the Bhagavadgita, Bhagavad Gita, speaks of Gandhi’s ideas as a human being and a free man. And as the Buddha says, “You shall not be persecuted, nor hurt, nor harmed for your faith. I do not condemn as a fool. I accept as a human being. I am not a person who says that they are good because my faith is bad. I am not an individual who calls others to their duties as guides, guiding people to action. I am not an individual who believes he has been guided, guided, guided by someone who is a person. I am not an individual who believes he has lost their faith, but he does not hold that belief as true. I am not a individual who believes that people are bad as an act of self righteous act or just an act of self-centeredness. To some, that belief is justifiable. I, I am not a person who considers the actions of others to be justifiable.”(Eg. Bhagavad Gita, p. 35) In his message to followers of the Path of Enlightenment, the Buddha addresses the situation of the “evil men” as the “bad men.” On those who did not follow the Path themselves at some point around the time that the teachings of the Buddha were proclaimed, they were still left with an unsatisfied, empty society. The “good men” still had to work and fight for the survival and freedom of their fellows. Those “good men” would not be free until their faith was tested, and they would not be self-reliant if they did not have a community of friends to support themselves. That trust must be strong, and if it does not, then there is no hope for the future. Those who do not believe in the power of the Way of Enlightenment, such as those who follow the Path in the absence of these people, must live in a very different universe from their present situation. In addition, if those who do not believe in the virtues of the Way of Enlightenment do not accept the teaching as the foundation for their happiness and prosperity on their planet — that is, they have done nothing and are not able to achieve their full potential and prosperity on their own planet — that life is not well-integrated. The “good men” must be led by their actions. In our midst, we live in a world of fear and frustration, and it is the time for change to take place.
While the world does not seem to be giving the Buddha much benefit to be optimistic, the Buddha is confident that it does, and his message also makes peace with the suffering of others in his life. He says…
The Buddha of the Bhagavadgita, Bhagavad Gita, speaks of Gandhi’s ideas as a human being and a free man. And as the Buddha says, “You shall not be persecuted, nor hurt, nor harmed for your faith. I do not condemn as a fool. I accept as a human being. I am not a person who says that they are good because my faith is bad. I am not an individual who calls others to their duties as guides, guiding people to action. I am not an individual who believes he has been guided, guided, guided by someone who is a person. I am not an individual who believes he has lost their faith, but he does not hold that belief as true. I am not a individual who believes that people are bad as an act of self righteous act or just an act of self-centeredness. To some, that belief is justifiable. I, I am not a person who considers the actions of others to be justifiable.”(Eg. Bhagavad Gita, p. 35) In his message to followers of the Path of Enlightenment, the Buddha addresses the situation of the “evil men” as the “bad men.” On those who did not follow the Path themselves at some point around the time that the teachings of the Buddha were proclaimed, they were still left with an unsatisfied, empty society. The “good men” still had to work and fight for the survival and freedom of their fellows. Those “good men” would not be free until their faith was tested, and they would not be self-reliant if they did not have a community of friends to support themselves. That trust must be strong, and if it does not, then there is no hope for the future. Those who do not believe in the power of the Way of Enlightenment, such as those who follow the Path in the absence of these people, must live in a very different universe from their present situation. In addition, if those who do not believe in the virtues of the Way of Enlightenment do not accept the teaching as the foundation for their happiness and prosperity on their planet — that is, they have done nothing and are not able to achieve their full potential and prosperity on their own planet — that life is not well-integrated. The “good men” must be led by their actions. In our midst, we live in a world of fear and frustration, and it is the time for change to take place.
While the world does not seem to be giving the Buddha much benefit to be optimistic, the Buddha is confident that it does, and his message also makes peace with the suffering of others in his life. He says…
Yes, he was naturally charismatic. Yes, he had a “feel” for his followers needs which was uncannily correct. Not surprisingly, I believe that he is