Dude, That's My Shirt!!!!
Wisdom of the Idiot 3
This is the third in the series of articles entitled Wisdom of the Idiot. In this series, I will discuss principles of management and leadership as taught in the humor of the great Sufi Master Mulla Nasruddin. Each article will start with a joke from his life and then the hidden principles underlying the incomparable humor would be elaborated.
That's my shirt
Mulla Nasruddin's wife was washing clothes on the patio when she heard a loud bang from inside the house.
"What was that?" She asked.
"That's my shirt," Mulla answered. "It fell down." He added.
"Your shirt made such a huge noise?" she asked incredulously.
"Well it depends on how you look at it." Mulla came out to the patio to explain to her.
"Especially considering the fact that I was wearing the shirt when it fell." He said with a smile and went back inside.
The Management Lesson
Treat People Holistically BEFORE They Fall
We think we know people and what their needs are. And some companies in fact do their best. But employee satisfaction does not equal employee engagement. It is important to consider the whole person, body,mind, heart and spirit and make the work meaningful for the whole person in order to unleash creative excitement in the individual. Providing them with Ping Pong tables may take care of surface level needs but the real need of the person is to be fully engaged with their work. That is what makes work, and life, worthwhile.
Employees fail companies because the employers fail to understand their subordinates needs. They look at the shirt and make sure the shirt is clean. But the person inside has more than that to consider. The shirt may be washed, pressed and ready to go, but the person inside trips and falls, because his heart, mind and spirit are elsewhere. Employees need to be fully on board in terms of having a shared vision and a clear purpose. This would help unleash their talent and bring out their fullest potential.
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10 年Mulla Nasr ud din was one of his kind, still remember him, Asir when ever i see you or your photo, you reminds of khau g, God bless you bro.
Dean of Social Sciences, Professor of Psychology, NCBA&E Lahore
10 年Amra Khan, I agree that some employees laze about and are unproductive. But what kind of leadership lets this happen? That, in my opinion, is the fundamental question. Either inspire them or fire them.
Dean of Social Sciences, Professor of Psychology, NCBA&E Lahore
10 年Sadia Bokhari, Yes, I remember the good old times too.
Student at Uet
10 年This is the dilemma management finds it very hard to understand. Employees are treated as servants not as assets of organization that's why their needs remain unmet.