LESSONS FROM 7 YEAR OLDS

Had read this quote long back & it stayed . The current scenario we are in is unprecedented. Life has a way of preparing you for the unexpected. No one can predict what will Unlocking be all about. Uncertainty is huge. Technology our biggest crutch. We have bonded & rebonded virtually with everyone who mattered & found out that it was only that we did not have time till some time ago for the reconnect.

These two months was also a time where I did a lot of creative activities I had simply postponed. When the forceful PAUSE was put into force, I realised we were affluent in one resource i.e., TIME. A complete believer in the power of One on one , live interactions, I picked the opportunity of moving online. I took up the task of teaching Bhagavad Gita chanting to 7 year olds not knowing what I am getting into. I did not realise that some of the most practical lessons of life will be taught to me by those I ventured to teach! Leadership lessons we have heard of but I saw them being translated with these children .

Actions speak louder than words: The chanting of the Gita was introduced to me at the age of eight by my teacher Sri. P.S Ramamurti completely for the love of the language of Samskrit and the Gita. He did it as a service and instilled a discipline that you have to follow the dictum of punctuality as a student even though the lesson comes free of cost.This value for time has since stayed on, apart from other life lessons. The power of Time is something children watch & pick from you! Most of them came in before time & the ones who were late noticed that they are missing class as we don't wait. I never said anything to those who were late ....they however started making it on time. Today everyone is in early! The mothers were proud in sharing how the kids kept alarms to make it on time.

The Strength of Virtual Connections:Meeting the children for the first time all from the safe confines of their homes was the most comfortable space. They were all quiet & good listeners. Samskrit is a language that stresses on right pronunciations. I was not sure if it could be achieved & how interesting the classes would be, especially to make it interesting for them to come back for each class. Not only did that happen, their enthusiasm was a delight. We met four days a week & every class they would recite the verses they have learnt. I did throw a challenge. They needed to tell us a story from the Mahabharata. Not only would they come prepared with the verse but also the story. They make me wait for the classes. Your team can be strong even virtually, the bond is with creative challenges.The curiosity & healthy competition makes the space fun.

Your behaviour is reflected: The space we have created for each other is that of trust. Before classes begin there is a sharing of what all they did & what was interesting with each one's day or weekend. Trust has been built so naturally that it is so special. The authenticity with which I went in , I noticed got reflected in the way they came to the class & learnt the verses. To the skeptics of the current generation of kids , I have only one thing to confirm that every generation sees the previous as way easier to handle. Like every other generation the current generation too reflects the upbringing. They are not listening to you, they are watching you. Walk your talk! They are amazing learners from you....So if the child has not behaved to your approval, think back on how you have been handling yourself with the world!

Accept yourself completely:Most of them were new to Chanting two months ago , they proved to me that their faith in self made all the difference! That faith once they tried with the first verse only got reiterated with each verse they could chant.For all of us the celebration of completing a chapter was AWESOME! Though they started at different levels, they all ended up all together, it was complete self acceptance in full glory for me. If every member in the team does this with himself /herself , it is easy to work together. The leader has to help create the space & see the magic.

Recall Jawaharlal Nehru's quote: "The only way to reform children is to win them over with love. So long as a child is unfriendly, you can't mend his ways", applies to every team member . The child within us is always seeking this love, as a leader win that love from your team members- in my interaction with these children I can confirm: IT works.

Your comments please?