DESERVE AND DESIRE…

I stood dumbfounded. The words were echoing in my ears repeatedly. A “Mantra” my leader gave that influenced my course of life..

Let me tell you the occasion. This event dates back to the year 1971. As a teacher, I entered with a box of sweets into the room of my Principal Kulapathi Shri. Balakrishna Joshi, an eminent educator.

“What is the good occasion, sir?” Though I was at least thirty years younger to him, he used to be extremely polite and the reason he used to say “You are a Teacher. You need to be respected.” He used to address everyone with a sense of respect. “Sir, I have passed my post-graduation in…… “

“Excellent. But don’t stop there.” He said accepting the sweet. “Don’t be complacent. Follow it up with other subjects too. Learning should never stop. The day may not be too far when you might have to occupy a similar chair…” pointing to his own chair he said “but remember. DESERVE and DESIRE”.

In a fast-changing world, where people are very keen in branding themselves with so many adjectives, titles, pre-fixes, and awards, even without knowing why they are being given such gifts, the conflict between “deserving” and “desiring” has become indeed a critical issue. In a wall paper, which I had seen recently it was printed “People who understand, don’t judge, people who judge don’t understand”. I can very well understand the pressures and compulsions of the modern-day workforce, where such 'add-ons' help to enrich the profile, whether these titles really reflect the values they stand for from those individuals. 

When Mr. Sudhanshu went to meet the CEO to thank him for the promotion, after profusely thanking his boss for the mercy showered on him, he said “Honestly sir. I don’t know whether I deserve this position. I don’t know a, b, c of this subject…” The boss looked at him with a broad smile and said. “You wanted a promotion.. and now you have to face it…”

Many a times people do get opportunities even without their own longing or due to force of circumstances. For a few, Godfathers do help or come to the rescue. In a few cases, people are fixed to the positions by their business or political bosses for other trivial ends. Never mind… But the moment one occupies a chair, whatever the level be, the individual should ask a question to the self “Do I deserve it? If not, what should I do to deserve it?”

The journey on the learning curve for these people is indeed a bad road. The major challenges they encounter in their progression – How do I learn? How soon should I learn? – How do I acquire the competencies which empowers me to deserve this position?

Such challenges are often visible in organizations which are family concerns or positions which are inherited. From small road-side tea shops to positions of political power the pattern of challenges are similar. People who either shy away from learning or ‘drunk’ with the authority invested on them through the positions handed over to them fail sooner or later. And oftentimes they become icons of mockery or role-models of failure. It doesn’t mean that they cannot fit into the positions. it is sheer lack of ambition to enrich the personal self.

The argument that people learn on the job and people learn from environment is indeed a sound one and it is significant learning. But inability to learn, unwillingness to learn, pseudo-learning are issues that are detrimental to their own future.

I recall fondly a senior faculty of a prominent college who was given the position of the Leadership of the college. Just one year later, he stepped down giving the position to another. During morning walk, he smiled and said “That is not my cup of tea. I am basically a research-oriented person. I don’t fit in. I may deserve that position, but I don’t desire…”

While on a selection panel for recruitment of teachers, a young senior executive sported questions on various disciplines every time looking into his mobile and on the web – both for questions and answers. On a few occasions, he declared the answers wrong, though they were correct. His intention was only to display his authority on the panel as a senior executive which he did not deserve, but for his personal contacts with the founders of the organization. 

While participating in the celebrations of an institute as a guest, I was wonderstruck by the encomiums given by the master of ceremonies to the Head of the institution listing over 15 awards the person has got within just three years. It appeared to the audience as if the person had got a Tsunami of Awards though no concrete visible achievements have been made either at the personal or social level. “Branding “must be relevant, contextual and credible.

At the same time, I have had innumerable occasions excellent opportunities for learning from young dynamic people who were repositories of wisdom, though they have not scaled up the peaks of excellence.  I had felt that they deserved better deal. Curiosity to learn, thirst for knowledge and humility in communications are not proportional to or designed by the parameters of positions, achievements, experience or income.

Leadership is indeed a celebration of knowledge, wisdom, skills and competencies. It is not a celebration of opportunity, authority, contacts and access.

Leaders, wherever they are, in small or big organizations, individual or corporate would become wiser continuously, if they hang on to the question – 

“Do I deserve this? If not, what should I do?

Remember, such a reflection is neither self-doubt nor self-pity. It is a search for empowerment.