New ageism is a marketing ploy to rebrand all the ancient wisdom with attractive monikers for a modern crowd. For the last hundred years, a new genre of self help books promise us to teach solutions that can fix anything. One of the prominent sub-genres is Leadership that teaches how to develop these qualities. Many great historical leaders are extolled for specific qualities. Books sell like hot cakes making lots of money for these speakers and authors. They list numerous qualities, but hardly find more than a few in any personality, including their own favorite character, Jesus. Even the so called Leadership Guru John Maxwell hardly lists the same personality as example for the laundry list of leadership traits.
Ignorance of Rama can be an excuse for all these myopic western authors, but willful ignorance and deep Tamas of Hindus is the only reason why we cannot see all the prominently marketed leadership qualities are present in abundance in one personality, Rama. Valmiki has repeatedly and extensively elaborated Rama’s wondrous qualities in numerous places. In Bright sun on a full moon night we saw Valmiki’s perspective of Rama’s extraordinary Gunas. In Rama’s living guide to happy relationships, we reveled in the wondrous relationships of Rama and its lessons for ours. The modern Hindu has been repeatedly shamed for knowing the Itihasapuranas. Worse yet spurious versions are marketed via different media clouding our understanding. So let us take a reverse approach by listing the most prominent leadership qualities and inspect Rama to see if he is exemplary in these traits.
Prominent Leadership qualities: The highly marketed Leadership traits will be analyzed one by one with Rama and Ramayana incidents as the backdrop. These qualities definitely make a person to exert a positive influence by creating a strong pull through great character. As the list is long, we will see this article in multiple parts. The traits are not listed in any order.
Likability: Rama was liked by one and all. The citizens of Ayodhya unanimously wanted Rama as their next ruler. They were ready to renounce their beloved abode and go after him to the forest. Needless to talk of the love his family had for him. He was very dear to the Rishis who understood that his mere darshan was far better than all the years of Sadhana. He was so endearing to even his opponents – male and female. The best example is of Shoorpanaka, who despite getting her nose chopped was spellbound while describing Rama to Khara. It is said his form was so likable but also dharma inducing. Ravana wanted to take his form and trick Sita, but Rama’s form gave him only good thoughts.
A leader must have a likable personality. This comes not from a superficial act but from deep within. Again having only charisma alone is not the index of likability, it comes from the character.
Organization: RamaRajya is still the golden standard for how to govern. Rama adapts quickly to the resources available. He commands the meager resources available in the forest towards his cause. He is careful not to overexploit the forest resources. He understands the need for strong rule in his absence, hence guides Bharata to be the caretaker in his absence. With Ayodhya in safe hands, his focus shifts to his Avatara prayojana after Sita gets kidnapped. He strengthens his side by tapping the strengths of Sugriva, after empowering him first. Rama taps the right resource, Hanuman, for the search mission. Even during the phase of building a bridge, appropriate resources – Nala and Nila are given the monumental task. The war phase sees his military deployment skills. Rama’s organization skills come to the fore, once his rule is restored. It was obvious from the way he deployed his brothers, ministers and whatever resource came his way to the benefit of his citizens and uplifting Dharma.
Organizing skills are an important expression of leadership. The ability to delegate is one dimension of organizing. Rama puts Dharma at the real foundation of the society and individual, thus encouraging organizing inside out.
Lead by example: Rama sets the dharma standard so high that even his mortal enemy, Mareecha, is referring as “ramo vigrahavan dharmah”. He remains the standard for every positive trait, be it courage or kindness or honesty or diplomacy. In every situation Rama strives his best to adhere to dharma to the best possible extent. He is the role model for every role he plays – as a son, brother, husband, ruler, friend and even a warrior.
Being the best and leading from the front is not an easy task. It becomes easier for the leader to lead by example. The standards set by the leader inspire the followers to raise their standards as well.
Time Management: Rama is a stickler for time. During Tatakavada, Vishwamitra mentions that her strength will multiply after dusk. Rama immediately gets the message and goes for the kill. When Kaikeyi mentions Dasaratha’s predicament due to his boons, he immediately sets out for the forest. The longer he lingered around, the risk of a revolution and also increased misery for everyone was growing exponentially. Similarly, he understands the longer his stay with Guha, he risks being exposed by the devoted Ayodhya citizens. Time is always understood along with space. When his location was found out at Chitrakoota, he ventures deeper into Dandakaranya.
The fact he chose Panchavati buffered him in space and time to spend more time with Sita. After she gets kidnapped, he embarks on a mission to quickly find Sugriva. Though he was made a King, Sugriva loses time in pleasure. Rama sends Lakshmana to invoke a sense of urgency. When the Vanaras were sent in all directions, they were given only a month. The southern contingent comes back successful, though exceeding the time, but with the news that Sita is in dire straits. Rama’s urgency is seen when he shows his anger on Sagara who was merely delaying the Lanka access. The pace of bridge construction also reveals his masterly time management.
The war brings the vanaras face to face with Ravana’s moolabala sainya. Rama’s valor is recorded in detail, yet one cannot forget his focus on time. Sita’s Agnipariksha is one of the least understood episodes. In Understanding Sita’s Agnipariksha, we gained insight that the entire drama of putting Sita and himself to peril, only to salvage the cause of Bharata. The continued focus on Bharata, who was determined to jump in a pyre if Rama did not return in time, is evident as Rama sends the supersonic messenger Hanuman ahead.
Timely implementation of a project is crucial trait of leadership. Projects usually have a domino effect on other projects. Hence the proper completion has consequences far beyond the project itself.
Appreciation: Rama distributes fourteen years of salaries as advance payment to all those in his direct employment in Ayodhya, when he left for the forest. Rama appreciated Jatayu’s sacrifice by performing the last rites for the birds’ mokshaprapti. Rama appreciates Hanuman with a warm hug, which meant more than all the riches of the universe to both, when he came back victoriously after interacting with Sita in Lanka. Rama seeks a personal boon to bring back all the dead vanaras and heal all the injured ones.
When one realizes that we can never be independent in this world and are always interdependent, we develop a respect and appreciation for all the small and big blessings that come to us from others. Appreciating the efforts of others properly is the hallmark of true leadership, which not only rewards others actions, but also sets up for better outcomes in the future along with strengthening the relationship.
Rewarding: Rama rewarded everyone he came in contact. He enriched their lives at whatever level they wanted. The Rishis were eager merely of his Darshan, be it Bharadwaja, Sarabhanga, Suteeskshana or Sabari. When he left Ayodhya he payed all the servants in his employment fourteen years salary when any Ayodhya ruler would have taken care of their plight. He ensures Jatayu is compensated for his supreme sacrifice and the purity of his actions. Rama rewarded Sugriva even ahead of seeking his help and we see a literal repeat with Vibhishana. Rama’s supreme gesture to reward a triumphant Hanuman was a big warm hug with his eyes filled with streaming tears.
Rewarding is a crucial leadership component. This makes appreciation tangible. Making the team players feel important and compensating in a measure appropriate to the contribution sets the foundation for a loyalty based relationship. Though the leader may be able to retain the followers by mere personality and policies, suitable rewards encourage the team to get more cohesive and stay motivated. Rewarding as a bribe is selfish but an appropriate reward can be motivational.
Forgiveness: Rama never held any grudge against anyone. When Vaali was killed, he displayed his anger against Rama, yet Rama took time patiently to explain the reasoning behind. When Sugriva forgets his promise and is lost in his own indulgence, even against a ticking clock, Rama chooses to forgive him. Rama never applies Vibhishana’s birth as a reasoning to hold it against and declares that even if Ravana came to surrender he would have treated him with same dignity and respect.
Holding a grudge is suicidal for any leader. Having a magnanimous heart allows the opportunity to reform for even the wayward followers. Forgiveness enables one to rise above the pettiness of egocentric disputes.
Loyalty: Rama would not give up his commitment owing to changing scenarios. Rama continues to search for Sita when there was no proof of her existence. He deploys all the resources through his friend Sugriva in searching for Sita, when it would have been lot easier to abandon the efforts. Even when Sugriva fails to live up to his promise, he is extremely loyal to his friendship. Mere Vibhishana’s surrender was proof enough for Rama to put his entire weight behind him. When Lakshmana was rendered unconscious, he was ready to question the futility of even winning the war in his absence. Such is his loyalty.
Loyalty is a key leadership quality that is foundation for team building and uplifting societal structures. Loyalty is not blindly supporting someone over their mistakes, but overlooking the errors and guiding them to the path of Dharma. Loyalty is not at the cost of Dharma but to uphold it at any cost.
Vision: Rama not only had an extraordinary vision for himself that guided his standards, but also one for his Kingdom Ayodhya. Rama’s vision comes from his staunch commitment to Dharma. While the citizens benefited from all the material comforts, peaceful reign, the real uplift came in their dharmic and spiritual way of life. The elevated standards of Rama deep-rooted in the grand vision of Brahmajnana help transfer the same vision to the masses.
The leader is responsible for casting a vision for the followers. The greater the vision the greater the pull exerted. Living up to this vision by the leader exerts a positive influence in others believing and working towards the vision. The vision if rooted in dharma accentuates the benefits accrued.
Networking/relationship building: Rama is the master of relationship building. His personal relationship skills were the joy of life for those who encountered it. Rama proactively sought out the contact of rishis and sant mahatmas. Whenever he found extraordinary people like Guha, Sugriva and Vibhishana, he established bonds of brotherhood by accepting them as brothers from a different mother. Whenever he built any relationship, it was built on the strong foundation of Dharma. The relationships were predicated on his personal contributions to strengthening it. He first eliminated Vaali before even asking a favor from Sugriva. Similarly he gave protection and crowned Vibhishana as the next Lankan king ahead of seeking any return favor.
Relationships form the backbone of good networking. In a good relationship, voluntarily offering friendly acts without any expectations form the basis for a firm relationship foundation. Rama sets the standards that Dharma and selfless acts as key ingredients for lasting friendship. The importance of relationships is not lost when Rama who left Ayodhya with only Sita and Lakshmana, returns back with great friendships spanning the entire sub-continent. A leader always offers the warm hand of friendship first without any prejudice.
Humor: Rama seems to be very focused and intense. There is reference of his playful nature with Sita. But, his sense of humor is not lost. When Shoorpanaka comes with intense lust, he redirects her towards Lakshmana who was without his wife. Rama literally plays a practical joke on Lakshmana, who wriggles out of the situation by declaring that he is dasa to Rama, so her situation would become miserable by playing a reverse joke. The tamasic mind of Shoorpanaka could not enjoy the subtlety of the joke. She understood Sita as the root of all the obstacles between her lust realization and her.
Leadership is serious stuff, yet humor is one of the important attracting aspects of a personality. Humor also allows the leader to use it as a powerful vehicle to deliver the message.
Honesty / Straightforwardness: Rama was always straightforward even with his enemies. He never hides or twists his credentials, intention or actions. Even when Shoorpanaka questions, he recites the entire Ramayana in summary giving all the information though she was a stranger. Rama demonstrates arjava everywhere.
Leadership is a reflection of good character and honesty has to be its bedrock.
Empowerment: This is an extension of delegation. Rama is seen in numerous places encouraging people to follow Dharma. He advises his mother, Kausalya, to stay with Dasaratha. He tests both Sita and Lakshmana for their resolve, but gladly encourages their adherence to Dharma. Sugriva, who is barely alive by hiding, finds Rama’s friendship as his only way to get out of Vaali’s clutches. Rama empowers Hanuman by giving him the signatory ring, which reinforces Hanuman’s faith in his self and proceed with the mission. Rama naama, Rama Bhakti and Rama kainkarya all repose faith in us as Jivatman and the continuous reassurance from Paramatman. Rama’s message through Hanuman also gives Sita hope and something to live for in a world of asuras. Rama empowered Sugriva to lead his army and manage the resources. This was evident when Nala Sethu was built.
Empowerment is a very important Leadership trait. Empowerment may partially happen due to delegation, but for most it happens in the form of actions and interactions. Empowering the team members brings the best of their potential. A leader must also uncover the hidden potential that the members may not even have discovered in themselves.
Courage: Rama displays tremendous courage at all times. It may be changing fortunes of being on the verge of the throne to relinquishing it for no fault of his. In the ever changing stressful life of the forest, Rama made his surroundings as heaven with his attitude and actions. Even while facing the sudden attack of Viradha or Kabandha, he was ever alert and quick in his brave response. To instill confidence in Sita ahead of her abduction, he single handedly destroys Khara-Dhushana and his fourteen thousand rakshasas. The loss of Sita does shake him up due to his exceeding love for her, but doesn’t dent his courage. He faces the search mission calmly. Rama’s attack on Lanka sets the record very high with setbacks ranging from losing Lakshmana’s consciousness to facing Maya Sita tactics to facing slight dejection seeing the unending Ravana army.
Courage is a key Leadership trait. The ability to face any situation boldly rallies not only the followers but also one’s own self to navigate the odds. Courage is the ability to follow Dharma at all costs. Courage is the stickability to higher ideals, irrespective of the situation.
Respecting enemies and protocol: Rama not only respected his friends, but also his opponents. This way, he did not let prejudice affect his judgment. His personality towered so high that even the opponents respected him in return. The expression of his respect came in many forms. With Kabandha, it was to follow his instructions to destroy his corporeal existence, so that he could attain his divine body. With Khara and Dhushana it was in the form of personally and single handedly taking them head on. With Vaali, it was deliberately using a low grade arrow to give him enough time to clear his doubts. With Vibhishana, it was to uphold the saranagati dharma. With the Ravana’s spies – Shuka and Sarana, it was to grant them access to all their army information. With Ravana, it was to send Angada as a reminder and to grant a second chance after the first encounter. Rama’s high standards not only impressed the male antagonists, but also the female ones.
This may be a surprising leadership quality, very rare in today’s world. Some glimmer of its presence can be seen with there is a great Statesman as a politician. This results in the unthinkable like the fall of the Berlin wall or the collapse of the Soviet Union. Respecting the opponent’s real strength and treating them with respect gives the leader an unprejudiced position to think and act.
Selflessness: The recurring theme running across Ramayana is Selflessness. Rama demonstrates this quality at numerous instances. He volunteers to uphold Dasaratha’s boon so that Satya can be upheld, even if it be at his cost. He argues with Sita to stay back in the palace, until she convinces him that she will join him with her own volition and sense of dharma. He enacts the entire drama of Sita’s Agnipariksha and even today bears the ridicule of the ignorant critics for being misogynistic. Yet the above article goes in depth to highlight the real reasons are for Bharata, Kaikeyi and even Dasaratha’s betterment.
Selflessness is a very important step that can expand our consciousness from the confines of our ahamkara and mamakara. It is definitely a stepping stone to the next steps of Tyaga and eventually Sannyasa.
Rama is the treasure trove of all great and divine traits. Though the divinity is masked, it exudes enormously as the very exalted good traits that set the standards for each one of us. Rama is a big book of lessons as big Ramayana itself. It is hard to fathom this ocean of greatness. Every single ray of greatness of Rama is a gateway to the infinite. Leadership is certainly the lowest lesson one can absorb from Rama. As one sheds the sickular lens one’s mind is elevated to stratospheric heights of Rama’s charana, the supreme abode of bliss and peace. Let us merge into this Ocean of mercy and divinity by recounting the wondrous qualities and trying to mimic them in our own lives.
ॐ तत् सत
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