Management and communication tips from Thirukkural

No use of living in the world, without listening habit

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 05:57:00 +0000

Thirukkural 420
செவியிற் சுவையுணரா வாயுணர்வின் மாக்கள்
அவியினும் வாழினும் என்.

(Meaning: There is no use, if the persons (Thiruvalluvar calls them as animals) who do not possess 'listening skills'. whether they live or die?)

Explanation:

In the earlier edition of this blog, we had written about the need for soft skills, as told by Saint Thiruvalluvar. Listening skills is part of the soft skills.

When Steven Covey added the 'active listening' as eighth habit, the entire management community hailed him for his new addition. Saint Thiruvalluvar, two thousand years back, had given the greatest importance to this 'listening skills'. In one of the Thirukkurals (Kural 411), he considers the listening skill as the greatest and supreme wealth.

In this Thirukkural under discussion, he uses strongest words and calls the people without listening skills as மாக்கள் ('maakkal' means animals). He even goes even one step further to say that there is no use whether they live or die. In my view, this is the only Thirukkural, where Saint Thiruvalluvar uses the strongest words against the people who do not have listening skills.

Presently, we come across many instances where the Senior Management Executives and also the team leaders, do not possess adequate 'listening skills'. When the other persons convey something, they do not give adequate attention to absorb their views and then to take decision. Several reasons are attributed to this phenomenon for such bad listening habits, including the attitudinal problems.

Present Management Gurus emphasise on the need for 'active listening', which includes giving feedback to the speaker, maintaining eye contact, body language, etc. If you take out a list of the most successful people and analyse their behaviour, you would definitely conclude that they all possess 100% active listening skills.

Knowledge is nothing, without 'human skills'

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:41:00 +0000

Thirukkural 997
அறம்போலும் கூர்மைய ரேனும் மரம்போல்வர்
மக்கட்பண்பு இல்லா தவர்

(Meaning: Even if a person possess sharp knowledge like sharp knife, if he does not posses 'human skills', he can be compared with 'wood'. )

Explanation:

In the past one decade the demand for soft skills or human skills have become more popular among corporate employees. Every HR Consultant started talking about this. The books written by Dale Carnegie and Stephen Covey have become top sellers. The human skills include good communication skills, listening, inter personal skills, etc.

Even two thousand years back Saint Thiruvalluvar gave importance to the 'human skills', which is now known as 'soft skills'.

SaintThiruvalluvar says that if a person, however intelligent he is, if he does not possess human skills, he could be compared only with 'wood'. He gives more emphasis that intelligence or knowledge without human skills is of no use. Two thousand years back, he has even given the tamil word 'Makkat panpu', which is the true and literal translation for 'human skills'.

In our daily life, we come across many brilliant and highly intelligent people in the corporate and other places, without soft skills. Probably, they assume that their knowledge is supreme. But they are not respected by the people due to their lack of human skills. At the same, we also come across many people with high level of knowledge, like Dr Abdul Kalam, former President of India, who possesses excellent 'human skills'. Those people are respected by the society.

Knowledge has no meaning without 'human skills'.

Using pleasant words in communication

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 08:27:00 +0000

Thirukkural 100

In this Kural, Saint Thiruvalluvar insists on using pleasant words.

இனிய உளவாக இன்னாத கூறல்

கனியிருப்பக் காய்கவர்ந் தற்று.

(Meaning: Using unpleasant words, instead of pleasant ones, is like preferring unripened fruits, when ripe fruits are available)

Explanation:

Presently, we come across many people using unpleasant words in their verbal and written communications. Even for small small matters of disagreement, some of the people get angry and irritated and use strong words, which may hurt the feelings and sentiments of others including the recipients.

Even when we want to convey our anger or disagreement, it can be conveyed in a dignified manner. Such dignified words will help to maintain the relationship.

Thiruvallur explains this with a wonderful analogy. When we have a basket of ripe and unripened fruits, we prefer only ripe fruits. Ripe fruits are tasty and pleasant. Unripened fruits may be bitter too. Same way, using unpleasant words in our communication will bring more bitterness.

Next time, when you want to show your anger or disagreement with others, please use pleasant and dignified words.

Four aspects of personal communication

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 08:44:00 +0000

Thirukkural 93

In this Kural, Saint Thiruvalluvar explains four important aspects while talking with others.

முகத்தான் அமர்ந்துஇனிது நோக்கி அகத்தானாம்
இன்சொ லினதே அறம்.

Thiruvalluvar explains four important aspects as follows:

1. Facial expression;

2. Looking at the other person pleasantly with smile;

3. Talking from the bottom of the heart; and

4. Using pleasant and good words.

If the four aspects are followed, then it is the right way of communication.

In the modern day corporate managements and communication, we find only 'synthetic' smile and false communication. That is why, many of the marketing communicators do not command credibility from their customers. Customers look at their words with suspicion, however they are genuine. . What Thiruvallur insists is the natural way of communication from the bottom of the heart.

Natural communication will bring more credibility among the stakeholders, than artificial or synthetic communication.

Maintain comfortable distance with CEO

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:20:00 +0000

Thirukkural 691

In this Thirukkural, Saint Thiruvalluvar gives tips to maintain the relationship with the King. Though, he mentions about the king, this Kural applies to modern day CEOs and top bosses too. Thirukkural says:

அகலாது அணுகாது தீக்காய்வார் போல்

இகல்வேந்தர்ச் சேர்ந்தொழுகு வார்.

During winter and cold days, people used to sit near fire place to warm themselves. People do not go near to the fire or keep far away from it. They maintain a comfortable distance. Same way, if anybody is working with the King, he should not go nearer to him or keep far away from him. He should maintain comfortable distance. Though he mentions about the King, it is applicable to all top bosses in the Government and Corporate sector.

We have seen several times, some of the Government officers try to please their political or bureaucratic bosses by remaining very close with them. When something goes wrong or when the leadership changes, these people are thrown away or put to lot of inconvenience.

Hence, this Thirukkural is more relevant for the modern day management.