As managers, the story we tell ourselves is that our people are frail, weak and imperfect. It follows that our job is to change them and improve them. This is a total waste because it can’t be done. A more useful story is that we all have a bit of God in us and a bit of the Devil. Managers with this story spend their time looking for the “God,” reminding people of the best of who they are, drawing out the greatness that already exists inside and putting this to work within the organisation.
I think his is so important I wrote a book about it, it's called "Buddha Hunters - Secrets of how Irresistible Leaders Liberate the Human Spirit at Work."
Four hundred years ago a group of Thai monks hid their Golden Buddha from marauding tribes by covering it with clay. Soon afterwards the temple was attacked and everyone was killed. For the next 400 years everyone thought this Buddha was a clay Buddha. Recently, when they tried to move it, the clay broke off and the Golden Buddha inside was revealed.
Irresistible Leaders are Buddha Hunters. They know that everyone has a Golden Buddha inside, however, it’s mostly covered with mud that people have flicked at them over the years; often by those they trust most, like parents, teachers and managers. Pathetically, they also flick mud at themselves.
As a result, many people are a tiny fraction of their potential, an unexplored world of possibilities waiting to be released and channelled towards great good.
Irresistible Leaders are Buddha Hunters. They help their people find their Golden Buddhas by breaking off the mud so their brightness can shine through again and liberate the human spirit at work.
Bruce Holland
No comments:
Post a Comment