From Bheeshma to the Boardroom: Corporate Lessons from the Mahabharata
Asking questions helps us get to know the world we live in. Questioning ourselves and others helps us get a better grasp of our beliefs and gain insight from those with other perspectives.
The Socratic approach to questioning is really powerful. This technique is about asking questions that try to find any hidden beliefs, prejudices, and inconsistencies in our thinking. Asking ourselves questions and pushing our beliefs can help us understand ourselves better and handle complicated stuff.
Though, asking questions might be uncomfortable for some people. Bringing up questions can challenge our assumptions and show us what we don’t know. Some people may see questioning as a confrontation instead of a learning opportunity.
The story of Bheeshma from the Mahabharata is an example of someone holding onto old beliefs and not doing what’s right — and it didn’t end well. In the episode of Draupadi’s disrobing, Bheeshma was present in the court when Duryodhana asked for her to be stripped in front of everyone. Even though Bheeshma was aware of the seriousness of the injustice, he remained quiet and not intervene. He stuck to the old-fashioned way of respecting the king, even if it was wrong.
Bheeshma’s inaction caused a lot of harm for himself and everyone else. Draupadi got embarrassed in front of everyone and the Pandavas had to go into exile because of it. Bheeshma’s loyalty to ancient beliefs and practices stopped him from fighting for justice.
This story serves as a reminder to not take old beliefs and traditions at face value. If we are determined to do the right thing, we need to be prepared to question our fundamental beliefs and principles, even if it means taking an unpopular opinion.
To be successful in business, it is absolutely essential that individuals are able to ask questions and challenge the accepted assumptions. This story of Bheeshma’s failure to act can serve as a reminder to us of five key corporate lessons that can be taken away.
- Speak up when you see something wrong: It is important to have the confidence to speak up when something is not correct in the business world and make your thoughts heard. As a responsible individual, if you witness unethical behavior or harm being done by an organization, it is your obligation to speak up and advocate for a change.
- Don’t be afraid to challenge the status quo: Even though certain processes may have been in place for an extended period of time, it is always worth considering if there may be a better way to do something, don’t be afraid to challenge the status quo. It is important to question the status quo and investigate alternative and creative methods of accomplishing tasks. Companies such as Airbnb and Uber have revolutionized traditional hospitality and transportation industries by providing alternative solutions which challenged the existing conventions.
- Take responsibility for your actions: It is essential to own up to the consequences of the decisions and actions that were taken, even if they were not the best decisions, when it comes to conducting business. Acknowledging your mistakes is necessary, learning from them is essential, and taking steps to prevent such mistakes from happening again in the future is critical.
- Be willing to adapt and change: In order to stay competitive and successful it is essential to be able to adapt and change as the business world changes. Those businesses that have embraced the increasing trend of e-commerce have seen great success, whereas those that have not been able to do the same have faced much difficulty.
- Embrace diversity and inclusion: Just as Bheeshma’s inability to move on from traditional beliefs kept him from making the right choices, a lack of diversity and inclusion in the workplace can be a hindrance to a company’s potential. Recognizing the importance of diversity in the workplace, questioning can be a powerful resource when it comes to innovating and finding creative solutions to problems. Through the process of questioning assumptions and seeking answers, individuals and teams can uncover creative ideas and approaches that may have been previously overlooked. Adopting this approach can provide businesses with more effective solutions that can give them a strategic edge over their competitors.
Asking questions is a critical part of both personal and professional development as it leads to growth and understanding. If we keep our minds open to new ideas and actively challenge our own opinions and beliefs, we can continue to grow and develop as people. Asking questions in the workplace can open up the possibility of unlocking creative solutions and can foster a more connected and successful team environment.
Through questioning, one can gain knowledge, insight, and be able to grow as an individual. By questioning our own ideas, we can gain fresh perspectives, open up our minds to new possibilities, and come up with new solutions. Asking questions in the workplace can open up opportunities for collaboration, help to solve problems, and give your business an edge in the competitive market. It is critical to approach questioning with a constructive and collaborative mindset, respecting the knowledge of everyone involved while still being open to different ways of thinking. Through embracing and considering questions and inquiry, we can continue to build on our knowledge and increase our growth as individuals and as a community.
