Yes sir?

The relationships we have with our supervisors, or seniors, or leadership, have an impact on our careers and our lives. Factors including our performance, the extent to which we shape our roles at work, the recognition of our efforts given to us, depend on these relationships. Given how much of our time is occupied in the workplace, which taxes on our physical, mental and emotional aspects, these relationships more often than not, have a bearing on our happiness also. It is therefore critical that some of the important dynamics of these relationships are studied.

"Getting it"

How often is it that our boss gives us some work we don’t really want to do? We know we gain nothing from it either short term or long term in terms of prospects or showing and developing certain skill-sets, but they give it to us. We may know it’s something that our boss needs to get done for themselves, and are using us to do it. Sometimes this is as far as we get in analysing the situation before frustration or anger creeps in. If one has a deeper understanding of the dynamics between a senior and a junior, they may be able to deal with the situation a little deeper and benefit from it rather than just become an angered victim. His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami once spoke about different types of disciples, or juniors, in this situation. He described the lower calibre of disciples as simply being able to follow instructions, but not necessarily knowing the will of the master. The highest calibre disciple would of be not only readily willing to follow instructions, but deeper than that they know the will or desire of the spiritual master at a deeper level. Isn’t it often than the people who make it up by staying close to the top people, do so because they “get it.” This concept of “getting it,” in the spiritual context means to know the will of the spiritual master; above and beyond being able to follow instructions, they deeply understand the purpose and real deep desires. Even though spiritual progress and material progress are incomparable, there are certainly parallels we should be sensitive and receptive to, and try to learn from.

Think deeply before acting

Reacting rashly, defensively, or negatively to a suggestion from a senior is not the kind of dynamic exhibited by someone who knows the will of their boss and is in a relationship therefore where there is a well developed mutual respect. Such rash reactions exist where there is less of a high quality relationship, or where there are other dynamics of persuing exclusive selfish interests at play perhaps. His Holiness Sacinandana Swami said once that, even if your spiritual master says something that you don’t necessarily agree with, or think you can do, please don’t react angrily saying that you cannot do this so rashly. Adolf Hitler, whilst not at all exemplary in his political beliefs, certainly imbibed some very robust behavioural tactics; one of these was that when there was certain categories of shocking news, he said to his people, do not tell me immediately as soon as you find out, tell me after 12 hours. The reason for this was that after one comes to terms with something, puts it in context, it is often easier to communicate appropriately with the right context and emotion, however initially it can be very destabalising, and sometimes one can overreact. In the workplace also, if we have a bad day, we may think, oh I should quit. This reaction is driven by emotion often times, and it may not be strategically the best kind of mindset to imbibe. In the Ramayana, there are many incidents where there have been highly emotional situations that have prompted action; Bharat came to request Lord Rama to return to from the forest back to Ayodhya as King, however Lord Rama said it was his duty and word to stay in the forest. In those times, Janak Maharaj, vouched that “For a King, or a leader, duty is higher than emotion,” and therefore Lord Rama’s case for staying in the forest is higher than Bharat’s case to have Lord Rama return and installed as King.

So there may be times when we are in a situation where we feel like making an emotionally driven response, even to our seniors, however one should be very patient, think carefully, and really step back. After evaluating the situation from all perspectives, one should react. There is a very useful saying by Chanakya Pandit that if one is unsure, it is better not to act. In this way, we will be able to cultivate many qualities, including objectivity, centeredness, and patience. In doing so, these intermediary qualities can cultivate detachment. These are some of the qualities we actually see in people who are very successful, often materially as well as spiritually, and most of us have an opportunity to understand them better through practice in our daily experiences.