Four ways of effective Management : How to achieve Extraordinary results from Ordinary people

As cliché as it sounds, we are all managers in our own rites. From the time we hit puberty a lot of things come under our own control. That means we have the power to make decisions, control events in our lives and by extension in the lives of others. Whether we realize it or not, that is when we start being a manager. Whether you’re managing your kids or your employees, whether you’re managing your teammates or a large organization, there are certain proven techniques which are universal.

My name is Captain D, and I am presently in command of one of the largest ships in the world. In my experience over my formative years leading up to being a Captain, I have come across a wide range of people all around the world and found that managing various people is nothing but working on their minds. If you know what people want and how people think, it becomes extremely easy to manage them too. If you are in a position where you handle people, please read on.
What I am about to say is not something I have discovered. The concept dates back to a time very early on. It was explained in the Bhagavad Gita, one of the most ancient scriptures in the Hindu religion believed to have been written around 3000 BC, and believed to be one of the most ancient pieces of literature in the world. I have however, on countless occasions, followed the principles myself and felt its effectiveness and the vastness of its application. As I tell you what they are, you probably will also realize how well it applies to every sphere of life around the world, across all ages and sexes, and in virtually every field of our existence.

It says that people are motivated towards a certain goal by 4 different motivators. In simpler words, you can get people to do something in four different ways.

It depends on the person which one will work, which you have to decide accordingly, and at times you need to apply more than one method. You may be working with various people around you in your office or at home. As you read, think of what you know about your employees, each one of them. This will help you relate to what I am saying. As given in the Bhagvad Gita,

The four fundamental principles of Management or “Ruling” are:

Saam, Daam, Dand, and Bhed.

Saam

translates to “Equality”, which is what it also translates to in Sanskrit, the most ancient language in the world. In using this principle you become equal to your subordinate, ask for his opinions and work side by side with him. He may be a person who would not take orders well, but he may well respond to a suggestion when he knows that his opinions also matter. Even though you can, you don’t dictate your terms as a superior. This usually works if you have someone who can think independently, but is also friendly and open to talk to, and hence can contribute much more if he is treated with respect. Be his friend and he will pour his talent out for you.

Daam

is the next style of management. The crude translation comes to “Price”. You pay a person what he needs to get the job done. This does not have to be money at all. It can be an overdue holiday approval, or extra time to rest once he completes his job. The style is basically to exploit whatever he really wants, against what you can give him. For a child, it can be his favorite toy once he completes a task given by you.

Dand

one which would come next, translates to ‘Punishment’. As evident, people are vastly drawn by the fear of consequences. In fact it is the inherent fear that drives most people to excel in their jobs. For some people this may be the only and greatest motivator. You would be surprised how many such people are there around the world who would not move an inch if not for the fear of losing something dear. When you restrict your kid from watching adult channels, or give them an ultimatum, you are telling that disobedience would not be forgiven, hence instilling fear. I can ask my crew on the ship politely to keep the laundry room clean all the time (that’s Saam), but if that does not work, I will have to use the principle of ‘Dand’ and tell them that next time I find the place dirty, I will call everyone involved to clean it, even if it is the middle of the night.

Bhed

is one of the ancient tricks practiced by rulers of all times, and is extremely effective. It translates to ‘Division’. For certain people, you need to remove yourself from the position of superiority and stop over-supervising them. No, don’t treat them as an equal, rather leave them alone. Tell them that they are responsible for their own failures, assert your position as their superior and then let them to work freely. Some independent-minded people work best when left alone. These are intelligent people who know how to do the job, but cannot perform under the pressure of proving themselves at every step. Help them and get the best out of them this way. The concepts above are universal, although the ways to implement them vary vastly. Feel free to experiment and as you do; you might device a fifth way too. If you know your people, you will know which principle(s) to apply, and you will achieve extraordinary results from ordinary people.