Joy Of Blooming

Joy Of Blooming 

When People Bloom/Shells and Silos in Doom

Business Booms/Company Zooms

 The lines rhyme well, but do they make business sense?

 Well, the answer is an emphatic yes. “To blossom like a flower means to thrive in life. The idea is that you are able to grow and progress in your life just like a flower grows and blossoms,” says an expert.  And here is the evidence. According to the world-renowned Wall Street Journal, Tim Cook “a behind-the-scenes operations expert, is in full bloom after years of subtle internal changes”. The booming business and zooming of Apple’s share are obvious from the all-round adulation and its top rank. The ‘subtle internal changes’ that the WSJ talks about are indicative of executives breaking their shells and of the disappearing organizational silos.

Steve Jobs himself had asserted, “It’s in Apple’s DNA that technology alone is not enough ……it’s technology married with liberal arts, married with humanities that yields us the result, that makes our hearts sing”. And that is blooming, by breaking an invisible, yet as hard as the physical shell (likes, dislikes, hatred, nepotism, core competence, specialization, pride, prejudices), that most people carry within themselves. 

 Now, what comes to your mind when the word ‘job’ is mentioned? I hope it will be words that a lucky few use, ones who think positively and talk about

·         the joy of being busy and creative

·         setting productivity records with on-the-job-learning and innovating

·         camaraderie with colleagues and associates

·         promotions

·        widening of social circles

·     opportunities to participate and win in quality circles, arts, sports events,       meetings and conferences. 

However, a brief survey revealed that, for many, the very mention of the word ‘job’ leads to furrowed foreheads, twisted lips and utterances like “oh! boring, utter drudgery, constant slavery, tied to a millstone, a virtual prison”. They also cite it as a cause of excessive stress, fatigue, insomnia, sadness, tension, high blood pressure, anger or irritability and many other real or imagined troubles.

 How can businesses bloom and companies zoom in the above cases?

All business leaders agree that people are their most precious assets. To turn this often talked about sentence into reality, everyone must focus on turning their careers into ‘Carriers of Happiness’ and jobs into ‘Joy Of Blooming (JOB)’. Of course, the prime responsibility lies with individuals to foresee the future of business, visualize the various roles of business expansion and prepare for performing well in those areas that are a good fit for their own aptitude and capabilities. Blooming is internally stimulated (self-acquired knowledge), while development is externally induced (received knowledge). Self-acquired knowledge endures and blooms i.e., germinates insights; received knowledge can be sterile. Only you can help discover yourself, renew your inner-self and bloom fully. The multiple roles, skills and qualities required for soaring higher, in an increasingly complex world, are provided in the two illustrations at the end of this post.

 The role of the organization/company is that of an enabler or a facilitator. The foremost need is to dismantle shells and silos and have self-managing teams.  The other main aspects are free accessibility, training, coaching and mentoring. The rewards and promotion system should not only be fair and merit-based, but must be seen to be so by all.

The idea of finding the joy of blooming goes beyond tasks and skills. One has to expand one’s social and professional circles or, in simple terms, raise visibility and acquire leadership qualities. In a vibrant and globalized world, you have to interact with people with a variety of interests and tastes. The success formulae say “make yourself acceptable and business will follow”. Or, “contacts get contracts”. Also, in a flat organization there are no neatly carved roles; multi-tasking is a distinct advantage. In short, success needs all-round blooming.

 What about the adversities and an unfavorable and hostile environment? The question is very pertinent and answered aptly by Matshona Dhliwayo:“If beautiful lilies bloom in ugly waters, you too can blossom in ugly situations.” 

 The need for all-round blooming is not only for young executives, but for everyone aspiring to fit in and rise in the business world. Here are a few shining examples of how people bloomed.

• According to a report, Peter Drucker marinated his mind in great books………...he wrote about business alliances referencing marriage alliances in Jane Austen’s novels.
• Sheryl Sandberg, the former COO of Meta/Facebook is a great example. In her book Lean In, she admits that “my insecurities began in school” and in “freshman year of college……….I was panicked………. buckled”. She overcame all these blocks and blossomed into high positions in Google, McKinsey, United States Treasury and the World Bank. She also worked in a leprosy eradication project in India.
• Viswanathan Anand, five-time world chess champion, has been mentoring top athletes for future Olympics. He says he reads books on economic, politics and likes astronomy.

“Do what you love and you’ll never work another day in your life.” The saying is fictional, but practised by many. An Indian executive, on a brief visit to Edinburgh, found he had three hours before his flight back. 

 He asked the hotel concierge “What can one do to spend three hours here?” 

 The receptionist told him, “You can take a city tour in a car with a tourist guide-cum-chauffeur.”

 The executive took the tour. When the guide dropped him back at the hotel, he held out a ten pound currency note for the chauffeur, who shook his head and said, “Sorry Gentleman, I don’t accept tips.”

 “It’s not a tip, it is a tuition fee,” replied the executive. 

“What have I taught you in such a short time?” asked the guide. 

 “I am overwhelmed by your mastery, commitment and full involvement in the job; you love it, that’s the lesson I got”. 

 The guide took the currency note, held the executive’s hand and said, “Hey guy, your job rules your life. You better love it or quit it.”  

 Job not only spells JOY but it means LOVING WHAT YOU DO! 

 And finally for lasting impact, a poetic vision:

 

Bloom like a flower

And raise your power

Needn’t wait for promotion

It’ll be beyond expectation

Forget job hunting too

They’ll come hunting for you

Promotions n jobs for a song?

Not always but

If you are in bloom, they throng!

(Source unknown)

Wizards Of World!

Spread the Creed of Wisdom

Wisdom Inspires Zenlike Attention, Resilience and Dedication

                                 

Leaders’ Versatility is a Sine-Qua-Non for Success

©Foresight Trust   

Multiple Roles Enhance Leaders’ Potential

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NOTE: This blog is being re-posted as the qualities required to bloom are even more relevant as fast-paced developments in AI lead to job losses.