The One About Co-Relating and Learning - Feat. Lord Shiv.

Hello everyone!! 

Hope you're kind-off intrigued by the way this title backs up the essence of this blog post. I'm back with a very interesting and endearing post after a fortnight and its all because last weekend, I spent in Varanasi (though I still love to call it as the good old Banaras) with my family, and found solace in the simple things there: the Kashi Shiv temple and the arti at 3:00 in the morning, the Ganga Ghat and the boat-ride amidst the river, everything there was far away from technology driven fun, and it had a charm of its own - 'Atulya Bharat !'

Being a curious person, I was rather mesmerized by the stories that my mother used to tell me about about Lord Shiv, as well as few books and series here and there, made me his spiritual follower. Hence, there are certain lessons that can be learnt from Lord Shiv which are till-date applicable to all the walks of an HR Professional, or rather any Working Professional as such. Read on to know more how things co-relate with his demeanour: 

1. It is not necessary to talk everywhere!

Perhaps the root cause of all the unwanted 'grape-vines' in the office is because of the line that people don't draw between making friends and gossiping to increase the network. This is what we all can learn from Lord Shiv, that, speak only after all facts are proven, your facts are backed by proof and there is no harm to either of them in the conversation to avoid unnecessary downfalls. Hence, it is not necessary to talk everywhere, sometimes listening and then making a point could be the thing that may set you apart.

2. Just and Fair - At All Levels:

One of the most commendable things about Lord Shiv was the fact that he had the courage to be truthful and fair to everyone, even if he / she was superior to him. If you can recall, the tale about Shiv-ji cursing Lord Brahma who had used unfair means to win a contest between him and Lord Vishnu. As an HR, when it comes to doing what is right vs. doing what makes you happy, you have no choice but to go with the 'Right' thing, because in the long-run, that decision would be of great value.

3. Trustworthy - Because People Look up to an HR for handling work related grievances.

When you as an HR would choose the 'Right' thing over the decision that makes you happy, there is a lot of trust that would be involved in that same decision. When you do the right thing and be just and fair at every level, people will always put faith in the HR that there is someone to listen to them, not-judge them, and guide that person through a way out. Isn't this, also, the reason why Mahadev is always looked up-to?

4. Distant Yet Connected:

We all know that Shiv-ji was connected to everyone, yet he spent considerable amount of time with himself, meditating, to keep his mind at peace. This is one of the most important lessons for an HR working in any kind of culture. As an HR professional, you will be the one who would look into the matters that pertain to salary brackets, appraisals and compensations and being highly connected with certain employees may slightly hinder the right decision that you have take when it comes to there HR matters, hence, being distant to keep a just and peaceful mind yet staying connected is an important skill to be learnt. 

5. The Third Eye - Look at the Problem beyond what is just seen:

Shiv-ji is the only person in this universe who has the third eye. Mythologists say that, this third eye gives him the power to look and understand things beyond the facts that are seen because there are always two sides to a coin. This is something that not just an HR, but every individual should imbibe as a crucial habit to avoid unnecessary conflicts. 

6. Embrace Changes: 

The belief that I bestowed in Lord Shiv strengthened when, during the stories that I read and heard about him, I realized the fact that he is not afraid to break the on-going prejudices and practices and sets out his own paths which are truly fruitful. Thus, embracing changes and instilling a motivational culture in the organization that openly accepts change(s), is something that every HR has to master at, including themselves. It's time to embrace change since the world is fast pacing and its all about 'survival of the fittest'.

7. Knowledge is the Greatest Form of any Gift:

Cut to that Mythological Era: Unlike the other Lords who would usually shower their truest follower (bhakt) with materialistic things, there was this Lord, Shivji, who would always shower his followers with knowledge about practices that would be fruitful not only for one individual but to an entire generation. For him, knowledge was the ultimate form of power. From this, HR professionals can understand the fact that, training and employee development plans are far more appreciable over a long term since it is beneficial to both the employee as well as the employer in numerous ways.

8. There is No True Celebration if it comes with Status Restrictions:

Have you heard the story about Shiv-ji's procession (baraat) when he was off to marry Parvati-ji? He included everyone in the procession, right from gods, goddesses, animals, demons and even aghoris. There was no discrimination when it came to celebrating his marriage. Thus, the lesson that we can learn from here is that, when there are employee engagement related celebrations in the firm, be sound-minded to include everyone as a part of it, because little things like these, always matter!

So, I hope the title did justice to the post that you read. If you have any more stories to share or your learnings from this almighty, comment down below for everyone to know more. Like and Share if you appreciate this post, and thank you following my posts every weekend, that's the kind of motivation needed to keep going. 

Much Love, Positivity and Gratitude.

- Binal R. Chitroda

(#TheHRConnect)