Doing people and thnking people... learn from elephants, dear corporate

Elephants cannot jump like many other animals like deer, zebra etc. Should we consider this inability as deficiency or incapability of elephants over deer and zebra? The corporate leaders and entrepreneurs must ask this question and find an answer as well.

In corporate, most managers and people at the middle level or people mostly at 'doing level' proudly acclaim that they would complete some job much faster than their 'ultimate' bosses. They do say, they are hence, far more intelligent, smart and efficient than many, have occupied the top position in the corporate. How true is the above comparison of some managers?

One has to reflect the truth about elephants and their inability to jump to understand the real meaning of the above comparison. Animals jump only to see things better around them or to divert the focus of the predatory animals that chase them. Animals like elephant can see its predator easily because of its height. The massive structure of the magnificent elephant also does not favor it to be the best prey choice to the predatory animals. This reason justifies the above inability of the elephants. With such massive body, if elephants jumps, would do cause problems to other animals in the jungle.

The CEO's or Vice Presidents may not be as efficient as managers in doing some job. They are at 'thinking' platform and hence are bothered more about the interpretation, value and usability of the results than doing the job with speed and precision.

The corporate employees at middle and lower level must understand this distinction clearly. Every 'inability' must be seen and understood from the larger canvas and the same should not be seen in isolation. How advantages outscore/surpasses the inability is what the people should understand.

When they compare their 'doing ability' with people in the top management level, they should remember the difference between deer and elephant. The people at the lower level are for 'doing' and people in the top management level are for 'thinking and strategizing'.

If the people at the top management level make such claims, one has to feel pity for such corporate. A perfect 'doer' is kept for the job of 'thinking'.

Interestingly, some corporate bosses use to belittle the subordinates by saying that the office boy does better job than them. Remember, it is right time; such bosses are to be replaced with the subordinates. The moment, the subordinates looses charm in doing, they are graduating to the next level. Laziness and inefficiency must be clearly understood from the above leadership trait.

Keep asking the following questions as why elephants cannot jump, why it should jump, you will get the best management understanding to manage oneself and the corporate.

Dr S Ranganathan, ClinRise Derma Pvt., Ltd., Chennai

Learn more from the following management books
1. Jungle wisdom for corporate management – lessons from the university of nature by Swami Sukhabodhananda and Dr S Ranganathan

2. Nature – The Entrepreneur by Dr S Ranganathan