9th July 2010
Give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
~Christian D. Larson
We talk about changing others, motivating others, empowering others etc. after nearly three decades of trying to do this, I have come to the conclusion that others cannot be changed, motivated or empowered. We have to accept others as they are and try to put in our best efforts in the direction of our goals. We may try to change, motivate or empower others, but our success should be independent of that. We may be, and most of often we will be disappointed by others' response to our initiatives.
What we have to do is to make ourselves flexible and fit that no matter how others respond, we will get to our goals. Next time you watch a world class cricketer, notice how he is equipping himself to face any bowler. He scores his runs not due to the goodwill and mercy of the opposite team, but due to his own efforts.
We need to have a `basket of skills' such as communication skills, assertiveness skills, thinking skills, negotiating skills, etc and constantly evaluate how proficient are we with reference to these skills. We need to ask ourselves if we are adequate on these factors. Unfortunately, many of us wait for our organisations to sponsor for some of these programmes. We have to take self development as our own responsibility. We need to spend at least 12 days per month to hone our skills which are critical to our roles in life.
Once we dip ourselves into this assignment, we will have no time life to complain or criticize others. In fact our life will be even more peaceful and harmonious if we can look into ourselves for improvement!
N C Sridharan
Posts
