Sahakarya (Cooperation) : 4th S of 5 S for Meditating Manager

Sahakarya means cooperation in Sanskrit language!
This is another universal law- If you do ‘good’ to others, ‘good’ will happen to you!

If you help others then you will receive help in your critical time! It is not a matter of belief; it’s a matter of experience! Universe functions in this way! Whatever goes around comes around. It is that simple!
But, it is seen that many managers miss out on this important virtue. What stops us from practicing cooperation?

More than cooperation, competition plays on manager’s mind.
An average manager looks at work as a F1 race. His/ Her definition of success is being ahead of others! Definition of success is beating everyone else in the race.

An average manager thinks only about him or her survival.
However, a meditating manager- who is practicing Sakakarya (i.e. Cooperation) - thinks about surviving together, not only about surviving together but also about growing together.

An average manager misinterprets cooperation with negotiations. The attitude of such manager is to look at the gains against the help offered by him or her. These selfish motives create dents on cooperation and seize the growth of a manager!

Individual’s conditioning is responsible for her/her behavior at work place. If Sahakarya (cooperation) is being practiced by the society in which s/he lives then it will automatically become part of his/her nature.

It can be elaborated with ‘Ant Philosophy’! Ants are grown in such a environment where Sahakarya (Cooperation) is a fundamental element of existence! If an ant decides to isolate itself and then stop cooperating with other ants then you can imagine the destiny of such ant!

Living together and growing together is a principle where ‘Who’ has low priority than ‘What’ & ‘How’ in the life. In a society which is fascinated by ‘Who’ rather than ‘What’ & ‘How’ would always lack cooperation and would put itself in a danger! If the surrounding is full of insecurities, competitions & greed then managers will end up breathing the same air!

Another influencing factor while practicing Sahakarya (Cooperation) is your role model! If a manager’s role model is someone who had been successful by killing the competition then same would be practiced by him/her. Whatever is preached; that would be practiced! If a manager’s role model has grown by practicing cooperation then it will definitely reflect in manager's character. These role models need not to be the figures from history or some famous celebrities. These role models could be manager’s parents, professors or even senior colleagues!

Be wise while selecting your role models! Do not forget that over a time period, you could be perceived as a role model by others and your each & every action & thought could be blindly followed!

A meditating manager has to be careful of the value system s/he is passing on to his/her peers, subordinates & followers! Is s/he encouraging them to compete or to cooperate? Is s/he encouraging them to survive or to grow? Is s/he encouraging living together culture or left alone culture?

These questions would not only derive health of an individual manager or a team but it will have long term impact on the health of the organization as well!

By,
Pushkar Korhalkar