Morality

The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy ,describes  "morality" as :

-descriptively to refer to a code of conduct put forward by a society or, some other group, such as a religion, or accepted by an individual for his/her own behavior

This is the common understanding most of us have about morality, there is another statement which is more powerful, Which states - 

-morality can be used, normatively to refer to a code of conduct that, given specified conditions, would be put forward by all rational persons

There is nice story narrated by Osho on this aspect.

There was King who since he was getting old, called his son and told him to go and meet his master and learn about "morality"

The Price travels far into the forest, crosses mountains and meets the old master and tells him "Master, King is getting old and he has sent me here to learn about Morality. Teach me, I'm in hurry". Master Replies " If you are in a hurry you should return back, it takes time to learn anything new and if you are interested your first step is to learn about patience"

Prince thinks for a while and decides to give it  a try. Master says "You need to develop patience. You will spend time cleaning, watering the plants. In between I will come and hit you with a stick and it is up to you to escape from it"

During the first week he gets hit by the master many times but the lesson about patience keeps him calm. Slowly he develops intuition about when the master is coming and becomes successful in escaping.  At this point, Master says "You are doing well. Now I will replace this stick with a real sword, you need to take your learning to next level"

By that time Price had developed confidence. Whether it is a stick or a sword, it is more do to with being aware. He agrees and he escapes the sword for many days.

One day Master comes and says "Now we need to take the training to next level. I will also hit you when you are asleep. I will start with a wooden stick"

Prince gets worried for a moment. But this challenge excites him and he agrees.  Again first few weeks he gets hit by the wooden stick and later he becomes more aware and starts escaping from the hit.  After sometime the Master switches over to sword but the prince was able escape that also.

One day while working in the garden the price gets the thought "All these days he is hitting me, I should try hitting him once". The Master who is walking few yards away looks back and says "Don't ever think about that".

Prince gets shock of his life and falls at his feet, the Master says "When you are fully aware, even the sound of thought you can hear. Start becoming more aware".   Prince starts practicing more and once in a while he starts getting strong intuition that Master is coming to hit him at that he goes to Master who is busy reading and asks him "Do you wanted to hit me ?" , Master looks and smiles "Yes !, I wanted to complete this page and then come and hit you".

After few days Master calls the prince and says "Dear Prince you have been a good student. Your training is complete today. Go back your father, he is waiting for you"

Confident Price asks "Master the training was good but I came here to Learn about Morality"

Master says "A person who is aware is always moral"

Morality is not just Right or Wrong it is about ability understand the situation and being fully aware, taking action which is appropriate for that situation. As the master said

"A person who is aware is always moral"

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Three Law’s of Performance-3

In this concluding part we will look at the Third Law of Performance.

 The First law states:

How People perform correlates to how situation occurs to them 

The Second Law of performance is

How a situation occurs arises in language

The Third Law of performance is

Future-based language transforms how situations occur to people

Future based language is also called as "Generative Language", it has the power to create new futures, to craft vision, and to eliminate the blinders that prevent people from seeing possibilities

It does not describe how a situation occurs; it transforms how it occurs. It does this by re-writing the future.

Before we look into the Power of Future, let's understand what our default future is.

Answer this question "How much money you are going to save/earn this year?"

Based on your past experience you are kind of certain that you are going to save/earn not more than some x amount, right?

This is the outcome of the default future, which is completely based on past, it consists of our expectations, fears, hopes and predictions.

The default future influences how the situation occurs in the present.

 The Future based language projects a new future that replaces what people see coming.  The future goes from default to "invented" future.

The new future is created in declaration – it is inventing a possibility and then to commit fully to that declaration.  Throughout the history we have seen many examples.

Gandhi said "India shall be free" and committed his life for that cause and now we are free.

Ratan Tata said "a car for 1 lakh"  and we have a Nano. This declaration not only created a car but along with it created a new possibility of innovation and creativity.

 The Future based language

·         Inspire action for everyone involved

·         Fulfill the concerns of all

These three laws of performances are universal.

 Let's use them to create and fulfill a future that matter to us.

 (Source : Three Laws of Performance Steve Zaffron and Dave Logan.)

 

 

Three Law’s of Performance-2

Last week saw the first law of performance

 The First law states:

How People perform correlates to how situation occurs to them 

The Second Law of performance is

How a situation occurs arises in language

Let's focus our attention to understand the phrase   ' ....arises in Language'

The Language  includes – body language, facial expression, verbal, non verbal expression, tone, pictures, drawings, music and other actions that have a symbolic intent.

One most important factor in second law is focus on what is "not said".  The unsaid but communicated include assumptions, expectations, regrets, resentments, interpretations, significance and issues that occur as dangerous.

In the real world everything arises in language – The objects like car, house which occupy space arise in language.

The concepts like Finance, knowledge also arise in language. Ultimately everything in the real world arises in Language.

The Second Law gives an access to how things occur to you. Start observing how a situation occurs to you and for others, and then you will start appreciating the two laws.

Start noticing –

·         What people say

·         What People don't say but still communicate

·         People's postures, gestures, facial expressions, tone of voice

·         What People write

Also notice the network of conversation around you especially at work where the performance matters.

Ask these questions

·         How does the situation occurs to people, such that people are having these conversations?

·          Which of these conversations are productive? And which are ineffective?

·         What is the relationship between your performance issue and this network of conversations?

You will observe the situation inside the second law of performance and how a situation occurs arises in language.

(Source : Three Laws of Performance Steve Zaffron and Dave Logan.)

 

 

Three Law’s of Performance-1

In the book "Three Laws of Performance", authors Steve Zaffron and Dave Logan provide beautiful insights into the principles that govern the performance in human beings.

Performance is a measure of both efficiency and effectiveness. Performance is most important parameter in today's world.

The First law states:

How People perform correlates to how situation occurs to them 

It says that the performance is correlated to the "occurring" world.

Let's look into this word "occur" –

In any given situation, a person looks at a situation from certain perspective. Imagine that the situation is captured on a video camera. The video recording depends on the angle at which the situation is recorded. If the camera is covered with yellow filter, the recording will have yellowish color on the video.

 Similarly for a person how a situation occurs depends on the perspective and the filters. In human beings the filters may be the opinions, judgment, logic and past experience.

You might have experienced, some people when faced with challenge might work with lot of enthusiasm and energy while others are threatened and working hard to survive.

If you can really observe and understand from the place the person is taking the action, you will see that the person is taking action as per the occurring world.

Later we will look at the other two laws that help in altering the occurring world.

Once the occurring world is altered, automatically the action will also be consistent with it. Once the actions are different the results that  is produced will be different.  Once again the First law –

How People perform correlates to how situation occurs to them 

(Source : Three Laws of Performance Steve Zaffron and Dave Logan.)

 

 

Zen Koans

Koan is a Japanese word that comes from the Chinese, kung-an, that means public dictate. It is a reference to examples that are meant to guide life; or in the case of Zen, these dictates are meant to be catalysts for awakening one's true/deep/pure nature. Koans are a method of training the mind in order to achieve the state of Zen meditation.

It consists of a story, dialogue, question, or statement, the meaning of which cannot be understood by rational  thinking but may be accessible through intuition. One widely known kōan is "What is the sound of one hand clapping?"

They are not puzzles, riddles or problems to be solved- which have a definite answer.

Koans are not rational questions with final linear conclusions. They are especially designed for one purpose; this purpose is to open the mind that has been closed by habitual responses to the world and reality.

The Zen monks dwell in theses Koans and suddenly they "GET-IT" and it is said that , they get enlightened.

For the Koan "What is the sound of one hand clapping?"

"The sound of one hand clapping is the sound of one hand clapping" .

"Why is the color of grass is green?", "The color of grass is green because the color of grass is green"

These are just examples – The real power is reveled when you apply this to your life.

"Why my wife/husband/mother-in-law/manager fights with me?", "My wife/husband/mother-in-law/manager fights with me because my wife/husband/mother-in-law/manager fights with me".

Once you GET-IT,  you will have the power to look at life the way it is, and the way it is not.  You can see the situation AS IT IS.  You will experience being in the presence of "NOW".

"What is the sound of one hand clapping?"

 

Thinking Hats

Thinking is a natural process for human beings. We think that we think, but many times we don't think when it is required. Just having thoughts is not thinking. Thinking is a process, it requires effort and it results in some action.

To aid in thinking process Edward de Bono has designed a framework, it is called 'Edward de Bono's Six Thinking Hats'. These hats are imaginary; they are used to aid the thinking in one direction.

When it is used in groups, everyone wears the same hat then they will be thinking in the same direction in parallel.

The White Hat – The white hat indicates exclusive focus on information. Information like what is available, missing, required etc.

The Red Hat  - The red hat allows the free expression of feeling, intuition, hunches and emotions without apology and without explanation. The red hat asks the person to express the feeling at that point of time.

The Black Hat – The black hat is used for critical thinking. It is for caution and stops us doing things which are dangerous, damaging and unworkable. It is very useful but should not be overused in the name of being critical.

The Yellow Hat- The Yellow hat is logical positive hat. Under this hat one seeks the values and benefits. When the thinker is wearing this hat he looks to see how the idea can be made workable and put into practice.

The Green Hat – The Green hat is a creative hat, under the green hat the thinker looks at alternatives. It is action oriented and opens up new possibilities.

The Blue Hat -  The Blue hat is control hat, it is concerned with the management of the thinking process. It takes care of defining the problem and what is being thought about. "Thinking about what?"

There is no fixed sequence for using the hats, one best practice is to start with blue and end with blue and use the other hats in between.

This is a very brief overview of the Edward de Bono's Six Thinking Hats.

 Now the next step is observing how many times you think and how many times you are just having thoughts.  Then look at the various ideas which are not yet implemented (or problems not solved).

Start thinking about them using six hats. Go through the thinking process.  At the end you will have some action items and get into action without wasting your time.

Six hats is a tool that you can use.

The actions will you give you what you want, not just your ideas.  But what "Actions" you have to take will come from your Thinking!.   

The ‘un’ Professional – Part 2

This week, lets look at the points from Subroto Bagchi's book the  "The Professional", about what constitutes unprofessional conduct.

1.       Missing a deadline

You have given your DVD player for repair. How many times you receive it on time? If it is not ready do you get the communication?

 

2.       Non escalation of issues on time

Today is Monday; you know that your team will not complete the work by Friday to meet the dead line , when do you tell your customer that you will miss the deadline?

 

3.       Non – disclosure

How many times you disclose the conflict of interest in your business?

 

4.       Not respecting privacy of information

A famous personality might have taken a service from you. How many times you take consent from that person before sharing information about him/her?. Or son/daughter of a famous personality might be working in your team. Do you take care of their privacy?

 

5.       Not respecting "Need to know"

Do you take care of the confidentiality of information with your spouse, relatives and friends?

 

6.       Plagiarism

How many times you have come across people cut and pasting your slides and passing it as their own?

 

7.       Passing on the blame

When something goes wrong how many times you have taken responsibility? Or how many times you were blamed for others mistake?

 

8.       Overstating qualification and experience

How many times you have come across resumes stating 3 years experience when the technology itself is just 2 years old?

 

9.       Mindless job hopping                                                               

The attitude "I was OK, My organization was not"

 

10.   Unsuitable Appearance

Do you wear professional attire to suite your job? Do you maintain personal hygiene?

Look at these points from both as service provider and as consumer.

Many times we don't even expect a professional service from others, we keep on working on ourselves and try being professionals; others may be just taking your professionalism for granted, may be it is  time for you to start questioning that.

(Reference: Main points from The Professional – Subroto Bagachi )