For your Sustained Career Success, Put Dharma First

Tattvāloka’s trailblazing Distinguished Lecture Series, ‘Onward March to Rāma Rājya’ was inaugurated by the eminent management guru, Dr. Mrityunjay Athreya on February 8, 2018. The event was well attended with several college students, young managers and other professionals as well as senior citizens participating with great enthusiasm. Among the prominent citizens present were the former Chief Election Commissioner of India, Sri T.S. Krishnamurthy and Sri. R. Nataraj, Member of Legislative Assembly, Tamil Nadu.

Speaking on the topic, ‘For your Sustained Career Success, Put Dharma First’, Dr. Athreya shared insights from the perspective of both management and spirituality.

He started off by comparing Dharma with tonic which is bitter to take. But as one progress it produces favourable, honey like outcomes.

Dr. Athreya reminisced his college days when the retirement age for employees was 55. With the age of retirement increasing over the years, careers are no longer just 25-30 years long. Young people today can expect to work for 60 years or more of their life. Sustained success in this protracted career can only come through kīrti or reputation.

A fine blend of competence and character is crucial for continued success. While competence is easier to acquire, character is tougher to acquire and even harder to retain in the face of temptations. Therefore one must leverage dharma which is an indispensible tool to achieve sustained success.

Citing the example of General Electric, the American multinational conglomerate, Dr. Athreya pointed out that the company used character as a key parameter for its staff performance appraisals and promotion systems. As an executive in the company rises in seniority and in level of responsibility, the weightage given to character in appraisals also rises.

The eminent speaker highlighted the ṣaḍripus or 6 enemies that inhibit practice of Dharma- kāma (lust), krodha (anger) lobha (greed), mada (arrogance), moha (infatuation) and mātsarya (jealousy). He pointed out that Dharma must be applied as a litmus test to all career related actions. Hard work in career, if it is at the cost of neglect of family, community and health, will not yield sustained success.

Dr. Mrityunjay Athreya is an author, educationist and management advisor, widely regarded as one of the founders and pioneers of the Indian management movement and education. The Government of India honoured him, in 2014, with the high civilian award of Padma Bhushan. He has been Chairman or Member of several government committees. He advises Government, NGOs and industry on Management issues.