UNIT 10: Think in Enlightened Self-interest - … · Group Worksheet 10.1: ... (who “think in enlightened self-interest”) ... Harish, I understand the importance of your

Think in Enlightened Self-interest

UNIT 10:

Swami Vivekananda

Contributor Personality Program

An Group Initiative

by

for students and faculty of Gujarat Technological University

University Servicesi-become

JULY 2012 BATCH

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Contributors think in Enlightened Self-Interest. In every situation

they get into, they find a way to create good for self and good

for all at the same time – including team-mates, bosses,

customers, their organization.

Contrast this with the mindset of a Non-Contributor. Such a

person is only concerned with his / her own self-interest in

a situation. S/he is not concerned about the impact (positive

or negative) on the other person. This leads to unpleasant

situations, broken relationships, unhappy team-mates,

subordinates, and bosses, and lower trust in any situation.

Think in Enlightened Self-interest[Contributor Practice 4]

10.1 Exploring how to think in “enlightened self-interest” pg. 2-5

10.2 Workplace application 1 pg. 6-7

10.3 Workplace application 2 pg. 8



10.6 Project Work pg. 11

What you can do next pg. 12

Swami Vivekananda speaks to you: Act with unselfish motives pg. 13-14

UNIT 10:

Developing a Contributor Personality

UNIT 10: THINK IN ENLIGHTENED SELF-INTEREST

© JULY 2012 EDITION; ILLUMINE KNOWLEDGE RESOURCES PVT LTD; ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. DEVELOPED BY ILLUMINE FOR THE I-BECOME INITIATIVE

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This Non-contributor Supervisor is only worried about his own narrow role and his own department. He does not recognize that all departments are part of the same organization serving the same customers. Thus, he feels he needs to protect his “own department” from being exploited by “other departments”. Such a person will not be able to work cooperatively to meet a larger goal.

This Non-contributor Sales Manager thinks only of how to benefit himself and his own department. Thus he doesn’t care if this benefit is achieved at the “cost or loss” of others – including customers, as long as he meets his sales targets. Thus, as long as he “wins”, he doesn’t care if others “lose”.

This Non-contributor Colleague gives respect only to the few people whom he likes and those who have a higher position or status. He is disrespectful and treats others badly – as if they are not worthy of his respect.

This Contributor Supervisor is focused on the “big picture” i.e. what is in the best interests of the overall organization. Thus, he realizes that if his department works cooperatively with other departments, then they will be able to achieve much better results together.

This Contributor Sales Manager wants to ensure that all departments, team members, customers benefit. She does not want to act in a way that will harm anyone. So she takes the effort to find a solution that benefits all.

This Contributor Colleague treats everyone with respect whether they are “senior or junior”, “higher or lower”. He believes that everyone deserves to be treated respectfully because they are, first and foremost, human beings.

continued ...

Study the following examples

2.

3.

The Non-contributor Colleague who thinks in narrow self-interest

The Non-contributor Sales Manager who thinks in narrow self-interest

1. The Non-contributor Supervisor who thinks in narrow self-interest

The Contributor Supervisor who thinks in enlightened self-interest

The Contributor Colleague who thinks in enlightened self-interest

The Contributor Sales Manager who thinks in enlightened self-interest

Non-contributors are only concerned with their own self-interest. Contributors find a way to create good for self as well as good for people involved.

The other departments are always taking advantage of our

department.

He is a mere junior officer. I can treat him in

any way I want.

Why should I do this?! This is not my work!

The goal is to satisfy the customer. I am quite happy to

help / do what is needed to achieve that goal.

If we can support each other, then the company can deliver a superior product in less cost

and time.

It does not matter what the person’s position or qualification is. All

people are to be treated respectfully because

they are first and foremost, human beings.

Let me somehow sell this product, even if the customer

does not need it and will be wasting money.

How to make sure that I act in a manner that is beneficial both to the company and to

the customer.

My team goals have to be met. Why should I care about negative consequences for other teams and

departments?

How to achieve my team goals and also ensure there are no negative

consequences for other teams.

He is in a high position so I must behave

respectfully towards him.

10.1 Exploring how to think in “enlightened self-interest”[CONCEPT EXPLORATION]

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA CONTRIBUTOR PERSONALITY PROGRAM FOR GTU – JULY 2012 BATCH


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... continued

This Non-contributor Project Manager does not take into account the concerns of the other affected groups such as the villagers, when he is planning and implementing the project. He has only thought of his own company and how they have to complete the project. He doesn’t see the need to do something about so many villagers becoming homeless because of his project.

This Contributor Project Manager recognizes the concerns of the various affected parties. Thus when he is planning and implementing the project, he wants to find a way to do it so that the villagers’ concerns are addressed and yet the project is also accomplished.

Group Worksheet 10.1:Similarly (as shown in examples 1-4 above), imagine the following situations to visualize how the contributors (who “think in enlightened self-interest”) would respond differently from the non-contributors shown (who “think in narrow self-interest”). Discuss to fill in.

1. Sarita is at the reception desk of a hotel. She had mistaken one of the very important guests to be a regular low-budget guest. When she realizes her mistake…

One thing I can learn from this example, on how to “think in enlightened self-interest” –

If Sarita had behaved as a non-contributor with the

guest, this is how she would respond…

What is Sarita’s response to the guest, if she had

behaved as a contributor with him…

4. The Non-contributor Project Manager who thinks in narrow self-interest

The Contributor Project Manager who thinks in enlightened self-interest

[Imagine and fill in…]

Why should the company worry about the fate of the villagers who are going to be displaced by this project? Somebody has

to lose in this world!

How to make sure that the project takes into

consideration the concerns1 of all “stakeholders2”.

Sir, by your project so many of us villagers will

become homeless!

Let us work out a solution

together.

Sorry, I can’t do anything about

that!

Sir, this project will displace many villagers. We need to see how to address their concerns.

Oh I am so sorry, sir!! I didn’t recognize you. I would not have been so harsh if I had known who you were and what an important person you are… I thought you were an ordinary low-budget guest!

Please accept my sincere apology…

continued ...


1 Concerns: worries, problems, specific challenges.2 Stakeholders: all people/groups who are involved and affected



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... continued

2. Paresh plans out the time-tables for his college. He decides which teachers should teach what classes and at what time…

3. The housing society has informed residents that there will be no water for two days. Rakhi asks her cook Rupali to take care and use less water, otherwise the building tank will get empty.

continued ...

Paresh’s response if he is a non-contributor who

thinks in “narrow self-interest”…

What is Paresh’s response as a contributor who

thinks in “enlightened self-interest”?

Rupali’s response if she is a non-contributor who


What is Rupali’s response as a contributor who





Sir, I need to travel from the near by town daily. So I request you not to schedule my class early. I

don’t get transport at that time…

Sir, I need to travel from the near by town daily. So I request you not to schedule my class early. I

don’t get transport at that time…

How can I help that? That is not my problem…. My job is to plan

the timetable for all teachers – it is your problem to make sure you come on time to teach your class!


Memsaheb, do you think anyone else in this building will use less water? They will finish up all the

water without caring! So why should we think of them? We

should just fill our buckets and not care about the others. If I don’t use water freely, I can’t

cook and wash dishes properly…



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Harish, I understand the importance of your family function. But this is a tough time for us.

Your reports are also incomplete. Your team members will find it very hard to manage…

I am very sorry sir… but I need to go for this function. It won’t be

possible for me to finish the reports before I leave. Sorry sir, but I

can’t help it…

Harish, I understand the importance of your family function. But this is a tough time for us.

Your reports are also incomplete. Your team members will find it very hard to manage…

4. Harish asks his boss for 2 weeks’ leave to attend a family function and visit his village. This is a very busy period for the company where the work load for team members is high.

... continued

Reflection: Acting in “narrow self-interest” sometimes makes us look more successful in the short run, but we lose out in the long run. Do you agree with this observation? Discuss and explain with reasons.

Harish’s response if he is a non-contributor who


What is Harish’s response as a contributor who




Explore more on what it means to be a contributor who thinks in enlightened self-interest, on i-become

AND MORE ...

C1: What motivates a contributor to act in “enlightened self-interest”?

C2: The shift from selfishness to enlightened self-interest

[Log into your account on http://gtu.ibecome.in/ and select Unit 10: Think in Enlightened Self-interest Foundation Concept Exploration]



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This is based on a true case story. Watch the case video on i-become

A1: How a bank branch team created a win-win solution that helped farmers as well as increased business for the bank

[Log into your account on http://gtu.ibecome.in/ and select Unit 10: Think in Enlightened Self-interest Foundation Concept Applications]

The rural branch team of a large public sector bank shares its experience…

The bank gave the farmers “dairy loans” to begin dairy production over and above

their regular farming activities. They also enabled them to learn and set up this

new line of operation.This opened up an alternative

means of income for them that was not weather

dependent.

Branch Manager DBD Manager

I started with producing 10 L milk.

Today I make an annual profit of Rs.50,000/-

Life was tough until the bank stepped in…

When I joined as a branch manager in Dungripal, I noticed that the largest

number of loan defaulters (called NPAs or non-performing assets) were marginal farmers having very small land-holdings.

These people were not in a position to repay their crop loans, being at the mercy of the climate. As a bank, we had two options — (1) refuse to give them loans (2) write-off / forget about the loans once given, leading to losses for the bank.

But then the team got together and thought — why can’t we do something such that we are able to give them

loans AND enable them to repay their loans? Why can’t we find a way to increase their income?

Now, not only are they repaying their loans on time, moving out of our NPAs list, but many have also approached us for new loans for dairy equipment, thus increasing our business!

[Based on a true case story]

10.2 Workplace application 1[CONCEPT APPLICATION]

CASE STORY



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Group Worksheet 10.2:

In this case, the team didn’t want to choose the two regular options – because in one the farmers would suffer without access to loans and in the other the bank would suffer a loss. They instead took the effort to find a third solution where bank was able to give loans and yet farmers were enabled to repay loans, creating benefit for both farmers and the bank.

Explore the benefits of such an “enlightened self-interest” approach. Discuss to fill in –

Benefits to the bank’s overall business Benefits to these farmers and their community

Benefits to that local bank branch Benefits to the team members who accomplished this(HINT: Think of external benefits as well as inner rewards)



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George Washington believed in leading his people by working alongside them. He respected every job and nothing was too low or high for his rank / position.

Discuss – what does choosing to “act in enlightened self-interest”, like George Washington, mean in –

– The way you conduct yourself in any position of responsibility.

– The way you accept and do the various jobs assigned to you in any team project.

The Section Leader, made no effort to help.

A stranger on horseback comes riding by.

Faster! Finish within the hour or else…

The stranger approached the puzzled Section Leader.

You should notify top command next time your rank prevents you from supporting

your men.

On going closer, the Section Leader recognized

the stranger as General Washington.

George Washington went on to become the 1st President of the

United States of America.

To the Section Leader’s surprise, the stranger

dismounted and helped the men until the job was finished.

Before leaving, the stranger congratulated the men for

their work.

Why are you are not helping?

I am in charge. The men do as I tell them! Help them

yourself if you feel so strongly about it.

On a battlefield over 200 years ago, a small group of exhausted battle-weary

soldiers were digging an obviously important defensive position.


STORY



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This farmer’s thinking seems contrary to the way most people think in their business. Yet it makes perfect business sense if one thinks for long-term benefit.

What prevents us from thinking and acting in “enlightened self-interest” like this farmer? Discuss to write of 3 fears or barriers we need to overcome in our thinking, so as to think and act like this farmer.

A corn farmer had been winning the contest for the best produce year after year. A reporter interviews him…

What is the secret of your bumper produce of such good quality corn year after year?

You won’t believe it, but it is because I share my corn seeds

with my neighbours.

Why do you do that? After all, your neighbours also enter the same contest every year. They are your competitors!

Oh no… I stand to gain from this. The wind carries the pollen of the ripe corn, from one crop to the

other. If my neighbors cultivate an inferior quality corn, then the quality of my yield will also go down.

But if they have good corn in their fields, then through cross-pollination my corn grows well.


STORY



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Deepa is unable to recognize the value of the contributions of her team members in the project – she believes she is the only one making any worthwhile contribution. Thus her team members are unwilling to cooperate where she is involved.Discuss to write of 3 practices of “thinking in enlightened self-interest” that will help you create an environment of cooperation in any team that you are a part of –

Deepa is part of a team of four, working on a science project. She is very good with experiments and has designed interesting ways to practically apply some of the theories

they learn in class. However…

Deepa finds that her team-mates are un-cooperative and she cannot understand the reason why.

DEEPA

All of us contribute… Sunita is a great organizer. Sachin documents and writes the reports well. I detail out and build

the model… but Deepa doesn’t recognize all this! She takes all the credit!

Deepa doesn’t realize how much goes into actually making a project happen

on the ground… without the team, nothing would happen!

Hey! I have an idea on how we can practically

apply the theory we are working on!

Deepa thinks no end of herself! She doesn’t really listen when

we give suggestions. At this rate, I don’t want to do anything in this project! Let’s

see how she manages without us!

I am the smartest in the group. I come out with

all the ideas. Others just execute!


SCENARIO



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Project Goal: To study how people (contributors) “think in enlightened self-interest”.

STEP 1: Identify any project case that has been in the news or has happened in your area where many stakeholders (affected groups) were involved. You can study this case to find out how the people involved acted in “enlightened self-interest” or if they did not at, then what was missing.

STEP 2: Decide how you are going to present your project. As a –

• Home-videoproject(recordingavideoofinterviewsetc.tomakeashort-filmonthecase),OR

• Slidepresentation(withphotographs,factualdata,insights,sound/music,etc.),OR

• Posterpresentation(withphotographs,factualdata,insights,etc.)

STEP 3: On the case, do a research study to collect data (video, photographs, data, etc.) for your project presentation. Your research can include -

• Primaryresearchdonebyinterviewingpeoplebelongingtothevariousstakeholdergroups(affectedparties such as - farmers, citizens, government officials, etc.)

• Secondaryresearchdonebyusingtheinternet,goingthroughnewspapersandmagazines,talkingto experienced people who know this case well.

In your research study, find out details of the project case and identify specific examples / incidents. Find out –

• Whowerealltheaffectedgroupsofpeople/stakeholdersinvolved?

• Whatweretheconcernsofeachofthesegroupofpeople?

• Were the concerns of all these groups of people addressed?What examples from the projectexperienceshowusthis?

• Didthekeypeopleinvolved“thinkandactinenlightenedself-interest”? – Ifyes,how?Giveexamplesfromtheprojectexperiencethatshowusthis. – Ifno,whatwasmissing?

STEP 4: Make your final presentation by compiling the answers from your interviews / research and your observations on each of these answers, highlighting how “enlightened self-interest” was practiced in the thinking of the people involved.

STEP 5: Present in the class.

Field Work

10.6 Project Work

[Log into your account on http://gtu.ibecome.in/ and select Unit 10: Think in Enlightened Self-interest Foundation Concept Applications]

OR do the above project (using the same 5 steps as a guideline) for any of these stories based on live cases, available on i-become

A2: The Amul Cooperative Movement A3: Making Kannyakumari plastic-free

A4: Solving the Brigade Road parking problem

A5: The Software Tester who changed the team’s dynamics

A6: How Ajay empowered his team members

A7: Cooperative action in “The Great Escape”

NOTE: Don’t just present these clips directly. Instead, study the contributor’s approach in the chosen clip, and then answer the questions given in Step 3 above. Compile your answers to build your presentation.



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What you can do next:

Practice for Examinations on i-become

• Do the quizzes and practice tests to get an idea of what to expect in the examination.

• Toaccessthese– – Log into your ActivGuide account on http://gtu.ibecome.in/ – Select Unit 10: Think in Enlightened Self-interest Exam Revision

Attend the Contributor Classroom for Unit 10 (on Facebook )

• AnonlinediscussionsessionwillbeconductedforUnit10,intheContributorClassroom,toexplore the practice of “thinking in enlightened self-interest”.

• JoinstudentsandfacultyfromacrossGTUaswediscussthistopic.

• Toparticipate–

– Go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/CPP.July2012/

– Log in with your own Facebook account (if you don’t have one already, create new)

– Click on “join group” button to join the Contributor Classroom

– Once the group moderator approves, you can attend these discussions

– Make sure you register early enough so that you don’t miss these sessions

• Toknowtheschedulesforthis,checkyouremail/thei-becomeFacebookpage https://www.facebook.com/ibecomeInitiative



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“

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“

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If you want to help others, your little self must go. Give up this little life of yours. What matters if you die of starvation – you and I and thousands like us – so long as this nation lives?

We will have to help each other, but we have to go one step farther: the first thing is to become unselfish in help. “If you do just what I tell you to do, I will help you; otherwise not.” Is that help? So help whenever you can, but mind what your motive is. If it is selfish, it will neither benefit those you help, nor yourself. If it is unselfish, it will bring blessings upon them to whom it is given, and infinite blessings upon you, sure as you are living. The Lord can never be hoodwinked.

Ask nothing; want nothing in return. Give what you have to give; it will come back to you – but do not think of that now, it will come back multiplied a thousandfold – but the attention must not be on that. Yet have the power to give: give, and there it ends. Learn that the whole of life is giving, that nature will force you to give. So, give willingly. You are a machine for taking and giving: you take, in order to give. Ask, therefore, nothing in return; but the more you give, the more will come to you.

It is selfishness we must seek to eliminate! I find that whenever I have made a mistake in my life, it has always been because self entered into the calculation. Where self has not been involved, my judgement has gone straight to the mark.

Act with unselfish motives

Swami Vivekananda disliked small-minded and fearful selfishness. He wanted us to be large, unselfish, and therefore free and bold in all our dealings with the world.

“Unselfishness is more paying, only people have not the patience to practice it. It is more paying from the point of view of health also. Love, truth and unselfishness are not merely moral figures of speech, but they form our highest ideal, because in them lies such a manifestation of power. Self-restraint is a manifestation of greater power than all outgoing action.

Swami Vivekananda speaks to you



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“The man who works through freedom and love cares nothing for results. But the slave wants his whipping; the servant wants his pay. So with all life; take for instance the public life. The public speaker wants a little applause or a little hissing and hooting. If you keep him in a corner without it, you kill him, for he requires it. This is working through slavery. To expect something in return, under such conditions, becomes second nature. Next comes the work of the servant, who requires some pay; I give this, and you give me that. Nothing is easier to say, “I work for work’s sake”, but nothing is so difficult to attain. I would go twenty miles on my hands and knees to look on the face of the man who can work for work’s sake. There is a motive somewhere. If it is not money, it is power. If it is not power, it is gain. Somehow, somewhere, there is a motive power. You are my friend, and I want to work for you and with you. This is all very well, and every moment I may make protestation of my sincerity. But take care, you must be sure to agree with me! If you do not, I shall no longer take care of you or live for you! This kind of work for a motive brings misery. That work alone brings unattachment and bliss, wherein we work as masters of our own minds.

Swami Vivekananda at Porbandar

In Porbandar, Swami Vivekananda met Pandit Shankar Pandurang

(1840-1894) of Konkan, Maharashtra, who was the administrator

of the State at that time. Swami Vivekananda stayed as Panditji’s

guest at his Bhojeswar bungalow for about four months or

so, probably attracted by his large library and his loving and

scholarly nature. Swami Vivekananda also finished his reading

of Panini’s ‘Mahabhasya’ and also learnt French at the instance

of Panditji. Panditji was not only a Sanskrit scholar of great

eminence, but was proficient in nine languages and was earlier

an Oriental Translator of Bombay State. Swami Vivekananda also

helped him in editing the standard edition of the Atharva Veda,

during his stay at Porbandar. It is likely that during his long stay

at Porbandar Swami Vivekananda might have been introduced to

many Gujarati scholars by Shankar Pandurang.

Apart from this, Shankar Pandurang was a great philanthropist.

He arranged for irrigation facilities for farmers, started telegraph

offices all over the State of Porbandar, started schools for girls

as he was a staunch supporter of female education, opened

hospitals in the villages and carried out various works for the

benefit of the public.

Source: Shri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Rajkot, website (www.rkmrajkot.org)

Source: The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda(Published by Advaita Ashrama, 5 Dehi Entally Road, Kolkata 14, India)

The material in this workbook is meant to be studied along with the material available at gtu.ibecome.in

You will find videos, concept presentations, quizzes to improve your understanding of the topic.

Workbook printed from I-Become ActivGuide

Documents

UNIT 10: Think in Enlightened Self-interest - … · Group Worksheet 10.1: ... (who “think in enlightened self-interest”) ... Harish, I understand the importance of your