Third Principle: Manage Your Desires - Your Actions are Motivated by Your Levels of Desire
Four Levels of Desire influence your thoughts and guide your actions. In the metaphor of the Brook, desires are represented by the currents in the waters and transmitted to your mind through your senses. Your growth towards success and fulfillment is determined by the desires that drive your actions and form your values. The key to leadership success and fulfillment of the leader's vision is found in the levels of desires that motivate the leader.
The four levels of desire that drive motivation in individuals as well as organizations, are: lust and survival; wealth and reputation; service and obligations; and detachment and freedom.
Leaders must lead by example. If others in the organization observe the leader following the lower levels of desire, some will follow the leader, further perpetuating the negative core values. Others who are more ethical, will resent the actions of the leader. The net result will be poor teamwork, disappointment and eventual failure for such an enterprise.
The four levels of desire that drive motivation in individuals as well as organizations, are: lust and survival; wealth and reputation; service and obligations; and detachment and freedom.
The first two levels of desire promote taking, leading to dissatisfaction and unhappiness. In corporations, these desires can lead to corruption and failure The second two levels of desire foster giving and pave the way for a healthy corporate environment and success with satisfaction for all stakeholders. Leaders who are driven by the desire of giving are effective Servant Leaders.
Your reflection represents your inner self.
Recognize the currents of desire and look within to progress to the higher levels of desire.
Recognize the currents of desire and look within to progress to the higher levels of desire.
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You might ask, "How do the four levels of desire apply to corporations?"
The simple answer is that corporations are composed of individuals. The motivations of the key individuals responsible for the vision and implementation of action to achieve the vision are reflected in the actions of the corporation.
However one can see as well how the levels of desire apply directly to the corporate entity as a whole or a unit.
Corporations strive to survive, and then some continue to grow by merging with or acquiring, and thus "consuming," other corporations. This is corporate lust. The desires of wealth and reputation are evident in corporate goals that express the desire to increase shareholder wealth, and in some cases that is done to benefit management at the expense of shareholders, or even the public that the corporation was formed to serve.
The third level of desires -- to serve -- is evidenced by the real purpose of the corporation, even though in most cases it is masked by the first two levels of desire. To serve, in its chosen sphere of performance, is the noblest purpose of a corporate entity. Service rendered effectively, provides ample rewards and that is what creates a giving corporate enterprise.
As in the case of individual, there is no piety in poverty, especially is wealth is obtained from rightfully serving others. At the same time, there virtue in wealth -- particularly if such wealth is acquired at the detriment of others.
Corporate laws exist to thwart and punish offenders in areas such as anti-trust (lust), corruption (greed). price-fixing (greed) and racketeering (lust and greed), though, as in the case of individuals, offender often go unpunished.
Corporations seldom achieve the fourth level of desires--level of freedom. The major reason for this is that corporations are considered to be "perpetual" so they continue to struggle for growth, as new player enter the fray. By contract, individuals have a limited lifespan, even though most individuals go through life assuming that it is perpetual. Those who realize that life ends, and truly understand what that means to their life at the moment, have taken the first step toward freedom.
An exception to the self-perpetuating and growth-driven, and wealth-driven, nature of corporations is the philanthropic organization aimed at applying all its resources to serve others, indifferent to its own growth or future existence. Such organizations attain the level of freedom represented by the fourth level of desires--happiness, fulfillment and ultimately freedom from all bonds of desire. This concept forms the core of the teachings of Buddha.
Leaders must lead by example. If others in the organization observe the leader following the lower levels of desire, some will follow the leader, further perpetuating the negative core values. Others who are more ethical, will resent the actions of the leader. The net result will be poor teamwork, disappointment and eventual failure for such an enterprise.