Management Lessons from an Arrow
A sharp arrow lay on
the ground, having fallen below the dartboard. A passerby noticed it and
decided to pick it up. To his surprise, the arrow began to speak, saying,
"I was never able to see myself in the bullseye." The passerby was
taken aback and had no idea how to respond. He took the arrow with him and
sought the wisdom of a monk to understand its message.
The monk examined the
sharp arrow and asked, "What is your problem?" The arrow repeated
what it had said to the passerby. After observing it closely, the monk replied,
"You are sharp, but the issue may be that you are either in the hands of a
novice, being handled by someone still learning, or perhaps the strength of the
bow is weak." The arrow agreed, acknowledging the monk's insight.
Now, let’s relate
this story of the arrow to the workplace. Some employees resemble these arrows,
failing to meet their targets. Some may lack the skills needed, while weak or
immature managers may lead others. Additionally, some may struggle to succeed
due to organizational weaknesses, much like a weak bow.
When we notice that
people are not performing, we should first consider whether they are being
properly guided and whether the organization has the right vision, mission,
values, policies, procedures, engagement, and motivation in place.
Remember, every
newcomer arrives with a desire to excel, but if the environment is not
supportive, they may falter just like the arrow in this story.
M.L. Narendra Kumar
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