Quotes from Debashis Chatterjee

All actions, Arjuna, are performed by Prakriti, the modes of Nature. The ignorant, deluded by the ego, think, 'I am the doer." Excerpt From 'Invincible Arjuna

A timeless leader practices the art of voluntary elimination. He knows what activities - physical or mental - must be given up so that an organization becomes more productive. A new organization is born in the womb of the old organization. A new generation of new recruits is forever striving to replace an old generation of employees. It is a war of sorts: a clash of perspectives and worldviews. This kind of war is inevitable. We cannot shy away from it.

There is a difference between a learned man and a man of learning. A learned man is tied to the knowledge of the past. A man of learning is curious about the present. A learned man is bent over with dead wood of knowledge, like an aging tree. A man of learning is vibrant and inquisitive, like a green twig breaking out of the soil after the rains

Both the divine and the devil can sit together within a human being.

To win in the battles of life, a hero needs to constantly focus on the goal rather than on the obstacles in his path.

The Yaksha asked: What is the greatest wonder? Yudhishtira responded: Day after day we see so many people die. Yet, we the living believe that we will live for ever. O Lord, what can be a greater wonder? Krishna

Mastery is more than the co-ordination of muscle and bone. It is about bringing the whole of us to what we do

A hero's talent lies latent within the self. It sleeps within him as seeds of possibilities. When discovered and nurtured, the seeds grow and flower. This flowering of his talent is a hero's true vocation.

The only way middle managers can survive is by virtue of their expertise which cannot be substituted by machines anymore. In short, organizations will preside over the funeral of most middle managers in the times to come.

Management is about the position; leadership is a disposition that goes beyond positions. Managers minimize risks; leaders maximize contribution. Managers work through structures of stability; leaders work through dynamic change. While managers are defined by their position, leaders can emerge from any position.

Leadership is much more than hitting the bull's eye. There is a large human component in leadership behaviour Young managers have to explore hitting deeper chords in human nature rather than just hitting targets.

So how about the first step?' 'The first step is the most critical step, as the first button of your coat. If you get that wrong, the whole alignment of buttons is gone for a toss.

Vision has a direct link with the creative process. Vision and creation go hand in hand. Vision belongs to the world of the mind. Creation happens in the world of matter. But there is a connection between these two worlds. In fact, one cannot exist without the other.

Power in an organization is the capacity generated by relationships.

The most significant role of a leader is to make the invisible clearly visible. Inspiration is invisible but inspired action is visible. Truth is invisible but trustworthy behaviour is visible. A leader has to constantly cross the bridge between what is unseen and that which is seen in order to connect with his followers.

Commitment is nothing but a call to action.

Three of the most unused critical tools in the arsenal for growth of new managers are listening, observing and failing.

Leaders search very deep for their identity. A great identity yields great possibilities in life. A great identity gives greater action choices. A search for our true identity is a kind of talent search within our own selves. There are talents that are latent. They sleep within us as seeds of possibilities. When we discover and nurture these seeds they grow and flower. This flowering is a leader's true vocation.

Action is much more than random motion of the body and the mind. True action is born of wonder. When our heart, mind and our entire human capacity is invested in what we do, we get to see true action. The deeper the root of our action goes within our being the more spontaneous our action becomes. True action is indeed not random motion – like goods moving unconsciously through an assembly line. Action is the movement of the conscious being towards a larger purpose.

Human dynamism cannot be manipulated or switched on like that of a machine. It cannot be engineered or programmed. Human beings are created, not constructed – that is why they love to create their own reality. Human action cannot be explained by the laws of thermodynamics or by that of molecular biology. The wellspring of human action comes from the human spirit. The dwelling space of this spirit is our being.

Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy. (Gibran 1970)

love generates our social and parental instincts, builds friendships, unites lovers and creates an affinity between people in organizations. In the larger spiritual realm, love raises the human organism beyond the pursuit of physical and social needs towards a greater integration with the cosmos.

Technology does not create learning just as a hammer does not make a house. Technology simplifies or amplifies our learning capacity. A microscope enables us to see the micro world. A telescope helps us see the macro world. It is not the microscope or telescope that sees. The two instruments are just accessories for our eyes. It is we who see through our human capacity of visual perception. Too much obsession with technology is like trying to design a house with a hammer in hand.

While followers idealize the real, leaders realize the ideal... They outshine with their power of love those whose only motivation is love of power.