Organisations now seem to better appreciate the fact that it is their philosophy that differentiates them from the competition. A company’s philosophy forms the basis of its core values that dictate business practices. In many organisations, business philosophy is called mission statement or vision.
Prospective employees of a company may feel the necessity of understanding its philosophy so that they could find out if it is compatible with their own. Employees of a company would also want to have a clear idea about its philosophy, as this knowledge will serve as a guide when they find themselves at decision-making crossroads. A clear-cut philosophy also serves as a branding tool. Sometimes, a company’s philosophy will be imbued with dualism that may pose a set of challenges to employees. For example, aspects of a company’s philosophy that have obvious benefits for teams may require individuals to demand more from their colleagues. The question is: In such a case, would we choose to do the difficult thing, one that will immensely benefit the organisation as a whole but is not personally appealing to you?
There will be some goals that are personal to you. There will be some goals that you will share with your team. Then, there will be other goals that you will shared with your organisation as a whole.
All these goals will take you on a journey. As you achieve these goals, you will make choices. Some choices will work in your favour and some may not. But there’s no shying away from making those choices.
Let me leave you with a thought from Gita — Karm karo, phal ki chinta mat karo. It means: Exercise your duties without bothering about the outcome. As it is in life, so it is in corporate life. The journey is more important than anything else. The journey towards a vision that is beneficial to all, in the long run.
(Sanjay Modi is Managing Director — APAC & Middle-East, Monster.com)
