Enlightened Leadership in Indian Ethos: The Way of the Theory K
KEYWORDS
Leadership, Indian Ethos, Indian guna, Human requirements, Indian Arthasastra
This paper elaborates the idea of theory K in the form of a combination approach to theories X, Y & Z. The metaphor of the organization as a family constitutes the keynote of this combination approach which can be mathematically represented as K = XaYbZc wherein coefficients a, b and c indicate the intensity with which managers tend to us X, Y or Z style. Driving metaphor is suggested to indicate the matrix nature of the theory K wherein the attempt is to achieve proper matching between the managerial styles and situational requirements. Paper further presents an Indian model of enlightened leadership by combining the Indian guna theory and the management theories X, Y, and Z. This model is based on a new approach to personality theory that can be referred to as “WE” or the West-East approach wherein human personality is thought in terms of six elements represented by personality set (tamasik, rajasik, sattavik, X, Y & Z). The model has three subsets viz. (Tamasik, X), (Rajasik, Y) and (Sattavik, Z). It is suggested that enlightened leaders create transformation towards (Rajasik, Y) and (Sattavik, Z) situations because (Tamasik, X) personality creates considerable negative energy or negergy in organizations. Author’s empirical impressions and case studies from Indian history and Indian social and business context provide preliminary evidence in favour of this Indian model of enlightened leadership
Subhash Sharma
The Author is the Director, Indus Business Academy, Bangalore. He is a globally acclaimed author of many creative and thought-provoking titles on Indian Ethos based writings.