Stress and Honesty A Wonderful Relationship

Stress and Honesty

A

Wonderful Relationship

“Honesty is the best policy.”

Benjamin Franklin.

A quote found most on the walls of the Indian Schools and taught in the moral science classes even these days.

“Honesty is very expensive gift do not expect it from cheap people.”

Warren Buffett

“Honesty is the best policy. If I lose mine, I lose myself.”

William Shakespeare

Honesty with whom and to whom, that is most important in the stress management techniques. The most common answer is, we should be honest in our dealing with others. Very true. If one is not honest with his friends, relatives and even his spouse possibility is that they may tolerate him once or twice or may be little more but ultimately they would stop their dealing or tell please mend your ways. In case you are dealing with strangers they would not allow you to be dishonest even once. Analytically one has to be honest in dealing with others for longtime relationship. Thus honesty is a forced trait in our dealings with others.

There is one person with whom you can afford to be dishonest as long as you desire. Who is that person? He is your own self.  

The greatest cause of stress is that as a human being, many a time we are not honest to ourselves. We are very close with dishonesty which exist more in humans than other animals.

We do not assess ourselves fairly & honestly and always desire more than we really deserve and that is root cause of stress in most of the situations. In fact, we do not talk to the most important person in our life i.e. our own-self sincerely. We try to bluff ourselves most of the times. But the fact of the matter is that our soul and conscious always give us the right decision and direction.

We cannot do wrong without ignoring the voice of our conscious. Learn to listen the voice of your soul that is voice of the God. Your conscious should be so clear that you should feel as if everything in your life is happening with your consent. How to talk to one self. There are many simple ways:

1. Make a prayer to Him. Let HIM guide you in moments of   

    distress.

2. Listen what HE has to say about your prayer. How. Spend  

    some time in  meditation.

3. Learn How to enjoy solitude –the state of being alone.

    Practice talking to self.

4. Recognize the voice of intuition.

    If still you are unable to listen the voice of you conscious then take a few steps as follows:

1. Jot down pros and cons sincerely.

2. Let there be Brainstorming session with self.

3. Consult the most trusted person.

If still, no results then go to universal institution of advice-your parents, if you still happen to have. For many oldies like me they have gone back to HIM long back so we depend on HIM or on our children.

If still nothing happens, it is certain, you are not honest with your own-self and have chosen to be under-stress.

Honesty with self means ethical, high morals, personal values, doing what is right and self-esteem and above all it needs guts, courage and conviction.

Honest is first pillar to de-stress.

 

Tough Personnel Decisions Pillars of Decorum, Discipline, Decency

Tough Personnel Decisions

Pillars of

Decorum, Discipline, Decency

Employees everywhere are expected to work strictly as per three fundamental norms:

1. Employees shall at all times:

                     (a) maintain absolute integrity.

  (b) maintain devotion to duty

  (c) do nothing which is unbecoming of an employee of

       the organization.

2. Every employee shall in performance of his duties or in exercise of powers conferred on him, not, act otherwise than in his best judgment except when he is acting under directions of an official superior.

3. Penalties may be imposed on employees for “Good and Sufficient” reasons.

In a normal situation where employees perform their duties with devotion devoid of greed for money or otherwise; there is no reason for any forced correction in the conduct of the employees. But mistakes do take place for various considerations or otherwise like those made:

1) for lack of information

2) through lack of skills

3) for lack of experience

4) because of carelessness

5) intentionally made

6) for money or kind or favours,

7) mistakes of integrity

How to handle these mistakes. It is a critical issue for a manager coupled with the responsibility of maintaining high productivity in the system.

Before taking any action, the person authorized to notice and correct employees’ conduct, must have exact information about the mistake, its details, implications financial or otherwise, and the role played by employees of various levels. Higher the level of an employee more responsibility is on his shoulders.

Give sometime to the delinquent to think himself and if he admits his mistake explain him the implications with a dictate not to repeat the same in future; he should learn from the happening. If it, so happens then no further process is required except in case of mistakes intentionally made for money and favours. Mistakes of integrity have to be processed further.

Talk to the offender in private so that he has opportunity to open-up, talk free, make him realize the consequences of having done something wrong. The senior must ensure that there are “good and sufficient” reasons to punish; trivial matters must be left outside the scope of notice and punishment.

Reprimand is not the best remedy always; it would be good idea to encourage the offender to do better next time.

Mistakes of integrity, or made for money or some other favours and intentionally made should never be excused and dealt with strictly in accordance with the rules and instructions on subject, to inculcate discipline in the system. Sometimes it is essential to have the employee punished under the respective National Penal Code.

Integrity is sum total of the character of an individual it consists of honesty, trust, dependability, responsibility, attitude, professionalism, creativity. If a manager finds an employee lacking in these respects; such an individual exploits every opportunity for personal gains. He is a liability to be eliminated urgently.

Majority organizations deal with integrity mistakes by strictest of procedures and punishments range up to dismissal from service and in Govt if it happens to continue after retirement, it results in total stoppage of pension or very high cuts in pension-the monthly payment a person receives after demitting office, from the employer till his last day. When an employee happens to be a risk to the security of the state, the procedures are not important, it is the fact and the intentions that matter and Govt’s remove such threat with exceptional powers.

However, lapses of devotion to duty are viewed from various angles and punishments range from simple reprimand to dismissal from service. Higher you are in the hierarchy more sever is the punishment.

It is very delicate issue to decide whether to punish an official or not. Here many a times competent authorities view the issues from different angles; weigh the consequences of the mistake to the organization vis-à-vis the delinquent; unproductive nature of the process; personal circumstances of the employee and so on. One thing is sure we live with the organization, our aspirations, progress, family welfare are all linked with its existence. So one should not be afraid or too compassionate so as not to proceed against when circumstances demand. You must be bold enough to take bold and tough decisions. Legally speaking every employee holding a supervisory post shall take all possible steps to ensure the integrity and devotion to duty of all employees for the time being under his control and authority.  

The punishment given must commensurate with the offence committed. It is essential for the health of the organization. I have seen a senior employee being dismissed from service for allegedly receiving a bottle of wine from a supplier of the company. If a delinquent goes scot free it encourages others and in particular fence sitters to jump to the wrong side. Competent authorities lose respect and have to face decorum and decency issues. In fact, such instances reflect adversely on the competence and integrity of the competent authority: so such instances should never happen; let the delinquent understand that he has done something wrong notice worthy.

Annual appraisals are another important instrument to keep the company going and developing. Here the supervisors must be honest enough to give a true assessment of the personality and character of the individual smoothing abrasions here and there.  Exaggeration in resume is highly prevalent among the employees and should be ignored: but it is sin & crime for the competent authorities to exaggerate the qualities and shortcomings of a subordinate.    

Bold decisions are tool for keeping the organization as well the work force in good health.

Soft Skills- Managerial Jewels-That Make Beautiful Necklace

Soft Skills

 Managerial Jewels

That Make Beautiful Necklace

“People who wish to go into the future should have two skills to succeed – the ability to deal with people and the ability to sell.” – Shiv Khera

A skill is the ability to perform an action in a manner required or prescribed so as to obtain desired results within a specified time frame, energy or both. When you perform a job again and again you improve your time as well as quality and with time you become master and then a creative person in that field.

Some define soft skills as combination of people skills, social skills, communication skills, personality traits, attitudes, career attributes, social intelligence, emotional intelligence quotients, among others, that enable people to navigate their environment, work well with others, perform well, and achieve. This is too broad and vague.

But what is soft skill-very difficult to define as no skill is easy to learn nor easy to execute.  

Soft skills are, in fact, understanding the psychology of a person affecting his behavior in given context. As a manager, one is more concerned about getting the work done from his team. Understanding these skills need a constant learning behavior limited by age, attitude, qualifications and ego.

You would come across teams where so much work appears to have been done but nothing achieved and there are situations where no work is being done but results are excellent. Naturally you would like to be part of the second team. Every assignment has items one likes to do and others that you have to deliver. A manager’s skill lies in making a worker to like as many items as possible because that will reduce the load of a manager itself. How to proceed. My long journey with Govt. has taught many good things.

All men are equal in emotional traits may be respect, regard, love, affection, hate, likes & dislikes, honour, inquisitivity. These are so delicate traits that honouring them would do wonders and a little ignoring would cost heavy. So whomsoever you happen to deal with bring him to you own level in all respects. Must treat him as a good human being as you are. Albert Einstein said, “I speak to everyone in the same way, whether a he is a garbage man or a President of a University.” Human beings love humane behavior. Knowing that we are all human being that is the most important soft-skill.

Majority of us like to deal with the issue themselves, want to be sovereign & free-a reason for immigration to alien lands away from interference; so a person feels shy rather he conceals his financial or other kinds of needs outside particularly at work place. It is a very searching process for a boss to find out the hidden needs. He can’t ask directly he has to be alert at all times to identity what a co-worker really needs. Once identified all a good senior needs is to satisfy it and see that the other person is performing at his highest level of productivity.

Listening is skill not taught in any school it requires many other difficult traits of a character like patience, attention, understanding, language, expression etc. Speak in such a way that others love to listen to you and listen in such a way that others love to speak to you. This fundamental is generally missing; particularly the hierarchy spoils the show. Most of the people do not listen, try to ponder over response before someone completes question. If one listens carefully it gives satisfaction and happiness to the person who speaks.  

What is the general attitude of an employee towards his life: what he wants from life: satisfaction, peace, prosperity, family welfare, advancement, achievements, ego etc. What is the level of his contentment with his environment, circumstances and surrounding, does he generally remains happy or is always grumbling. If you are able to gauge all these you would be better placed in the matter of handling and understanding the person concerned.

Empathy is to share someone else's feelings or experiences by imagining what it would be like to be in that person's situation; whereas sympathy is feeling of pity and sorrow for someone else’s misfortune. One must understand clearly the meaning of these words. Sympathy conveys more of formality and is used for acquaintances those who are not well known and not near to your heart where is empathy is natural, brother-like your own expression. You dealings should always be empathic.

Everyman is a special creation: unique, genes, education, nature, circumstances, attitude, responsibility taking, manners and what not. Everyone has to be treated in a special way different from others so that there is wonder connect between the two.

Special favours are tools that make a person recipient of highest trust and rapport. A real example from my life: when I was Section Officer supervising six dealing hands: one morning could not reach office on time: was late by one hour: when reached was informed that the Joint Secretary came thrice and every time he asked only for Section Officer. When reached JS Chamber I was asked to explain. It was explained that kerosene quota was to be purchased from PDS hence the delay. Instead of giving some office job: Joint Secretary forwarded Section officer’s request for out of turn allotment of LPG connection- a luxury at that time to concerned officer and got it sanctioned within a week. This create inseparable bond between the two. Special favors create special bonds.  

Say Good, Well Done, Excellent as immediately as possible. Appreciation of Good Work done, should be then and there. It can be said in a special way; just as the boss calling his subordinate for a cup of coffee or boss going to subordinate to convey his appreciation.

Soon a baby is born he is labeled with “Surname”, then comes the “Namkaran” may be with scriptures or otherwise: fact is that every name particularly in India carries a meaning and has its characteristics defined somewhere. One beautiful thing about them is that if you adopt in your personality a single characteristic: you stand to gain unthinkable things and it keeps you happy and motivated.

Name is the identity so always spell it right and bright. It is the most common way of addressing: can always be improved by adding a few letters more, even your tone, tenor, volume, can do wonders. Nick names never die: people are better known by their nick names: may be childhood similes or adulthood achievements, your looks and attitude in old age. Nick names are very dear to individual so try to find out; nobody would tell you directly particularly at your work place.

In fact soft skills are those skills that touch the conscious, the inner personality of an individual that enhance the rapport between two persons for higher achievements for both.

With technical skills you may lead a team but with soft-skills you can lead a company.

Understanding Stress Management

 

Understanding Stress Management

Live Life King Size with Stress

Set it at Rest

 &

 Have the Best

                                                                                                           

          When something goes wrong or the nature strikes you hard, people around, your well-wishers, near ones console saying don’t take “tension” everything would be alright, we are here to look after. Many boast their resourcefulness, “Had I known I would not have allowed it to happen”, “You are late in telling me, a day before everything was smooth like butter.” All such are not to be seen when the need arises, still there is an institution in the world that is always available for guidance, help and encouragement – your parents. Human nature is, to rush to parents in all odds- in fact this is behavior of all livings creatures. Still, the best is, to manage yourself.

        At times one feels helplessness, nothing is being achieved, lack of motivation to enjoy life, unhappiness with one’s own self in modern terminology the mood swings, disinterest in surrounds and so on. One may term it as tension or the modern day slang “stress”. In short, one does not know how to move about in odds, confusion, negativity, comparisons and competitions etc.

        Some seek assistance of physicians-psychiatrics to overcome such hopeless living & environment: these angels have their own way to deal with a patient whether physical or mental, still above this, is more advanced faculty nature has given to humans-thinking.   

       Psychiatrics view is the wide spectrum of techniques and psycho therapies aimed at controlling a person's levels of stress, especially chronic stress, usually for the purpose of improving everyday functioning. In our day to day living we rarely need a visit to a psychiatric although we feel tense. Here we are more concerned with our daily life stress and to make life more enjoyable, logical and a fountain head of love and satisfaction.

       Managing daily or long term stress or tension, is all about taking charge of one’s thoughts, emotions, schedules, logic, likes and dislikes, love & hate and the way one deals with day to day problems and how he schedules his long term aims and efforts therefor.

       Stress management is an art - that is, the same set of ideas, thoughts, explanations, and medicines sometimes by a psychiatric cannot be applied to all the persons so as to produce the same effects like paracetamol brings down the temperature in all human beings nor these can be applied to same person every time he is under stress. As the stress is personal and situation specific so is the treatment therefor.

In fact, it is art of bringing one’s own mind at peace and harmony with his own self, his circumstances and environment. It is hard fact of life, in short term one can neither change his circumstances nor the environment: we can certainly do in long run which require planning and sacrifice, time & energy, will to do & capacity to achieve. So one must learn how to live with present circumstances: make them your friends and enjoy what you have; trying to achieve what you want to achieve. Human being is the best creation of God and he can certainly achieve success in every field may be partial. One must learn to respect that partial success it  will give you peace and analytical assessment as to why you could not reach level full. Those who are internally happy have more time and space to change than those who are envious of achievements of others.

India is a unique place; where even now from day one, children are told stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata and teaching of Bhagavad Gita wherein spouse-wife enjoyed superior social status. With majority first spouse is the last spouse. Spouse is pivot around which the family rotates-very important person-she carries your children- you earn for the family give love and affection a source of satisfaction and happiness. She is the queen and Lakshmi also-the Goddess of wealth in Indian scriptures.

Another important group in your life is your family-F.A.M.I.L.Y.-Father And Mother I Love You. It refers to more than the nuclear family. It is the group of all those persons with whom you, your wife and children enjoy their dinner – may be your grandchildren, parents, in-laws, grandparents and someone who happens to be with you. They wait for you and you long for them every moment of time. They are like your shadow but do not shadow you. So cohesion with them is the best source of happiness.

Third important group in your life is your work place people. You spend more time awake with them than your family. They are the faces you see every morning when you reach to earn your livelihood. They are the co-workers, sometimes you work for them and they toil for you. You share your happy moments and sorrow with them. You will spend 30-40 years with them. So learn to respect them while go going up because you would be meeting the same people on your journey down ward. Nobody has remained at the top always not even Alexander, the Great. Learn to interpret the contours of every face that greets you at office entrance. Show your concern and empathy that would bring peace and harmony to you and them.

  

                Thus:

Stress management is an art

Of bringing your mind at peace and harmony

with

Your own self, your circumstances, your environment,

and

The various groups with which you are associated like

your spouse, your family, and your work place people and so on.

If one is able to achieve that it will enhance the feeling of

1. Well-being: It is to be well, healthy and contented. It is a bodily feeling.

2. Pleasure: Pleasure is derived from contact with sensual objects. It is changing and it is brief. It is worldly feeling, e.g. you should enjoy every bite of your food and every beautiful thing the nature has created for you.

3. Bliss: It is feeling of perfect happiness, state of spiritual joy. It is eternal, felt by your soul, enjoyed but can’t be expressed. It is permanent and once achieved it always remains and impossible to lose. It is attained through realization of self. It is a godly feeling. It is something which can be experienced but cannot be explained.

                                                                                                                 

 Stress Management is not as easy as easily said.  Since it is an art it requires:

         

1. Patience - capacity to accept and tolerate,

2. Practice – adherence to do again and again for a long time.

3. Attitude - to achieve the desired results-Fail Fail and Pass

In addition your efforts must be accompanied by faith, trust, hope and confidence:

Faith: You are one of his best and unique creation so have faith in HIM. How much faith in Him:

Once, a village was facing a drought, so the villagers decided to pray for rain. On the appointed day, all the people gathered in the village square but only one boy came with an umbrella.

Trust: Trust is the basis of beautiful relationships even with your own self. What is the limit of that trust:

When you throw a baby in the air, she laughs because she knows you will catch her.

Hope: Always Hope for the best. Nature would grant you always what you desire like best tomorrow:

Every night we go to bed without any assurance of being alive the next morning, but still we set the alarm in our watch to wake up.

Confidence: We plan big things for tomorrow in spite of no knowledge of what the future holds for us.

Stress is not a foe but a friend take care of it, it will take care of you much better.

You are the best Doctor for your own STRESS.

Introduce Yourself How to Open-up

Introduce Yourself 

How to Open-up

Please introduce yourself - a question many a times – even in a Court of Law. One feels perplexed how to tell who is he and what to tell what not to tell. Many a times, he forgets even his primary introduction of name and surname. This happens because one is never prepared to answer such a simple question. He feels stressed for a few seconds, then gathers courage, controls his stress, starts with his name etc. How to introduce and what to take care of is of significance when substantives are in question.

Be before time, relaxed and have all the required – like your invitation to the gathering – may be oral one-but be sure how it reached you. Relaxed and stressed are two extreme you must choose the first one always. Do not be the last man in the queue- leave something for others-the humans and circumstances, also. Use the time wisely otherwise time would use you irreparably.  

You reach your audience by walking a few steps. Your gait is God’s gift and to a large extent has ingredients of the genes you have inherited; sometimes even the circumstances in which you are: late before the Interview Board. You must take steps in normal manners-do not try to make it special that will spoil the grace, the nature has bestowed on you and your audience would note it, before you come back to your normal gait which one has to be without notice. Gait neither too fast nor too slow – have the middle path- even Lord in Bhagavad Gita preached middle path for his devotees to reach him.

Fact of the matter is before you introduce yourself to any gathering you are already known to them in many respects-like name, qualification, and relationship likely to be developed and so on. Your presence tells the purpose as to why you are there and also a bit more.  

In addition your get up which includes your dress and make-up tells many thing. For example your dress must suit the occasion of your presence. One has to present himself as per the occasion must be formal; no casuals as they take away the seriousness of the situation like going before an interview board for a job. In any society whenever one goes for a happy celebration people expect him to be well dressed. Improper dress may get queries and questions from friends and seniors which are many a times not pleasant one seldom to one’s liking. Your dress must be graceful.

Your face get up is very important index of your personality. It must wear as natural look as God granted it to you. Sober and natural hair style is a great asset. Unnatural haircuts do invite attention of the people but with eye-borrows and nose ups. However, where you wear a haircut that suits your personality may not be sober one that becomes your symbol people love it and you are known as soon as you enter even if they have not seen your face. Just think of Karl Marx and APJ Abdul Kalam.

As soon as you utter the first letter of your voice it starts exhibiting the person inside. Your pronunciation, tone, tenor, volume, speed and pitch are indicators of knowledge, skill, experience and the life you have led. You can’t for a long time introduce artificiality to these aspects of nature’s gift to you. So one has to careful and cautious particularly with the audience with whom you are meeting for the first time.

You are one part, other part is your audience- over which you practically have no control. You must know as much as you can about them-their demographics, education, strata of society to which they belong, their age, engagement in the sphere of introduction. More you know, purposeful would be engagement otherwise it is curt and short. Must speak at a wavelength, in the language and manner understood by people in front. Never say no to the suggestions and views of your audience: answer them positively; audience is the other half and more important one.

Another important thing-whether we should talk with audience sitting or standing. Standing has always been considered more respectful & gracious and still more is your posture of “Attention” in armed forces way. Your posture convey the regards, respect and attention you have for your audience.

While talking always have the eye-contact. Eyes speak much more than the mouth or our vocal system. They convey what can’t many a times be conveyed by the words- like love at first sight. Eye-contact is highest in ladder of mannerism in an introduction.  In fact it is the gem of effective communication.  

Sometimes a question arises whether we should be formal or informal in our manners. One must understand the difference between formal and informal: consequences, pros and cons and the purpose they serve.

Formality means:

1.    Rigid observance of convention or etiquette.

2.    Strictly conventional behavior

3.    A thing that is done simply to comply with convention, regulations, customs or usage.

Informality means:

1.    A manner that does not take forms and ceremonies seriously.

2.    A casual or ceremonial manner.

3.    Naturalness, familiarity, relaxation, simplicity

In relations formality means to observe the etiquettes rigorously and strictly. Formality places a restriction on the use of lose words and makes one to choose the words before speaking and forces one to keep the conversation short and simple. Obviously the result is effective communication, lesser chances of any stress and helps to reach a logical conclusion. Interactions at the time of introduction must follow formal pattern of communication.

Informal communication is natural, spontaneous, relaxed, simple and straight forward. So informality in relations assumes complete understanding between the two parties, an assurance that the criticism is taken in a positive and receptive manner and that it would not provoke a violent response. It also assumes that the conversation is down to the earth, real, from the depth of thoughts and factual, there are no hidden ends to be got served and so on. There is no ego between the parties otherwise ego is the only requirement to destroy a relationship. When introducing yourself for the first time all these things are not sure: we are meeting only for a purpose or short time. Obviously the relationship is still to develop or you say there is no relationship so you have to be formal.

Contents of your introduction – what should they contain or not contain that is sometimes a big question. Where one is first to speak or is the only one to introduce the question is slightly more difficult to answer because in other cases tone of what is to be said, is set by the first speaker. You introduction should be crisp and smart so as to the serve the purpose of your presence. Normally people like to tell in addition to their name and qualifications, the success stories, their achievements and as to how their relationship would develop. In November every year in India every government’s pensioner’s introduction must include a statement that, “I am alive”. A pensioner has to give a life certificate about himself otherwise he does not get his monthly pension. Self-introduction is always purpose specific.

A confident “Who am I”, is the first brick of a long relationship-develop it smoothly and be stress-free.

Stress-free Career

Stress-free Career

Work place occupies an important place in everybody’s life. Some people while entering make a prayer others while occupying the chair, some have a small temple there-that tells us the reverence for the place of earning for the needs of family, parents and life. Some do not care that much for the place that gives them bread and butter too, so they face negative notice. In addition employees in serious cases have to face disciplinary proceedings in their career, there are others who are taken by the employers to legal process. These proceedings not only spoil the career they finish it; sometimes lead to dismissal, removal from service etc.

How to remain free from the proceedings is a big question. But answer is very simple. How. It is a question of standards you follow in life. Follow the identical standards in your personal and official life you will have no problems and a peaceful service, with due promotions, appreciations and of course superannuation with all retirement benefits and thereafter a peaceful healthy retired life. Just to elaborate; when we employ helpers for home say a servant or a maid, what you expect from that person. The answers are many but most relevant are:

Honesty for the simple reason that no person in a family can keep a strict watch on the person who works for us and our home is full of all sorts of things big, small, costly etc. So the worker/helper has to be honest without any desire to possess what others have unless he deserves the same of his own. He should be sans love for the new. Still higher is integrity. Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people. Integrity should be visible not only in possessions but also in manners and behavior particularly with others.

The employer reposes a lot of trust in the employed. This trust is foundation of all important assignments. This trust should never be used by the employee for personal gains. Technically it amounts to breach of trust.

Another important thing is that he/she should perform assigned duties with devotion. There should be no need to ask again and again. It must be understood that once you accept an assignment it is acceptance of all the terms and conditions attached to it, including the remuneration. Devotion to duty is fundamental to long term and honest relationship of an employee and employer. It is the action that matters in life, learn how to take responsibility. One can’t always find somebody responsible for his actions.

Thirdly we live in a family-composed of father, mother, husband, wife, children, grandparents and a sometimes even other relations-discussions, debates, deliberations and decisions are our ways of looking at the things. Sometimes these communications are pleasant and on other occasions they are not acceptable. Still all these things are part and parcel of our life style. No family would tolerate that these things should be known to others. At the same time a family wants that the servant/maid must lead an honest life so that they are put to defame as a result of his/her actions outside their home. In nut shell he/she should do nothing which unbecoming of a member of that family.

Briefly speaking we want our servant/maid to be honest, devoted to work assigned and should do nothing unbecoming of a member of the family.

Now place yourself in position of a servant/maid vis-a-vis your employer. If you are true to the above standards that you expect from your maid, in your employment also you would probably face no problems in your career.

Now go through Conduct Rules of any organisation even the Union and State Govt. you would find a rule stating:

Every employee shall at all times:

    i maintain absolute Integrity

   ii maintain devotion to Duty and

  iii do nothing which is unbecoming of a Government servant.

Integrity is very important aspect of service particularly Govt service. Integrity is doing the right thing; it is being incorruptible, honest, and above all, doing all these things when no one is around to see it. It is pearl of human character and make a person recipient of trust, dependability, confidence, secrecy, importance. One should perform his duty without attachment; whether a supervisor is present or not. When one is attached to greed, to freebies, and the favours one is not entitled to; one thing is sure that he is being seen by somebody other than the Lord. When one is caught red handed it is both a crime and sin also. We do not know what happens to sinful aspect but so far as crime is concerned- it is very painful, stressful, disadvantages, stigma mental and physical.

Why an employer-particularly the Govt wants absolute integrity. Reason is simple Kings all the world over have been considered as the representatives of God. So when you are working for HIM you have to be honest- more loyal and honest than the King. In democracy it is only the way of selecting the Govt has changed but the basics remain the same.

Corruption is operationally defined as the misuse of entrusted power for private gain. This is how the Transparency International has defined corruption. This directly reflects on your honesty and integrity.

One is employed to perform some task: so you are required to deliver. Must do what is required to done; not what you like to do. Your work, devotion to duty that is basis of all the relationships which can be termed as employer-employee. You must be able to take load off the shoulders of your employer: become and asset not a liability to him: that would add sweetness to the relationship.

All our scriptures talk of action. Bhagwad Gita says: “Whatever action is performed by a great man, common men follow in his footsteps and whatever standards he sets by his exemplary acts: all the world pursues.” Devotion to duty can make you a leader in your work place in addition to be an employee. Action is essence of human existence on this planet- so one must be true and faithful to action not to anybody else.

Work place is the source of earning, the livelihood, welfare and development of one’s own self, family and other dependents. Your attitude must be positive; maintain discipline and decorum; do everything to preserve its continuity and honour. Feel pride being a part of your organization. Do nothing which brings defame to you and your employer.

Thus fundamentals are the same whether you employ a maid or you are employed by somebody. As soon as we adopt different standards  

many other things would enter the  vacuum created between two different standards -greed, money, scams, indiscipline, loss of decorum, deceit, possession etc. Obviously these things will have to be corrected may be by disciplinary proceedings or by eliminating the employee. In cases of disciplinary proceedings cases of doubtful integrity get the maximum adverse notice and punishment too.

So keep your standards identical at home and work place you will never face a problem and enjoy a stress-free career.