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Thirukkural

The document summarizes key lessons on leadership, management, and self-management from the ancient Tamil literature Thirukkural. Some of the leadership lessons include leading by example, protecting one's people, and encouraging dissent. For management, the document emphasizes the importance of planning, knowing one's competition, choosing the right time and place, and getting things done efficiently. Regarding self-management, it discusses virtues like being amiable, speaking positively, helping others selflessly, controlling oneself, and forgetting injuries while remembering benefits.

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Naveen Jagadeesh
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381 views8 pages

Thirukkural

The document summarizes key lessons on leadership, management, and self-management from the ancient Tamil literature Thirukkural. Some of the leadership lessons include leading by example, protecting one's people, and encouraging dissent. For management, the document emphasizes the importance of planning, knowing one's competition, choosing the right time and place, and getting things done efficiently. Regarding self-management, it discusses virtues like being amiable, speaking positively, helping others selflessly, controlling oneself, and forgetting injuries while remembering benefits.

Uploaded by

Naveen Jagadeesh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Management Lessons from Thirukkural

Presentation done
by
NAVEEN (MBA)
Thirukkural (ததததததததததத), also known as the Kural, is a classic Tamil ‘sangam’
(3rd century BC to 4th century AD) literature composition. It has 1,330 couplets or
‘kurals’. It was authored by the renowned poet Thiruvalluvar.

The Thirukkural is one of the most important works in the Tamil


language. This is reflected in some of the other names by which the
text is given by such as ‘Tamil marai’ (Tamil Vedas); ‘poyyamozhi’
(words that never fail); and ‘Deiva nool’ (divine text).

Just like ‘Ramayana’, ‘Mahabharata’, ‘Bhagavad-Gita’ and other scriptures,


Thirukkural is also replete with words of wisdom. It is simple and contains profound
messages.

Thirukkural has 133 chapters, each containing 10 couplets. Broadly speaking, all the
133 chapters can be divided into three sections: Righteousness, Wealth and Love. In
the text below, the serial number of each couplet appears on the top, followed by its
Tamil text and then by its near-literal translation in English.
Leadership

Leadership is more of an attitude and a way of living and behaving. It is about opening
one’s heart. It is about inspiring those around one. It is about leading others by
example. It is about standing up for others and shielding them from harm.

He is a God among men who shields his subjects.

A good leader is an avid listener. He encourages dissent.

The world belongs to a king who can do his duty and yet be courteous.

Mergers and acquisitions often follow the rule of tying up with a former adversary in
business. Google acquired Android, YouTube and Motorola Mobility, so as to extend
the reach of its business as also to diversify into related verticals.
Management

Managers need to be resolute, decisive and action-oriented. Loyalty to the


management and operating within the company policy paradigm are two of the
several qualities they need to have.

To follow in the footsteps of those who are greater than oneself is the crown of
one’s strengths.

Planning, and thinking ahead, needs to be given a high priority. Want to beat the
competition? Know its strengths and review your plans accordingly.

One can succeed in the attempt to conquer the world if the right time and the
right place are chosen.

Management is all about getting things done. A smart manager would know what
needs to be done, who is the best person for doing it, and the right time to get it
done.
Do a thing after carefully deliberating on five things – resources, means, the time,
the nature of the deed, and the place.

The humility to maintain silence before superiors is the best of all good qualities.
Planning and Execution

Managing the Self

Like all spiritual texts, Thirukkural also extols the virtues of connecting with one’s
inner self.

Being amiable and speaking positively helps.

To welcome one with a pleasant look and loving words is righteousness.

Helping others in a self-less manner may result into long-term loyalists getting
developed. However, help rendered to an ungrateful person could be a waste of one’s
time and efforts.

Help rendered is not in terms of the return but its value depends on the receiver.

Forgetting and forgiving helps us to reduce our own stress levels.


It is not good to forget the benefit received; but it is good to forget then and there
the injury done by another.

Self control is the real treasure. So is walking on the right path.

Each ‘kural’ is complete in itself. It deserves to be meditated upon, one at a time,


and imbibed in our day-to-day lives. One wonders at the keen observations of the
poet, his sagacity and the effort he has taken to collate and compile this beautiful
work, replete with words of wisdom which continue to be as relevant today as they
were in the days of yore.
THANK YOU TO ALL

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