Very often we unconsciously depend on myths and are confident in our conduct, which may be otherwise counter productive without realizing long-lasting consequences. One such myth is considering hard, sometimes harsh too, as ‘Strong’ and to underestimate magic of being ‘Soft’, while dealing with hearts, working and getting things done with People. In the family, even in an organisation and society at a large the obvious choice of people, to deal with younger subordinates or to the deprived, to act hard, harshly and to demonstrate being powerful...!Indeed while we use intelligence, deceit, force, authority, power to manage, control and rule people, we forget to realize mesmerizing strength of wisdom, innocence, trust and autonomy which could have been far more productive in long run through engagement and involvement.
Mankind has inherently shown more confidence in hard components to win region and people for ages. Though with the passage of time dimensions of ‘Controls’ and ‘Control’ have undergone a demonstrable transition, even today we have boosted reliance in ‘Hard’ for being strong...!!For the other side, either do not have faith or not having patience to conquer hearts with persuasion, love, emotional bonding, mutual trust, freedom or motivation. While chasing hearts, mind is used minimum...!!The alternative to being hard is to be soft and still to reach at the desirable outcomes or destination. The soft armory drives the group, or an individual, with zeal, enthusiasm, motivation, learning, engagement together with protecting dignity...!.The journey is full of joy, positive emotions most likely end with memories and strive for further improvement that builds up strong cultural foundation. Being ‘Soft’ does not mean acting ‘weak’ rather to be seen as moving or operating with natural human emotional energy what we called as ‘Power’ that gets surfaced through ‘Acceptance’. The power that gets extracted from authority, position, resources or command may vanish while leaving behind such sources. But the power getting surfaced through emotional bonding, mutual trust and acceptance may become immortal through support and engagement of people around us.
The ‘Hard’ means and components used to manage people may make them to take resort to protective behavior- giving excuses, entering blame games, power polities, pretending engagement, ill feeling and unrest- which ultimately counter productive as it generates ill cultured legacy. It confirms that always exercising control over others demands more energy, ugly tone, threats and frightening practices. On the other hand, the ‘Soft’ components, in managing people, needs just exemplifying conduct, treating with respect and upholding dignity ensuring acceptance and extending autonomy- control may vanish or may become rare as a phenomenon. Practice may inculcate initiatives, courage, risk bearing, order, discipline and sense of accountability among the followers. Culture that is shaped with ‘Soft’ components may germinate with rare virtues such as unconditional love and devotion for an organisation, loyalty and trustworthiness with people around, involvement and engagement in processes, experimentation and innovations.
The soft path seems difficult, or even challenging, to achieve goals and getting things done through people with confined vision. It may have obstacles as people may deceive, may not understand spirit, do not value kindness or generosity and so on. Despite such hindrance, a visionary should not lose faith and revisit the Soft’, as glory can be achieved with lot of trouble, challenges, dis respect and sometimes after defamation too...!! The easy and apparent may be deceived as the subtle and concealed pays in long run. The glory of using soft path ends with conquering hearts, without defeating them, preparing people to cultivate capability to replace the frontline and more importantly to enrich legacy with such rare virtues. On the contrary, those who opt to start being ‘Hard’ may at the end proved the ‘Weak’, loose respect, making system ill cultured, harsh and ugly…!!
What has accumulated may get vanish but not what has been cultivated….!!
