HR narratives of pebble, the corporate world must learn

Why the stones at the river bed are smooth? Answer of the above question also will answer many questions and concerns of HR functions and the leaders in most corporate. The stones in the river bed are always smooth and such stones are called as ‘pebbles’. The grandeur smoothness of these pebbles, even a man cannot achieve through rigorous carving or polishing. Instead of knowing how it had happened, the modern corporate should ask why it had happened.

Water in the river is always running/flowing than stagnant like ponds and lakes. Further, the flow of the water is always unidirectional, unless and until there are gush and torrent of water in the river.

When the flow of water has less pressure and force, naturally the stones underneath will resist from moving from where they are to a new place. When the force is great, they will be automatically pushed to different locations. The only way the stones can remain in the place where they are is to get the grind and become smooth at the edges. When the edges become smooth, the water can easily slip through over the pebbles and pebbles need not exert a greater force of resistance or oppose the running stream of water. If the pebbles refuse to grind and become smooth at the edges, even the gentle flow of water will push them away.

Most people in corporate resist changes. Irrespective of the direction of changes, whether it is progressive or retrogressive, they resist. Even to a small pressure in the corporate ecosystem, they resist and protest heavily (mostly within) as they do not want to change. More often they believe that only by resisting forcefully or revolting against, they can remain unchanged and otherwise they will be forced to change to different directions.

No one can remain rebellious or iconoclastic towards change. Accept the reality, be smooth than sharp and rough and out win easily the demand for change. By resisting forcefully and vehemently, one would only strengthen the force that demands such change. Instead, if one become smooth and allow the demand for change to pass through them, they can remain unchanged or unaffected.

The inanimate objects like stones in the river bed have learned this management essence and that is how they escape from the constant push and kick of the running stream of water. They remain unaffected. They cannot change the direction of water or stop the water from flowing. Nor do they can ensure that the flowing water doest push/touch them.

If one learn the art of being smooth and humble to different situations, can remain unaffected by them. Otherwise, one has to end up blaming the situation more than their inabilities and in capabilities to cope with the situation/reality. Even from a simple observation of the pebbles in the river bed, the corporate can learn rich management wisdom.

Dr. S Ranganathan