Chikeershitam viprakritam cha yasya
Naanye janaah karma jaananti kinchit
Mantre gupte samyaganushthhite cha
Naalpopyasya chyavate kashchidarthaah
Mahabharat 3:32:67
The Mahabharata, an ancient Indian epic, unfolds a legendary war between cousins. Yet, amidst the clash of warriors shines the timeless wisdom of Vidura, a loyal advisor renowned for his unwavering righteousness. Though marginalized due to his birth, Vidura consistently offered invaluable counsel. His pronouncements, urging diplomacy and prioritizing justice, transcended the battlefield. Today, in the modern C-suite, Vidura’s advice remains strikingly relevant. His emphasis on ethical leadership, responsible decision-making, and the consequences of unchecked ambition offer valuable lessons for navigating complex corporate landscapes.
Today’s quote is from the chapter “Udyoga Parva” in the classic, which is translated as “𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙮 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙙 𝙨𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙣𝙤 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙠𝙚𝙥𝙩 𝙖 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙭𝙚𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙣𝙚’𝙨 𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙛𝙧𝙪𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙮..”
While transparency is often lauded as a leadership virtue, maintaining some secrecy can be equally important. Strategic initiatives can be derailed by leaks, and keeping sensitive information confidential protects the organization from unnecessary scrutiny. It also allows leaders to make tough decisions without the pressure of immediate public reaction. 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗵, 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗘𝗢 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰, famously advocated for “candid, private conversations” while keeping strategy discussions confidential. This “candour behind closed doors” fosters open communication within the leadership team while protecting sensitive information. Ultimately, a balanced approach to secrecy is key. Leaders can build trust with transparency on achievable goals and progress updates while maintaining discretion on sensitive matters and future strategies.
