Managing by the Bhagavad Gita: Timeless Lessons for Today's Managers

Drawing upon the timeless wisdom of the Bhagavad Gītā, a philosophical-spiritual world classic, this professional book highlights the spiritual and moral dimensions of management using an inside-out leadership development approach. It interprets the Bhagavad Gītā’s teachings on the personality types and psychological makeup of managers and employees; self-knowledge and self-mastery; and the leadership concepts of vision, motivation, and empowerment. This book covers topics such as training of the mind, ethical leadership, communication, stress management, and corporate social responsibility (CSR). Collectively, the enclosed contributions provide managers with an enhanced outlook on management functions such as leading, planning, organizing, and controlling in today’s organizations, particularly those run by knowledge workers. Management research in the 20th century has mainly focused on the industrial paradigm characterized by a hierarchical structure of authority and responsibility with an individualistic focus on the personality of the manager. However, this traditional paradigm cannot solve many of the problems that confront leaders and mangers today. Recent studies have shown that values traditionally associated with spirituality—such as integrity, honesty, trust, kindness, caring, fairness, and humility—have a demonstrable effect on managerial effectiveness and success. Although traditionally interpreted as a religious-spiritual text, the Bhagavad Gītā teaches these values which can be extrapolated and applied to practical management lessons in today’s corporate boardrooms. Applying the text of the Bhagavad Gītā to the context of management, this book views the manager as an “enlightened sage” who operates from higher stance, guided by self-knowledge and self-mastery. It demonstrates how character is the key ingredient for effective management and leadership. This book is therefore applicable to all managers, from first-line to CEOs, in their management and leadership roles in organizations.

About the Author

Satinder Dhiman: Recognized as a lead thinker for his pioneer contributions to the field of spirituality in the workplace, sustainability, and fulfillment in personal and professional arena, Professor Dhiman is a sought after Keynote speaker at regional, national and international conferences. In 2013, Dr. Dhiman was invited to be the opening speaker at the prestigious TEDx Conference @ College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, California.

With an instructional and research focus on leadership and organizational behavior — and with specific concentration on sustainability, workplace spirituality and wellbeing — Professor Dhiman holds a PhD in Social Sciences from Tilburg University, Netherlands, an EdD in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University, Los Angeles, an MBA from West Coast University, Los Angeles, and a Master’s degree in Commerce from Panjab University, Chandigarh, India, having earned the Gold Medal. He has also completed advanced Executive Leadership Programs at Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton .

He is the Editor-in-Chief of two multi-author M ajor R eference W orks: Springer Handbook of Engaged Sustainability (2018—Springer International, Switzerland) and Palgrave Handbook of Workplace Spirituality and Fulfillment (2018—Palgrave Macmillan, USA), Editor-in-Chief of Palgrave Studies in Workplace Spirituality and Fulfillment and editor of Springer Series in Management, Change, Strategy and Positive Leadership . Some of his forthcoming titles include: Bhagavad Gītā and Leadership: A Catalyst for Organizational Transformation; Leading without Power : AModel of Highly Fulfilled Leaders (2018/2019—Palgrave Macmillan), and Conscious Consumption: Diet, Sustainability and Wellbeing (2019—Routledge, UK).

Currently, Professor Dhiman serves as the Associate Dean, Chair and Director of the MBA Program; and the Professor of Management at Woodbury University, Burbank, California. He has served as the Chair for a special MBA Program for the Mercedes-Benz executives, China. Dr. Dhiman also serves as Accreditation Consultant, Evaluator, and Site Visit Team Leader for the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) for various universities in America, Canada, Europe, and Asia.

Professor Dhiman is the Founder-Director of Forever Fulfilled, a Los Angeles-based Wellbeing Consultancy that focuses on workplace wellness, workplace spirituality, and self-leadership. He also serves as the President of International Chamber for Service Industry (ICSI).

A. D. Amar (Amar Dev Amar): An expert in knowledge work and organization management theory, Professor Amar, received the 2013 Carolyn Dexter Finalist Award of the Academy of Management for his work on the effects of meditation on emotional intelligence and leadership of CEOs. He was also the 2013 Stillman Star of the W. Paul Stillman School of Business and awarded the 2010 NJBIA Bright Idea Award in Management by NJPRO Foundation of New Jersey Business and Industry Association (NJBIA) for his publication in the Harvard Business Review on leading without authority in the context of knowledge organizations.

Professor Amar has taught, consulted, held management positions and trained managers in industry and public sector undertakings in the USA, India, Poland, Russia, and the United Kingdom. He has served as external examiner on several Ph.D. committees, has years of research in knowledge work, and hundreds of scholarly publications and presentations on a variety of management topics. Among his publications is a graduate-level textbook on knowledge work and organizations titled Managing Knowledge Workers (Westport, CT: Quorum Books; 2002) and many peer-reviewed scholarly research articles injournals such as the Harvard Business Review, Organizational Dynamics, European Journal of Innovation Management , and IIE Transactions . Dr. Amar has been department chairperson, Director of MBA Assessment, Director of Seton Hall University Comprehensive Achievement Program (SHUCAP), Director Management Development Center, and the Editor cum Director of the Mid-Atlantic Journal of Business for 12 years.

Dr. Amar has worked for Orisun Machine Tools, Teledyne Pacific Industrial Controls, and Vornado Corp. He has designed large-scale computer and automation systems for forecasting, supply chain, and manufacturing. His consulting clients include Arkwin Industries, Hydrocraft Corporation, City of New York, State of New Jersey, General Motors, Social Security Administration, US Postal Service, Vornado—Store Decor, and VW/Audi.