Akbar and Birbal

Akbar was one of the greatest emperors to rule ancient India. He was a ruler who had a strangle-hold over the majority of the region and spent time in nurturing arts, sciences and cultural activities. Hence he liked having wise men in his court. One of them was Birbal, noted for cleverness, generosity and sense of justice.

Story #1

Birbal’s journey to paradise

The problem:
Akbar’s court barber was one of those who hated Birbal and one day he came up with a plot against him. He came to Akbar and said: “You Majesty, last night I dreamt about your father”
Akbar: “Tell me, what did he tell you?”
Barber: “he told me that he is happy in paradise but all the inhabitants are boring. He would like to have someone who could talk to him and keep him amused”
At once, the king summoned Birbal as he was the obvious candidate.
Akbar: “I think you love me enough to make any sacrifice for me”
Birbal: “you know, I do your majesty”
Akbar: “I would like you to go to heaven and keep my dear father company”
Birbal: “very well… Please give me a few days to prepare”
Akbar: “Certainly… I would give you a week’s time”
Birbal’s Solution:
Birbal uses the one week to dig a grave and a secret path in his backyard that would lead to his home. After a week, we went into the grave and it was closed. Birbal used the secret path to get into his home. He remained there for some weeks after which he wen to the Emperor one day. The Emperor was obviously shocked to meet him. Many thought it was a ghost. Birbal said that he had accompanied the Emperor’s father in heavan and had now comedown on a special permission to meet him. When questioned, he replied “Your majesty, did you notice my huge beard?” There are all other facilities in heaven except a good barber and your father asked you send one.”

Now,the Management Moral:
1 Those who Dig Pit for Others Fall in the Same Pit
2 Use the Enemy's Weapon Against him

Story #2

Praise your boss

The Problem:
1 day, 2 poets came to Akbar’s court and sang poems in praise of the emperor. The emperor usually rewarded poets generously. At one moment, to the astonishment of the entire crowd in the court, including the courtiers and the emperor, one of the poets suddenly recited a poem praising the emperor as greater than God himself and there was an absolute silence that engulfed the hall. Akbar looked around and said “Now, it appears that I am even greater than the God Himself” and wondered if anyone in the crowd would have the courage to tell the truth.
Nobody stirred. All counselors nodded their heads to indicate that their emperor as greater than God. Akbar began to get irritated and said “so, everyone agrees that your emperor is greater than God”. There was a murmur all around … “Yes, your majesty”. The emperor finally looked at Birbal.
“And you Birbal, do you agree too?”

Birbal’s solution:

“Oh, yes” Birbal replied immediately.
The emperor’s frown grew.
“your Majesty, you can do something even God cannot!” Birbal said. “if any of your subjects displeases you, Your Majesty, can send him on a pilgrimage or banish him from your empire, never to return. But God cannot. For God rules over the entire earth and the sky and the heavens. There is no place that does not belong to God. So he cannot banish his creatures.”
Emperor’s frown vanished.
“Well said, Birbal!” he cried delightedly and from every corner of the court relieved courtiers began to smile and then laugh heavily.
Birbal had done it again!

Now, the management moral:
1 Never belittle your boss but, when you praise him, make the praise credible. This is not all that difficult. Even if your superiors know their shortcomings, it will not be appreciated if you dish out false praises.

2 It will be better to evade such questions and focus on their positive characteristics about which you can praise them as you would want to!

More
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