Top 10 Leadership Lessons from Hanumana

Introduction:

We are celebrating Hanuman Jayanti but we can celebrate better if we utilize his devotion in our life as well as our organizations.

Hanuman is a revered figure in Hindu mythology and is considered to be one of the greatest devotees of Lord Rama.

He is depicted as a brave and loyal warrior, a wise and learned scholar, and a humble and devoted servant of God.

Hanuman is revered by millions of Hindus around the world, and his teachings and virtues continue to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds.

Despite being less well-known in other religions, Hanuman’s story and teachings offer valuable lessons on devotion, courage, humility, and service that are relevant to people of all faiths.

Here I am explaining 10 leadership lessons from Hanuman and how leaders can benefit from them today:

1. Be a problem solver:

Hanuman was a quick thinker and always found solutions to problems. For example, when he faced the ocean while searching for Sita,

he didn’t get discouraged but found a way to cross it. Today’s leaders can learn to face challenges head-on and find creative solutions to overcome them.

2. Be fearless:

In the Ramayana, Hanuman showed fearlessness when he flew over the ocean to reach Lanka in search of Sita, the wife of Lord Rama. Despite facing many obstacles and dangers, Hanuman did not let fear hold him back and accomplished his mission successfully.

Leaders today must learn to be courageous and not let fear hold them back.

3. Stay humble:

Hanuman’s humility is evident when he first met Lord Rama and introduced himself as a humble servant of his. Despite possessing great powers, he never let his ego get in the way and always remained focused on serving his Lord.

Leaders today must learn to be humble and put the interests of their team and organization ahead of their own personal ambitions.

4. Be a team player:

Hanuman worked closely with other members of Lord Rama’s team, such as Sugriva and Jambavan, to accomplish their goals. He played a vital role in their success by working collaboratively with others and leveraging their individual strengths.

Leaders today must learn to work collaboratively with their teams and foster a culture of collaboration and teamwork.

5. Be focused:

Hanuman’s focus on his mission to find Sita is evident throughout the Ramayana. Despite facing distractions and obstacles along the way, he remained single-minded in his pursuit of his goal and ultimately succeeded in finding Sita.

Leaders today must learn to stay focused on their goals and not get sidetracked by distractions or other opportunities.

6. Be loyal:

Hanuman’s loyalty to Lord Rama is unwavering throughout the Ramayana. He always put his Lord’s needs first and even risked his own life to accomplish his Lord’s mission.

Leaders today must learn to be loyal to their organizations and team members and prioritize their needs above their own personal interests.

“In this world, there is no greater servant or devotee than Hanuman.” — Lord Rama, Ramayana

7. Be adaptable:

Hanuman was adaptable and could take on different forms and shapes to accomplish his goals. Leaders today must learn to be adaptable and agile in response to changing circumstances and market conditions.

Example: When he took on the form of a small monkey to enter the city of Lanka unnoticed. This shows how Hanuman was able to adapt to the situation and use his powers in a different way to accomplish his mission.

8. Be resilient:

Hanuman shows his resilience when he faced many obstacles while crossing the ocean to reach Lanka in search of Sita. Despite facing many challenges, including attacks from sea monsters and other obstacles, he never gave up and continued on his mission.

In a modern business context, leaders must also be resilient and able to bounce back from setbacks and failures. This requires having a growth mindset, being persistent, and learning from mistakes to improve performance over time.

Leaders today must learn to be resilient and persevere through difficult times.

9. Be inspiring:

Hanuman inspired and motivated the Vanara army to fight against Ravana’s demon army to rescue Sita.

His words of encouragement and unwavering devotion to Lord Rama inspired the Vanara army to fight bravely and ultimately achieve victory.

In a modern business context, leaders must also be able to inspire and motivate their team members to achieve their full potential. This requires being a good communicator, setting a positive example, and recognizing and rewarding the contributions of team members.

10. Be ethical:

Hanuman always acted with integrity and never compromised his values.

For example, when he found Sita in Ravana’s captivity, he didn’t harm her or take advantage of the situation but rather stayed true to his mission of bringing her back to Lord Rama.

In a modern business leaders must also act ethically and uphold high standards of integrity in all their actions and decisions. This requires being honest, transparent, and fair, and treating all stakeholders with respect and dignity.

Conclusion

Hanuman’s leadership lessons from Ramayana are still relevant today and can help leaders be more effective, resilient, and ethical. By being problem solvers, fearless, humble, team players, focused, loyal, adaptable, resilient, inspiring, and ethical.

This requires being open to new ideas, being willing to learn and develop new skills, and being able to make quick decisions and take calculated risks when necessary. Leaders can achieve their goals and lead their organizations to success.

The article is originally published on Medium. Thanks for reading.

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