Lot to learn from Courtier Politics to Climb Ladder

As you first saw the heading I am sure some of you have chosen to flip the page imagining another article which talks on many bookish knowledge. Honestly post Lock down so many articles and knowledge pieces are being uploaded in social media that all of us have lost interest in reading something which does not promise instant solution at least top three of my immediate problems. Hang on . I am not going to bore you with a stereotype article. and promise to not take much time as well. But I felt urge of writing this as this I was reading some ancient courtier stories and it made me think that the practices are true even today.

In ancient past the structure of any King's courts were designed in such a fashion that there were handful of "wise" men who used to be very close to king and in reality were more powerful than king himself. Then they used to have a group of followers and it went on. But ancient literature claims that remain a faithful Courtier was never been an easy job. The Great Courtiers had managed the art of manipulating the people. They had the capacity of making King more kingly and in the process used to instill fear in people mind. History is full of example where Courtiers used to ape their king , many cases they even used to cause same injury which King might had at some point.

The Royal court might have ceased to exist but the pattern is still there in modern World and in many cases we see them almost in every function.. be it politics, be it business,be it Corporate life or be it social function. So I thought let us accept they exist and try to find out a few advices from History and Scriptures which may be useful. Here are my few important points:

• Emotion is bad word and let us learn to control: there is a need to learn Cry and Laugh when the situation desires so and not connected to our own true emotion. Our face is a open book and gives away our internal feeling. It is important we learn how to make it Opaque. Akrur Maharaj when went to bring Krshna to Mathura was crying inside but did not show any emotion to Nanda baba .

• Let us be Cheerful : in plenty of situation we find opportunity to run away from a distasteful situation. true Courtiers had mastered mind to take challenge as they come and be " Cheerful" and turn situation happy & that made real difference. Our personal Cheerful nature attracts boss and other powerful people and not sad stories of past. Jambavan in Ramayana advised Angada that in Ravana's Court he may find many gloomy faces but he should bring Cheer in every body's mood to communicate Lord Ram's message.

• Avoid being a bearer of Bad news: if you want to be in good book of your Boss pls ensure that bad news is broken by someone else and you play a role that as if you knew the solution also. Remember in court the bearer of bad news gets life sentence

• Modify your personality to suit others : Bosses change from time to time and a true couriter whenever deals with a King had learnt how to handle the changed situation. Remember numerous stories of Birbal. He knew whom to tell what ..

• Avoid Criticise your Boss directly : it does not pay you if you are seen as a Hero.. it pays you if you can modify the opinion of boss and do good for organisation. Direct criticism makes you a fall guy and you loose chance of taking control of situation.

• favour seeking not advisable: pls remember nothing free and powerful people has very less time to do good to their subordinates.. they will preferably switch the subordinate. So before asking for favour think hundred times if it is worth. It is however always better to earn that favour and not ask.

• Do not look as a hardworking guy: people think you as a normal being if you succeed after hard work.. so your hard work,your pain is your personal. do not have to exhibit. It should appear to others that you are a genius and everything comes naturally. Your Boss will like that.

• Avoid Ostentation: if you continuously attract attention to your work, normally you do not gain confidence of boss ,on the contrary you attract envy of peers. Also whatever you boss chose to see or reward will do as per his intelligence and Oscentration will never help.

• Stir up the water to catch Greedy Fish: a well known tactics used by great Cortiers to create a situation where his opponents will commit mistake and will be removed from power. Sometimes Courtiers used to play this with King also. even today we need to be very careful to understand if the situation is real or someone just stirring up water. Shakuni in Mahabharat was master in this art.

• Appreciate Others: no one likes cynics and if you truly feel someone has done the work well sometimes better than you, no harm in appreciating and recommend him for more such work.

• Watchful of King mood: your boss mood swing should not harm you. Maintain a safe distance and avoid being a friend even if he insists. Proximity to a big ship is never good for small boats and more so when the ship is in turbulent water.

• Gossip is dangerous: and about people who are in power Gossip is dangerous for growth. The Gossips always circle back to King and once he makes an opinion difficult to change.