Helping the Self Before Helping Others
As a huge observer of paradoxes and that too of life's parodies, I have strongly believed in this paradox since young. That of helping oneself is of paramount importance before helping others. We cannot effectively help others if we are in need of help ourselves. Perhaps it will be better if I relate this to an organisational context which I experienced when I was in the Army.
Back in those days, actually just more than a year ago lest I sound too old, I was working in this department of the highest division of the largest formation in the Army. I have to mention that the department is of high level so as to highlight the importance of having good internal resources for workers to work with. Being at the Head Quarters level, where the administration gets extremely busy, we needed relatively fast and reliable computers to work with. We had a buggy version of windows 95 and there was a total lack of basic hardware which made it all the more difficult to transfer information on a daily basis. I had failed to make my supervisor see the importance of having good resources to work with. So this is the scenario in the organisation. In fact this is congruent to how most companies function today.
Most companies, in the quest for satisfying customers, keep cutting down on costs. The problem is that they do not know how to differentiate necessary and unnecessary costs/liabilities. By having less than adequate resources for employees to work with, they easily lose pride and satisfaction in doing their jobs. This affects their performance and in turn brings down the overall quality of an organisation's products and services. Being customer-oriented is not enough to succeed, keeping the employees is equally vital. By keeping them happy, they would feel appreciated and see themselves as part of the company's strength.
Relating back to our initial paradox statement, companies have to help themselves to be well equipped before providing value to their customers. They have to serve themselves internally before serving externally.
This is the same concept when people, being people, invest so much effort, money and time on unnecessities and invest none for their health and well-being of their emotional state. It boils down to their obliviousness of the fact that we need to help ourslves before helping others.
Related Tags: management, life, philosophy, paradox, km
- Thanaseelan, visit his profile at http://www2.blogger.com/profile/11320861502208126526 and main blog at http://www.worthofwordplay.blogspot.com
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Find Professional Assistance to Start an Llc
LLCs are common place, as increasingly people become aware of the tax benefits of an llc. But, is t - Building Partnerships: Identifies Partnership Needs
Analyzes the organization and own area to identify key relationships that should be initiated or im - What 4 Things You Must Consider When Choosing a Locksmith in Detroit
In earlier days people went to a locksmith when they wanted a new lock fitted or to get their old o - Some Important Time Management Tips to Help Streamline Your Business and Your Life
Small businesses today are under tremendous pressure to do more with less. Sometimes a <i>lot - Irs Settlement - Can You Really Settle Your Irs Tax Debt for Less?
It's possible to settle your IRS tax debt, but it presents a challenge. Proving you can settle your - How To Organize A Business Plan
When you are involved with a business it is important that you have a clear direction and that your - Q&a: Roy Cartwright, Caterpillar
SSON: Roy, tell us a bit about Caterpillar shared services: how long has the organisation been goin - Why Every Business Needs a Business Plan ?
Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-st - What Do Your Emails Say About You?
1When writing your emails, always be wary that some people do not appreciate being addressed by the - Finding Your Competitive Edge
What are the characteristics of organizational excellence, the attributes that must be present for
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Where Lean Manufacturing Outscores Traditional Manufacturing
Lean manufacturing is a revolutionary manufacturing system. In an article published on http://www.le - Lateral Structural Arrangements in Organizations
Lateral Structural Arrangements in Organizations In order that the organisation can achieve its goa - Team Building
BUILDING SUPERVISOR TEAMS: A CASE STUDY BACKGROUND TO THE PROJECT In June 1999, I was contrac - When Successful Training Fails, and What to Do About It
"WHEN SUCCESSFUL TRAINING FAILS: AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT" Learning & Training Innovations, July, - Managing your Meeting Monsters: Identifying the Cast of Culprits That Threaten Productive Meetings
In the Star Wars movie's famous bar scene you knew, by appearance, what zany character was sitting b - I1connect News: Barr None: Imperato Calls for Libertarian Vice President
Michael Bloomberg is hardly considered a libertarian. Other potential third party candidates, s - Hotel Meeting Venues Offer First-class Organisational Assistance
If you're in the process of organising a large function - whether it's a corporate meeting, an exten - Employee Benefits for Motivation and Productivity of Work
Employee benefits are essential for the development of corporate industrial relations. According to - Free Grant Money is Your Financial Needs
Free grant money is designed to assist you in your financial needs. There is free grant money to he - Leadership Skills? Follow the Leaders
Leaders who hold the highest offices in the world have often abused their power with few negative c
