Organizational Responsibilities: Entrusted, Taken, and Fulfilled

1. Organizational Responsibilities: Entrusted, Taken, and Fulfilled
Left to themselves, members of an organization tend to drift towards chaos; in this context, most organizations resort to structuring themselves hierarchically with a motive to have a sense of purpose and direction. However, it has also been observed that strict hierarchies can be stifling and obstruct progress. It would be ideal to walk the middle path between the flexibility of a 'flat' structure and the 'orderliness' of a hierarchy. 'Flat' structures rely on individual members 'taking responsibility' and are typically informal, while hierarchical structures rely on members fulfilling the responsibilities entrusted to them by the organization and are typically formal. One who neither complains nor blames, but constantly strives to make a

2. positive difference can be seen as having taken responsibility. The more responsibilities one takes, the higher the knowledge one acquires; and, higher the knowledge one acquires, it is imperative that one take more responsibilities. Walking the middle path implies that, while the organization entrusts responsibilities to individuals, the individuals are free to skilfully take on additional responsibilities in the spirit of 'organizational member first' towards realizing one's full potential. In the figure above, ideal organization shows that members having fulfilled the responsibilities entrusted to them have also voluntarily taken on additional responsibilities; in the organization where there is scope for improvement, it can be seen that there are gaps. In the figure, it is assumed that all members of an organization have equal or near equal potential. One's contributions to an organization need to be seen holistically encompassing both the formal and informal, volunteered and entrusted, roles. Owing to tremendous sense of ownership and passion in the context of responsibilities taken, there is a corresponding level of satisfaction for the individual concerned, but one needs to skillfully balance one's formal role in the interest of being practical as promotions and salary increments are dependent on one's performance in the formal role. In the context of a corporation, in addition to one's formal designation, one needs to have the opportunity and the flexibility to take on additional responsibilities in the spirit of

3. 'employee first' which is beyond the limited scopes of 'engineering first', 'management first', etc. In the context of a nation, a 'common man' is not entrusted with a formal role and responsibilities and it is up to the individual to take on responsibilities in the spirit of 'citizen first' and emerge as a leader. Seeing oneself as 'human first' is central to one assuming the role of 'organizational member first' and this is made practical by Spirituality, by the practices and wisdom rooted in Yoga.