“The objective of any king (leader) or state (organisation) is to create, expand, protect and enjoy wealth”
The reason for a CEO to be in the chair is very clearly defined by Kautilya in the very beginning itself. It is to create wealth for all its stakeholders, his employees and for himself to enjoy.
He should not be satisfied with what he has got. He should keep thinking continuously how to expand his territories and reach new markets.
“Just as elephants are needed to catch elephants, so does one need wealth to capture more wealth” (9.4.27)
This is an old but very important aspect of wealth creation. “Paisa lagaye bina Paisa nahin aata“. There is no business that can create wealth without investment. Kautilya here gives the example of a hunter who catches elephants.
Elephants always move around in groups. To catch an elephant a hunter needs to use another elephant. Only then the one which is targeted gets attracted.
Having produced wealth, the king should know how to protect it. Take the example of a vessel with a hole at the bottom. We may keep pouring more and more water into it. However, nothing will stay unless it is protected from unknown leaks.
No organisation can reach its goal without a continuous push and pull system.
Dr Radhakrishnan Pillai is an Indian management thinker, author, and Founder of Atma Darshan and Chanakya Aanvikshiki. Dr Pillai has extensively researched Kautilya’s Arthashastra, the 3rd century BC treatise and incorporated it into modern management.
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