Often we find that inspite of much learning, much training and much effort, the results of our business ventures do not match our anticipations. At times the results end up in disaster. This is because whilst great effort and concentration has gone towards the fulfillment of those necessary proximate causes, insufficient attention has been paid to the fulfillment of certain essential root causes. The Ten Royal Qualities once developed and made much of, fulfill the essential conditions at root level, which are conducive to the realization of wholesome aspirations of wholesome objectives, even within your business environment or your work place.

In brief the Ten Royal Qualities are as follows : gifting, sacrifice, virtue, austerity, uprightness, softness, non harm, non-ill will, patience and forbearance. These ten qualities can be grouped into three major areas. I.e. gifting, restraint and taming. First and foremost one has to bear in mind that one has to practice gifting restraint and taming in one’s daily life and consequently it will reflect in one’s management style. Therefore one must regularly develop the habit of gifting requisites of life to the worthy and the needy in accordance with one’s means. Do not waste your wealth on extravaganzas. Instead, having provided for your basic needs, gift as much as you can. When you gift, do it with gladness. In a country like Sri Lanka, there is plenty of opportunity to gift to the worthy and the needy. That kindness and compassion will then extend to the welfare of your employees. Sharing your profits with the employees by means of staff welfare schemes, ESOP schemes, providing timely training and other opportunities for career development are an essential part of gifting within your business environment.

In order to successfully provide for the welfare of your employees one must also be prepared to make the necessary sacrifices. Hence the vital area of the practice of restraint. It means the development of virtue and austerities. The development of austerities is a great power that one can possess. It means leading a simple life; being pleased with little; being pleased with basic needs. Senior corporate executives tend to be extravagant and lavish with company funds. It’s a part of their Corporate culture. In their image building process frequent entertainment, late nights often with alcohol and rich food, over eating, luxurious environments are the norm. Essentially leading the "high life". This is a constant process of catering to the pleasures of the senses. Basically, there is no restraint. A process of never ending acquisition.

Here are some examples of leading a life of simplicity and restraint in your office and at home.

1. Eating in moderation (this is essential) and eating only food which are conducing for your health.
2. Using inexpensive or moderate clothing , shoes, wrist watches, automobiles etc. (Using one wrist watch and one pair of shoes).
3. Sleeping in moderation and on simple bedding.
4. Sleeping on the floor.

When one is pleased with little, life is relatively easier and less complicated. Hence there is less stress. In times of hardship, being austere is a great power for a leader. When you have to ask others to make sacrifices and tighten belts, you have to set an example. In such a situation the austere one can lead the way.

Virtue is the abstinence from wrong conduct by body and speech. Virtue is with cause and not without cause. So one must develop the causes of virtue. The two main causes for virtue are compassion and mindfulness. Refraining from harsh and abusive speech towards one’s subordinates and colleagues, abstaining from insulting and sarcasm, positively discouraging malicious gossip and idle chatter, abstaining from sexual harassment and misconduct, abstaining from depriving that which is rightly due to one’s employees, abstaining from taking revenge and abstaining from holding false or misleading promises to your employees are means of practising virtue, non- conflict, non- harm and non-illwill within your workplace.

Uprightness is an essential quality for the development of this Path. One must always be truthful, safeguard the truth and be ready to accept a fault as fault even though you may be the boss. This also requires humility and avoidance of conflict. Avoid the concept of devide and rule. This only breeds hatred and gives rise to much unhappiness. Being upright, soft and humble brings about greater harmony and concencious in management decision making. This will ensure easier and more effective implementation.

Punishment should only be a last resort, after advice and guidance have failed. If a punishment is absolutely necessary, one must determine the right measure. The punishment should be proportionate to the wrong committed. Dishonesty may be the only condition that justifies termination.

Your employees should have the perception that their welfare is in your heart. That is the best form of motivation. When you have won the hearts of your employees, the conditions are right for substantial and meaningful delegation. You cannot delegate with suspicion. You can only delegate with trust and confidence. The employees must win your confidence too. So both parties must be confident of each other for delegation to be successful. This confidence is achieved through uprightness, austerity, compassion, and humility. When you have delegated properly you need only to show the way. Then you don’t have to work 15 hours a day. One must remember that delegation is also a process of letting go. You must have the strength and character to let go. This does not mean neglect. This means delegation with guidance.

At a time you are facing a crisis such as loss of profits, change of market conditions, industrial disputes etc. or even a mistake of a subordinate you should be calm and practice patience and forbearence. Be very austere. Do not carry on a pretence of a "high life". See the causes for the crisis and eliminate them. Since both gains and losses are the norm of the world, you must be ready for both. When the profits come, don’t be intoxicated by them and fall towards greed and end up in over-trading, over-expansion etc. which will ultimately wipe-out all your profits. At all times control greed. Gifting and austerity helps you to do this.

Then there is taming, taming the mind. The mind is the forerunner of all things. The development of the mind is supreme. It also means a process of purification of the mind. The practice of gifting, virtue and restraint are all necessary for this purification. Compassion is the foundation on which you develop and purify the mind. The four divine abodes i.e. kindness, compassion, appreciative joy and equanimity are the four corner stones in this process of purification of the mind. Kindness and compassion softens the mind. Appreciative joy, lightens the mind. With equanimity one is unperturbed by the events of the world and in crisis situations.

Developing and purifying the mind is attained by tranquility and above all wisdom. The compassionate and soft heart only provides the foundation for this. On this foundation one must develop the faculties of mindfulness, effort, tranquility and wisdom. It is the faculty of mindfulness that forms the basis for development. Always live in right mindfulness. One must bringforth effort to practice and live in right mindfulness. As mindfulness becomes a power the mind becomes tranquil serene and one-pointed. With investigation from such a mind wisdom dawns. One knows and sees things as they reality are; one knows what to do and what not to do; When to speak and when not to speak; What to speak and what not to speak. Understand one’s employees; Knows their needs; One knows that which is beneficial both to himself and to his employees; Its measure and the right time. Hence one is assured with the required knowledge to dispense with once duties and responsibilities for the welfare of all concerned.