How to apply the Concept of Sacrifice in the Corporate World?
The faith of Islam in many ways advocates the concept of sacrifice. Be it the holy month of Ramadan where Muslims are asked to fast, the Eid ul Adha, where Muslims perform Hajj and sacrifice animals and then comes the month of Moharram, when Prophet’s grandson Imam Hussain (A.S.) lost his life in the name of Islam.
Taking this lesson of sacrifice from the faith of Islam and seeing how we can apply these concepts in the modern-day corporate world, its leadership and organisational hierarchy. In this modern world there are not many who make the choice to excel in their respective business and careers; there are many great politicians, executives and managers out there but very few choose to be excellent.
Here are the five sacrifices that every corporate professional needs to make:
1. Secure
New businesses require risk, and risk means sacrificing security and stability. One would not only sacrifice financial security; in a way, he/she would risk the security of the reputation on this venture. This pressure can feel overwhelming and present a major obstacle to productivity.
In such a situation, one needs to prepare him/herself and the dependents for this loss of security by clearly outlining the financial commitment to the business. Know exactly how much money one will commit and what will happen if that investment is unsuccessful.
2. Stable
Planning to start a new venture or joining in a new and exciting startup at a senior level? There’s no guarantee one would succeed. The foundation of the company, even if ideas and plans are solid, is rocky at best, and there’s no telling which direction the business is headed until its several months, or often much longer, into running things. If one hasn’t already sacrificed a comfortable, well-paying, stable job to follow this route, odds are he/she will have to sacrifice some other kind of stability before one can move forward.
Leadership is, by nature, an unstable path to follow. Don’t be surprised if you encounter multiple, unpredictable shifts in your fortune as your work progresses. It’s natural and part of the process. Eventually, if you work hard with a clear vision, things will stabilize. That is a bumpy ride but remember that this is what chose for yourself.
3. Work-Life Balance
When one assumes bigger and heavier responsibility, the lines drawn between professional and personal life are likely to blur. One would start thinking about business even when he/she is away from work, sometimes because the leader wants to and sometimes because he/she can’t help it. They like it or not, leaders are expected to stay available on calls and emails urgently needing their attention even during odd hours. One can organise things with time but that remains a question with most top leaders in corporate sector or otherwise.
4. Comfort Zone
Being the boss of one’s own company or leading an organization means the buck stops with him/her. One has to have to wear dozens of hats, make decisions one has never made before and delve into subjects one has never before considered. Part of being leader means stepping out of your comfort zone, often multiple times every day.
Don’t think of these sacrifices as literal sacrifices. One has to give something up, sure, but try to think of it as a type of investment. Hard work demands giving up intangible luxuries in exchange for something better down the road. This way one is paying for the opportunity to find success in his/her own enterprise or a better workplace, and those sacrifices will be rewarded many times over so long as the leader stays committed to his/her chosen path.
5. Empowerment
Any business just cannot grow until the top team is ready to hand over some control i.e., empower and down delegate. Control is a sacrifice every business head has to be not only prepared but eager to make. Unfortunately, this is rarely easy. There is often a lot of emotional investment in a new business and it can be difficult to let others get involved. But as you expand your team and hire new employees, you will have no choice but to sacrifice some power.
The best way to prepare for this loss of control is by fine-tuning your hiring process. The more detailed and efficient your strategy for finding and onboarding new staff, the more faith you will have in the people you have hired. This trust will make handing over responsibilities and sacrificing control much easier.
Conclusion
Napoleon Hill once said: Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice, and is never the result of selfishness.” Some of the greatest leaders only shine out due to sacrifices that they have made in their lives; this is something that all leaders should take into account when trying to improve their own leadership skills. Sometimes being a great leader means that you have to make great sacrifices for the company, for your employees and for the goal that your company is working towards.
Most leaders agree to give something up for the success of their company. It’s rare, however, that an individual understands exactly how much they’ll have to forfeit while growing their business. One of the most effective ways to support a new business is to prepare yourself — and those around you — for which responsibilities will have to take the backseat.
About the Author
Muhammad Sajwani is the Founder and Managing Director of Evolve HR which aims at transforming, enriching and evolving Human Capital of Pakistan, Evolve HR thrives in challenging assumptions that hinder organisational aspirations, by creating innovative solutions that yield maximum impact, scalability & benefit to a wider base of stakeholders. As a Business Coach and Organisational Consultant, Sajwani knows how to combine business insights with people insights to transform organisations and put them on the path to growth.
