Vikram, an experienced Chief News Editor, is in a lively newsroom of a TV broadcast media house, and is providing guidance on leadership to Veda, a young and enthusiastic journalist, to discover your purpose in leadership. A bright and practical intern, Sowndarawali asked Vikram and Veda three related questions. These three questions initiated conversations regarding Chapter 2 Verse 48 from the Bhagavad Gita. The discussions then elaborated on purpose-driven leadership and its relationship to corporate governance within their media house.
Veda: Vikram, I’ve heard that the Bhagavad Gita provides profound insights on principle-based leadership. Could you share a specific verse from the Gita, Chapter 2, Verse 48, and expound on its relevance to our newsroom?
Vikram: Sure, Veda. Chapter 2, Verse 48 of the Gita is a treasure for understanding principle-based leadership. Here is the verse in Sanskrit:
योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय।
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते॥
In transliteration:
Yogasthaḥ kuru karmāṇi saṅgaṃ tyaktvā dhanañjaya,
Siddhyasiddhyoḥ samo bhūtvā samatvaṃ yoga uchyate.
The essence of the translation is:
“Perform your duty, being steadfast in yoga, renouncing attachments, and being equal in success and failure. This equableness is called yoga.”
Veda: That seems deep, but how is it related to leading our newsroom? Seems a bit ethereal.
Vikram: Honestly, Veda, it’s just super practical. This verse is all about keeping your head screwed on straight—focus on what you’re supposed to do, don’t get all twisted up over winning or losing. For us in leadership, it means we’ve gotta make decisions based on our big-picture purpose—like, getting real, impactful news out there—not just chasing clout or worrying about what the ratings say. Kinda like, check your ego at the door and remember why you started.
Sowndarawali (the intern, jumping in): Wait, so you’re saying, like, when we cover some gnarly corruption story, and we know it might blow up in our faces or tank our numbers, we still gotta go for it? Just ‘cause it’s the right move?
Vikram: Nailed it, Sowndarawali. That’s exactly the vibe. Now, let’s get into our first big question: Does the way we run this newsroom actually line up with what we say we’re about?
Veda: Our whole thing is “truth with impact,” right? But honestly, sometimes it feels like we chase whatever’s trending just to keep the numbers up. Feels like we’re kinda selling out. How’s this verse supposed to help us with that?
Vikram: The Gita’s all about keeping your cool and sticking to your mission, not getting distracted by flash-in-the-pan stats. If you’re running the show, set the ground rules—editorial policies and all that—that put the public good first, even if it means passing on some juicy, clickbaity nonsense. This verse is basically saying: play the long game, stay disciplined, don’t sweat the short-term stuff, and make sure the way we run things actually matches what we claim to stand for.
Sowndarawali: Remember when we covered the flood relief stuff last month? Not exactly the kind of story that’s gonna break the internet, but hey—it actually helped people figure out how to pitch in. That’s the kind of thing that feels real, you know? Like we’re actually sticking to what we say we’re about.
Vikram: Couldn’t agree more! That’s what I call walking the talk. Alright, Veda, let’s keep it rolling: Are we actually leaving behind a legacy of trust and impact, or just chasing numbers?
Veda: Honestly? Sometimes I think we shoot ourselves in the foot going after viral nonsense. Like, last week’s celebrity gossip—sure, we got the clicks, but people dragged us on X for being shallow. Doesn’t exactly scream trustworthy. So, where does the Gita come into this?
Vikram: The verse talks about “samatvaṃ”—basically, keeping your cool and sticking to your purpose, whether people are cheering you or booing you. If we want folks to trust us, our choices have to match what we claim to stand for, every time. Stuff like transparent fact-checking, or just straight-up admitting when we mess up, goes a long way. Good governance isn’t about chasing ratings—it’s about making trust the thing we leave behind.
Sowndarawali: Yeah, like when we had to eat crow and fix that story live last week. Super awkward, but people respected it. That’s how you build trust, right?
Vikram: Exactly, Sowndarawali. Owning your mistakes is basically the Gita’s advice: leave your ego at the door. Alright Veda, last round: How do we actually fire up our team and everyone involved, so they care about the mission—not just hitting deadlines?
Veda: Man, the team’s running on fumes half the time, always chasing the next trend. How do we get them to focus on the real reason we’re here, instead of just cranking out content?
Vikram: You know what the Gita says—lead by example or nobody’s buying what you’re selling. If the higher-ups actually walk the talk, like picking stories that matter instead of just chasing clickbait, people notice. Suddenly everyone wants to step up. And governance? Doesn’t have to be stiff. Just throw in some real rewards—like, I dunno, celebrate journalists who go deep instead of just churning out fluff. Oh, and advertisers? We gotta spell out what we stand for, loud and clear. If they’re not cool with that, well, there’s the door. That way, everyone’s rowing the same boat.
Sowndarawali: Seriously, I saw this happen! Our editor gave a shoutout to someone who covered education inequality—wasn’t flashy, didn’t go viral, but it fired us interns up. After that, pitching real stories felt like it actually mattered. And that time we said “no thanks” to that sleazy ad offer? Guess what, advertisers realized we’re not messing around about our values.
Vikram: That’s exactly it! When people see we mean it, from the newbies to the big-money partners, it’s contagious. Veda, got any ideas on how to keep this up when the competition’s just pumping out junk for clicks?
Veda: That’s the million-dollar question, right? When everyone else is just chasing numbers, how do we stick to our guns and not get left in the dust?
Vikram: Honestly, the Gita’s got an answer for that too—just stick to your mission. Like, make “truth with impact” your North Star. Bake it into everything: which stories we run, who we hire, even how we deal when the pressure’s on. And don’t freak out just because someone else’s numbers spike for a week. Stay chill, stay focused, and over time, people will actually trust us. That’s what sticks.
Sowndarawali: It’s like running a marathon, not a 100-meter dash. Maybe we don’t blow up overnight, but the people who come along for the ride? They’re here because they actually believe in us.
Veda: Wow, that actually tracks. The Gita’s advice isn’t just spiritual mumbo-jumbo—it’s, like, a practical guide for not selling out. Thanks, Vikram. And Sowndarawali, your real-life stories just made it click.
Vikram: Hey, happy to share. Sowndarawali’s stories prove we don’t have to be philosophers to live this stuff out. Anyone got a last word before we wrap?
Sowndarawali (grinning): Just one! “Lead with purpose, stay steady through the noise—because the Gita says true success is serving the mission, not chasing the spotlight!”
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