In corporate world, learn the secret of your success from three toed skink

All most all people in every corporate would carry both the ‘ability and adaptation’ of the three toed skink and hence, the HR function and the corporate leaders/bosses only have to make the people perform accordingly and ensure the best result.

The three toed skink is considered to be a unique reptile (lizard) among the entire animal kingdom. The discovery of its amazing ability/adaptation has really puzzled the scientists around the world. The uniqueness of the three toed skink is that it can lay eggs as well as young ones, according to the situation.

Three toed skink lay eggs when the animal lives in the hotter region. In the hotter regions, it lays eggs like any other reptile and it knows that the warm temperature of the environment is sufficient to incubate the eggs.

When in colder regions, the three toed skink, instead of laying eggs, give birth to young ones. The scientists believe that, may be because of the cold weather, the eggs may not get adequate/required heat for incubation. Under such circumstances, the skink may prefer to give birth to young ones instead of laying eggs.

The amazing thing is that the three toed skink has both the adaptations. It reserves the right choice according to the situation. The choice of the three toed skink is so wise and successful because it gives utmost respect and value to the end result i.e. absolute reproductive success.

If the corporate people are made to own the results of their effort/project, naturally they will produce best results. Unfortunately, most of the bosses will act that they only own the result and the people (subordinates) are only there simply for doing the job or producing the result as per the wishes of the bosses. When such ownership is not given to people, people will focus only on the effort and not on the result. It would be like skink laying eggs in colder regions or laying young ones in hotter zones.

People have the ability not only to put the right effort but are also capable of producing the right result. To produce best result, it is not just passion and commitment, the sense of ownership is essential.

Only when people have such emotion and spirit in owning the result, they focus on getting the result and will ensure success. Look at the genius of three toed skink. It wants the reproductive success at any cost. Instead of attempting to change its habitat or weather (which is impossible), it had learned wisely and had brought the necessary changes within and that is how it has adapted either to lay eggs or give birth to young ones.

People know not only what effort is required for the result and what kind of adaptation is required to achieve the result. If such understanding is not there, the people will be left with only effort. Only when the people are made to feel owners of their result instead of making them just accountable and responsible, people will definitely exhibit the adaptation of the three toed skink.

Make people in corporate owners of what they do and let the corporate be governed by several owners so that everyone will work with commitment, passion and towards the ultimate goal is the message nature conveys through the uniqueness of three toed skink.

Dr S Ranganathan, ClinRise Derma Pvt., Ltd., Chennai