Who shout the loudest, win !

I read an impressive phrase from John F. Kennedy " We should not fear to negotiate and we should not negotiate under fear ". The meaning is very deep but it is almost a taboo in Asian countries and almost to the extent of disgusting. Our pride and up brings forbade us from demanding for our rights or accord the proper value for our job or self worth. For these reasons, most of the Asians suffer in silence or under abuse and choose to leave their jobs without any resistance if they are not happy. Fear is used to suppress human rights or demand for our rights and values.  Most of the times, the employers are the one who shout the loudest while the employees shake in fear. Shouting is to instill fear in most negotiations and the loudest always wins.

So, when I read the phrase from John Kennedy, I found the wisdom in the words. It is our basic right to negotiate. What is wrong saying what is on our mind and also questioning or demanding for more pay to correspond with our value in an organization. There has to be a systematic and fair evaluation using KPIs ( key performance indexes) or MBOs ( Management By Objectives) to measure one's performance and to remunerate them according to their contribution to an organisation and not just based on the whims and fancies of our superiors or employers. If without such tools to measure and evaluate, it will be based on superficial or bias judgements. Sometimes, there could be harassment and victimization in the evaluations. Hence, we should provide the platform by using such tools to negotiate on the rewards and awards in a fair and reasonable basis.

For some bad managements, they use intimidation to instill fear and compromise one's power or ability to negotiate a proper deal. Any negotiation under duress or fear  is unhealthy and bias. From an organization, it has been used to suppress the people , hence marginalizing the timid many and favoring the mighty few. Such behaviour will caused brain drain in an organization or a country and in the end, only those shout the loudest will stay and get rewarded or the powerful few suppressing  the many weak. It is a time bomb for disaster.

John Kennedy, could have been a very good US President if he was not assassinated early in life. He was a forward looking , young and dynamic President . Rebellious in many ways but that makes him different. Coming from the man of his calibre shows that he has enormous wisdom.

So, many of you would live to live in peace and comfort and do not want to rock the boat and rather suffer in silence. In Buddhism, you are advise to have kind compassion and loving kindness to your fellow human beings but it did not stop you to be kind and fair to yourself.  The westerners have expressed surprise at our tolerating and silent nature and it is high time, you be yourself and ask what is due to you and not wait for what is due to you. Never fear, for fear breeds more fear.  Stand up and be counted to demand and insist for our rights. In the end , you will find  your self , a happier person.

Namaste .