c“जो पात्र नहीं, उसे दान देना पाप है”
— Chanakya
Centuries ago, Chanakya captured a truth that feels uncomfortably relevant today. In a world driven by speed, competition, and constant disruption, leadership is no longer just about developing people. It is about choosing where and on whom to invest your limited time, energy, and belief.
A Reality Check Every Leader Faces
We have all heard the saying: you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink.
Modern leaders do their part. They offer opportunities, learning programs, mentors, tools, and clear growth paths. The assumption is simple: if we provide enough support, performance and growth will follow.
But reality does not always cooperate.
Not everyone wants to learn. Not everyone wants to change. And not everyone values growth, even when it is served on a platter.
When Fairness Starts Feeling Unfair
Chanakya’s line is often misunderstood as harsh. In leadership, it is not about punishment. It is about fairness.
When you keep investing in people who refuse to learn, you are not being kind. You are being unfair to those who are hungry to grow.
Every extra hour spent convincing the unwilling is an hour taken away from someone who is ready. Every role or reward given without merit quietly demoralizes the team members who are putting in the effort.
Over time, this does more damage than any tough decision ever could.
A Lesson from the Mahabharata
Before the great war, Krishna tried to guide Duryodhana away from destruction. Duryodhana’s response is one of the most honest lines in leadership history:
“जानामि धर्मं न च मे प्रवृत्तिः”
I know what is right, but I have no inclination to follow it.
This line plays out in offices every day.
People know they should upgrade their skills, but they do not.
They know they should take ownership, but they avoid it.
They know change is necessary, but they resist it anyway.
Awareness without action is not a capability issue. It is a choice.
Why Today’s Market Leaves No Room for Passengers
We are operating in an environment where disruption is constant, skills age quickly, competitors move fast, and margins are thin.
In such a world, leaders cannot afford to carry those who refuse to run.
This is not about being ruthless. It is about being realistic. Teams survive and thrive only when effort, learning, and accountability are non-negotiable.
What Leadership Is Really Responsible For
A leader’s role is not to force growth.
A leader’s role is to create the conditions for growth.
That means setting clear expectations, building a culture of learning, providing access to resources, and recognizing genuine progress. After that, the choice belongs to the individual.
Some will step up. Some will stay comfortable. Leaders must respect both choices, but they cannot reward them equally.
The Hard Truth Most Leaders Avoid
Some people want growth without effort.
Some want rewards without learning.
Some want promotions without performance.
Compassion that enables complacency eventually hurts the entire team. Patience that delays tough calls slowly turns into paralysis.
Strong leadership is not about saving everyone. It is about serving the mission and the people committed to it.
One Strategic Question That Changes Everything
Every leader must pause and ask:
Am I investing my limited time and resources in people who are willing to grow, or am I draining them on those who refuse to change?
In today’s competitive environment, this is not just a management dilemma. It is a survival question.
The Bottom Line
You can open doors.
You can show the path.
You can provide tools and guidance.
But you cannot want someone’s growth more than they do.
The horses that refuse to drink will complain about thirst. The wise shepherd focuses on those who are ready to move forward.
In the end, the toughest leadership challenge is not developing talent. It is having the clarity to recognize who truly wants to be developed, and the courage to invest accordingly.