Be fair and inclusive

Siddhartha would never discriminate between one caste and another, irrespective of their caste and station in life,as well as food and drink from those disdained by society—the poor and the outcasts. His followers, too, came from every walk of life and all existing castes, including, on the one hand, prosperous higher castes such as royalty, or warriors and, on the other, those perceived to be the lowest of the low—the so-called untouchables.

Inclusion and acceptance of the diverse, is therefore, the fourth lesson to be gleaned from the Buddha’s life. It is important to recognise the talents of other people and abide by your own commitment to them. It is just as important to promote equality in your team as it is to refrain from dismissing a human being for their apparent lack of looks, social standing or their seemingly limited capabilities. You must learn to be objective about, and fair to, each of your team members and arrive at an understanding of their unique talent. Just as the Buddha was appreciative of his disciples’ diverse skills and capabilities, encouraging them to develop them to the utmost, you too must be the same with each one of your team members.