Focus on both — efficiency and effectiveness

I am not too sure what possible criteria they may have to find the “suitable” partner for you, but there is no scientific evidence to support the accuracy of horoscopes and thus they are a matter of individual belief. I personally believe that “Manglik” effect can kill the spouse only if the “Mangal Grah” were to fall on the spouse’s head! However, it is difficult to obliterate beliefs that are closely held by an individual and if it does not interfere with your own value system, you may choose to play along with it.

I would suggest that you marry the person you love, or if you are not in love, talk to the person your parents “select” and see if you two have things and interests in common. Don’t diminish another human being as a collection of characteristics or traits, and don’t worry about any horoscope related ill effects on you. After all you are “Akshay” and you can’t be harmed. In an ideal world, dissent ought to be a cornerstone for meaningful conversations and interactions. It ought to be actively encouraged in all settings, personal and professional. However, given the not so ideal world that we live in, the best way of doing it is by being extremely polite. Begin with something like, while you do have an interesting point, I would like to suggest something different…Make sure that you highlight the difference on the perspective/subject and not the difference with the person. Differentiate between the subject and the object. Further, substantiate your perspective with logical arguments or established theories/research. Try to lighten it with humour if you think the other person has one! Else avoid humour for some people may see it as sarcasm and react negatively. This can’t be an either/or question. You have to emphasise on both and in equal measures. While efficiency is all about getting the maximum output given a certain input, effectiveness is about successful achievement of goals. Colloquially, therefore, efficiency is doing the things right, effectiveness is about doing the right things. Looking at it from the rubric of marketing, say, cost per sale would be a subject matter of efficiency while customer satisfaction would be a matter of effectiveness. You need to focus on both!

Have any questions about life, management, philosophy, education, literature, yoga, mountaineering in India, or psychological issues or all of these? Ask Himanshu Rai. He is the Director at IIM Indore, an author, mountaineer, yoga enthusiast and a Sanskrit scholar. Mail at askhimanshu@htlive.com

WHILE EFFICIENCY IS ALL ABOUT GETTING THE MAXIMUM OUTPUT GIVEN A CERTAIN INPUT, EFFECTIVENESS IS ABOUT SUCCESSFUL ACHIEVEMENT OF GOALS.