To be able to put all that knowledge to practical use, as professionals we do need to observe a great deal of personal discipline. We need, above all, a high degree of self-control. We may have our idiosyncrasies and preferences, our tendency to give in to outbursts and hands-on intervention. All these we need to put under a leash, precisely because of the need to respect others and out of due consideration for giving them enough room to maneuver for themselves. Indeed, a center for governance and leadership needs to underscore this basic point, that in the professional interaction between men and women, there is the imperative of respect for the personal dignity of every one.

Respect for all others imposes on every one of us a high level of personal asceticism. We do not go on the attack even when we have the urge to do so. We do not allow an outburst of impatience and anger to boil over and explode like a volcano, raining down its destructive lava and offensive ashes on every one else around. Rather, we watch our words carefully so as not offend others unnecessarily. Indeed, in all our interaction with others, we show a great deal of self-restraint with a view towards making them more productive in their work and making the work environment as pleasant as possible for all.

A pleasant work environment, however, is only a means towards a greater end, which necessarily has to be service to all the constituencies we are duty-bound to take care of. Lest any one forget, a center for governance and leadership should remind every one about this fundamental point, i.e. that professionals with their knowledge and expertise are there to work with the basic idea of making a positive difference for the welfare of others. All that knowledge and expertise can not be directed at ourselves; rather, as professionals, they are to be used with one objective, to serve those whose needs we can help meet.

This much needs constant underscoring, that as professionals we enjoy a given prestige because of our knowledge and expertise, which we use in order to be of service to those in need. We need to increase and bring to a very high level the prestige that we enjoy as professionals. However, we can do so only by powerfully combining these two elements: The specialized knowledge we have; and we do need to acquire more and more of it; then, the spirit of service – using the knowledge and expertise we have – to those who come our way with some need for professional help.

This powerful combination leads us, as professionals, to become better all-around men and women in our respective spheres. It is a task of the center for governance and leadership to ensure that every professional in the organization has this combination of ever-increasing specialized knowledge and of a deeper spirit of service to everyone.