LEADERSHIP EFFECTIVENESS:
If you go into your local Borders or Barnes and Noble, you will see numerous volumes on effective leadership and improving organizational health in a company. That in conjunction with many OD consultants stating that they usually run into mediocre at best leaders, tells you there is a need for a NEW type of training.
The focal point of the training deals with the parallels of a martial art master and a master of leadership skills. You will learn the “inner meaning” of the samurai and see how those skills and qualities translate into the same exact skills that a successful leader would need to possess.
Morale and Motivation are two very important ingredients that if not handled well can destroy an organization.
A leader must have the pulse of his employees. Being aware and applying basic principles of human interaction can easily improve a low morale issue. A successful manager, just like a skilled martial artist, needs to be aware of his surroundings and what might derail him. The skilled martial artist senses the attack prior to it being launched. The skilled leader should also sense a low morale problem before it festers and gets out of control.
Many leaders use fear or aggressive tactics to motivate their staff. In the short run it might yield short gains. However, in the bigger picture it will alienate the staff and give them a reason to sabotage their leader. A martial art master knows how to pick up the energy of the attack, and lead it into a harmless channel. A skilled leader too picks up subtleties. Just as a skilled martial artist uses just the right amount of force to subdue his attacker, a good leader would know just the right amount of force to use in order to motivate his staff. He realizes that there is no reason to use an excessive amount of force to accomplish his goals.
Harnessing your KI (Internal Power).
CHANGE
Philosopher Alfred North Whitehead said, “The only constant in life is change.” The skilled martial artist must be able to deal with an unexpected attack (obviously change) in a calm and efficient manner. Change is inevitable, and the master leader, like the martial artist, must be able to recognize it and react appropriately to avoid disaster
A comedian once said nobody likes change except for a new born baby. IBM medical consultant Dr. Alan McLean stated “Change is always stressful, it always involves losing something.” The first thing to do regarding change is to stay calm under pressure. For my second degree black belt exam I had to defend myself against 5 individuals attacking me simultaneously. Staying calm under the pressure of the attack allowed me to see how the attacks were originating, and to work with the attackers in order to dispense them. The black belt leader must do exactly the same. George Leonard, an Aikido master, has stated in his workshops, “Expect Nothing but be prepared for Everything.”
