Seek perfection in the real world
Recently, I had the opportunity to reflect on the practice of bringing many years of Karate experience and learning from the dojo into the real world.
Without going into details about the absolute shock I received from people I thought I could trust and barely avoiding detrimental results on my life as I know it, I retreated to my home base, my square one to assess and contemplate the situation.
As a 4th degree Shotokan black belt, I fully live by the Dojo Kun (the rules of the practice hall). I do not question their wisdom or truth. This is how they go:
- Seek perfection of character
- Be faithful
- Endeavor to excel
- Respect others
- Refrain from violent behavior
Some might think that I take "Seek perfection of character" a few steps too far. I set high standards for myself and the ones who surround me. We have a lot to learn and every day should be a little better than the last. This high standard not only applies to character, but to everything we do. And surely, I tend to push myself and others beyond what is comfortable and easy.
"The only easy day was yesterday" marks most workdays in this fast-paced environment we are in. This means that we need to put effort into each task, each project. We need to try our best.
At the same time, this striving for excellence does come with a label of being "faithful", honest, authentic. We cannot achieve these results without doing them the right way.
These maximum efforts to catapulted us into the next sphere, to elevate our work and ourselves to the next level, let us look back with pride while wiping the sweat off our foreheads.
Maybe that's where I went wrong. I thought everyone wants that. Everyone wants to better themselves and improve their work along the way. But it seems that some people are more than comfortable staying at the same level and do mediocre work that doesn't interfere with their self-proclaimed good reflection.
Or more so, they get so uncomfortable when challenged that they'd rather lash out and make wild accusations about others before looking at their work product and the quality of their outputs.
There are people practicing martial arts just for show. Essentially, they are doing glorified gymnastics. Just following the movements. And similarly, this happens in the corporate world, too. Some are just doing the bare minimum to slide by. Just going through the motions. Getting paid for showing up.
That is fine if you can get by, but at least do your minimum correctly and don't expect your colleagues to pick up the slack.
In today's business environment, however, more is expected from office warriors.
Practice "extreme ownership" for your projects and life and don't wait for others to do your part. Do everything to at least approach the standard or the benchmark that management or clients are looking for.
I respect people around me for who they are. We have a saying that goes something like "within one's capability". Not everyone went through countless drills to perfect that one punch or produce a flawless document, but everyone can try. Efforts in trying to improve are what I am looking for to collectively move forward and raise.
New technologies, stress, and looming deadlines require the whole team to double down on the tasks at hand. The more "capable" ones can bring those still finding the path along. Is it a fun ride? Probably not so much, since reminder over reminder, encouragement, and some frustration pave this way to a successful outcome.
While the karate path certainly provides for more alertness, more patience, and more humility, it also relentlessly pushes the practitioner to deal with challenges, obstacles, and never-ending persistence. In an office environment or anywhere, there is no room for "violence" per se but plenty of opportunity for frustrations that can be taken personally or the wrong way when persistence is consistently required.
There is always room for improvement for self and others. Voicing the frustration in repeated requests to be better, to do what is asked, might be perceived as adverse behavior, might be looked upon as disrespectful.
But does it warrant official actions, complaints, accusations? Wouldn't it have been better to first approach each other with a simple question: How do you see me? (Elisabeth Lesser) or any kind of question that results in a clearing conversation?
Did I make mistakes along the way? Certainly. My way is not everyone's way. More patience, more humility, more compassion is still needed. Hence, more time in and outside the dojo to practice mindfulness.
This post was first published on https://chaophrayaprincess.wordpress.com/