When Budo Meets the Boardroom: My personal lessons in Leadership

Some weeks’ ago a good friend, who was ?considering a career change, ?asked? me about my views on leadership and my experiences of managing teams through change. ?

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I told him that in today’s digital VUCA world, where the only constant is the continuous need to adapt and improve, true leadership transcends operational management. More than ever it is a profound avenue to impact people’s lives and to forge the future for the better.?

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In this journey? where leaders have to navigate? their teams successfully ?people are looking for cues that provide direction and reassurance.?

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My? personal compass in life and business has often been Budo.? I have been practicing martial arts for most of my life, starting wij ju-jitsu and later karate and (kick)boxing.?

To me the 7 ?virtues of Budo, the traditional Japanese martial way, aren't just rules for the dojo or the gym.? ?

They are guiding principles that provide a striking parallel to the essential qualities for anyone who wants to lead effectively and (com)passionately.

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1. Rectitude (義, Gi): Often also referred to as righteousness, this virtue involves being decisive and acting in a morally correct manner. It’s about doing the right thing and consistently taking the right actions, even when other choices may be tempting or distracting. In business this has helped me to focus and to be choiceful on what to do and what not to do. ?

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2. Courage (勇, Yu): This is the bravery to face the challenges that come one’s way, whether in a fight, in daily life or in the market place. It involves risking oneself or one's career or to protect others for the right cause. It’s about? showing strength and confidence, speaking up, pushing boundaries, stepping out of the comfort zone and challenging the status quo. i

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3. Benevolence (仁, Jin): Kindness towards others and acting with empathy are central to this virtue. ?In Kyokushin karate - the full-contact style that I’ve been practicing – fights are won by knock-down or knock-out. Mas Oyama, founder of the style -? believed however that the heart of martial arts was not in winning fights but in fostering the spirit of helping others. So when in difficult discussions and negotiations, remember that one can be tough on the topic and kind to the person. ???

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4. Respect (礼, Rei): The bowing ceremony when entering the dojo or when facing an opponent entails a deep respect for others regardless of their status or relationship. (It has nothing to do with? the stare down show offs we see in modern MMA). This token of respect towards your Sensei (teacher), peers and adversaries is all about diversity, inclusivity, politeness, proper etiquette and the desire to learn from each other and become a better version of oneself.?

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5. Honesty (誠, Makoto): Often translated as sincerity, this virtue involves being truthful in one’s words and actions. ?“Do what ?you say and say what you do”. It’s about being genuine and authentic in all interactions and it? translates directly to leadership. ?Leaders should communicate openly, setting clear expectations and being forthright about challenges and successes. ?Transparent and sincere feedback ?builds ?the? foundations of trust and loyalty within your? team.?

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6. Honor (名誉, Meiyo): ?Honor in martial arts involves maintaining a sense of self-respect and the dignity of the practice. The respect of others is earned by being worthy of it. ?Honor is about living up to the ethical standards set by society, one’s company values and principles and oneself. For managers “Leading by example” or?? living up to one’s words through consistent, ethical actions is vital. People will look for inspiration and consistency in their leaders' signs and examples. ?As Bruce Lee noted, "Knowledge will give you power, but character respect."

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7. Loyalty (忠義, Chugi): ??In martial arts, loyalty to one's Sensei and dojo is fundamental.? Similarly, loyalty in leadership involves commitment to one's team and? one’s company.? ?Demonstrating unwavering support and standing by your team ?to deliver the joint mission will inspire their dedication and hard work, especially during challenging times

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Integrating these Budo virtues into my ?leadership style have helped me over the years’ to inspire, support and empower others. ?Leadership is about bringing more than just strategies, plans and KPI’s ?to the table. For me , Leadership is a neverending? journey in which I put my ?heart and soul in every interaction in an attempt ?to leave a lasting, positive impact on every organization, business and person that I touch.

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#Leadership #LeadershipLessons #BudoWisdom #Management #Leadbyexample

Coactiv Consulting & Coaching

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