Japanese terms and concepts have become commonplace in modern corporate vernacular e.g. Just-in-time, kaizen, kanban, JIRA. These concepts have been adopted to improve Western business processes by modelling from proven successful Japanese methods. Why aren’t we extending our learnings by borrowing from Eastern leadership philosophies as well?
One of the most significant influences on Japanese culture is the Samurai. Much like the Knights and Spartans are revered in Western society, the Samurai were the highly respected Japanese warriors.
The Samurai were known for their fighting spirit, their athletic prowess and their ability with the sword, however the strict ethical and moral code by which they lived their lives was equally important to their fighting skills. This was known as ‘bushido’ and emphasised the following principles:
· Respect
· Self-discipline
· Benevolence
· Courage
· Loyalty
· Honour
· Accountability
The Samurai continually practiced kaizen (continuous improvement) by making small incremental changes that, over time, made a significant difference to their overall performance and character. Through self-awareness, they were able to recognise their strengths and identify areas where they needed to develop. This ability to self-scrutinise and take action led to their elite status.
In addition to being known for taking decisive actions, the Samurai were known for their strong moral compass and the strength of their character.
We believe these characteristics are also essential in leadership, hence the name Samurai Leadership Coaching.
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