I couldn't look back on my life without acknowledging and appreciating the role that Martial Arts, and especially Taekwondo, had in it. If I think about my mentors and teachers, most of them are limited to that period, in which by observing and learning from them, I began to forge my temperament, my behavior and my abilities. Today all of them serve me to feed my continuous search for excellence in what I do. And in what I transmit.
Seeing the demonstration of capabilities made by Sebastián Crismanich at the London 2012 Olympic Games, I cannot help but mention some of the coincidences between what Taekwondo offers and what I see continuously that organizations need, from my role as consultant, coach or executive program facilitator. And although the title of this article is “5 teachings that TaeKwondo leaves to Organizations”, the most important thing is what it can leave to YOU specifically, that you are the one who contributes to shaping its course and its results..
The 5 teachings
1. It teaches you to PREPARE yourself, mentally and physically to leave your mark, which reminds you of a high purpose, overcoming minimal obstacles. Preparing for success translates into practice to continually witness changes in your attitude, body, and spirit, which diminishes your fears, oxygenating your will. Master your will, listen more to your heart than to your head, that the latter will always try to play it safe, second by second. For the heart, time passes more quickly and is more willing to take risks. Follow him, there is the passion, which turns ordinary people into extraordinary people. And if the heart is ever silent too, look for an example of someone you admire, of that 'someone' in whom you can reflect. And it continues. Do not stop. You will see how the 'voice' returns to that heart,Before you can tell
2. It teaches you to HAVE THE COURAGE to go a little further. Because there, out there, in the competitive arena - not in your office, home or sector - is where things happen, where you test yourself, where you can get the best of yourself, and grow an inch more, professionally. Meaning is there, not in your comfort zone. This reminds you that there was a place where you once dared to dream that you would arrive. Therefore, have the courage to recreate your internal image day by day, rethinking the architecture of your habits, beliefs and borders, in order to zigzag, one by one, the barriers that prevent you from taking another step. Then look them in the eye and take control. Spread that on your team, clients and colleagues. They need it more than you can imagine.
3. It teaches you to FIGHT FOR A GOAL, for what you believe in, not for a medal. Possibly the medal is what others want from you. This reminds you that the medal is the consequence of a well thought out process, a different effort and a smart strategy. The effect of asking you things that most do not dare to ask. As is common, people will see the 'medal', but the only one who will ultimately be able to replicate a process of excellence will be the one who has designed and passed it. You are that person and, by simple mathematics, the more processes and routines of excellence you design and implement, the faster the 'golden' will arrive (what some call 'luck').
4. It teaches you to FALL AND GET UP, which reminds you that you are human, but that you cannot stay on the ground for long and that you can less give that advantage to your opponent, with little left to go. Your dignity implores you to remember that the important thing will be, at the end of each project, to be able to smile with dignity, based on the personal pride that gives you the knowledge that you gave everything to achieve it. Every time you wake up, your self-confidence rises above average and automatically builds a new shield towards emerging trivia, which could no longer impact your deepest tissue, your most intense drivers.
5. It teaches you to THANK YOUR TEAM, which reminds you to thank more often: do this exercise: look around you and observe (or visualize) those who helped you achieve your success, big or small, transcendent for others or just for yourself, and thank them. But one piece of advice: do it in front of a mirror…
Just as in an Olympic stadium, in the company a 'warrior' must be alert. But I am referring to those 'warriors of light', of which Paulo Coelho speaks. Because apathy, resignation, conformity and stress are virulent enemies, ready to subtly or deliberately attack those who present themselves to compete with their guard down, without the ability to unlearn, to learn, to transmit knowledge, to lead their present.. In practice, that state of intense observation, 360º that Sebastián Crismanich showed in each combat, is translated into action, that is, in the opportune intervention, in the fundamental pause to act positively in the face of the echo of a decision taken, in rethinking the sense of continuing or not with a project. And this happens because every warrior of the light knows that every blow, every action,each initiative leaves him, by definition, vulnerable, exposed… look at it like this: in a given second it is not possible, at the same time, to hit and defend oneself. Those who have ever practiced martial arts understand this principle well (the simple act of throwing a fist to the front leaves a vulnerable flank in the lateral zone, no matter how guard it is with the opposite arm); So if you decide to do both at the same time, you will not be doing either of them at their maximum level of effectiveness. With this principle in mind - and in a matter of seconds - they decide the proportion of time, opportunity, priority, technique and willingness to apply. With this I want to tell you that although it is in ACTION where the effect is manifested, it is in REFLECTION where the possibilities of achieving a great impact are enhanced.Hence, it is very important to take time for everything. Remember? It was in those seconds in which we saw Sebastián Crismanich without kicking, seconds in which, from the outside it seemed that 'nothing was happening' but, it's easy to say now - but I'll say it - his victory was brewing. One step back? Just to gain momentum…
Jim Rohn, renowned American author on personal development, used to define success as “the sum of small things, very well done, over a period, that did not by themselves make any substantial difference in the present result, but that, at some point, without announcing it, they would reward you with something that you couldn't understand to what to attribute it, to which of those little things you had done…). But he was right, it is the summation that counts (during combat you can see some of them), all of them 'small' that when empowered, converge in success.
And if I say 'it reminds you' it is because I am sure you already know, just as I am convinced that the current dynamics of business, the frantic search for short-term results and the need to meet multiple bosses, clients and Obligations do not allow you - as much as you would like - to 'stop the machine' to convert these concepts (and integrate them) into your current philosophy of success. That is why I propose that you (re) begin to mold a new leadership fiber, an 'Olympic organizational leader', who at the right time, is capable of doing all of the following, one thing at a time:
• Makes a conscious OBSERVATION of the Action Zone (your market, customers, threats and opportunities);
• Pauses before the next move (consult, think, cross information, look at your team, ask for a second opinion);
• DEFENDS with determination when it is necessary to do it (negotiate with options, alternatives and present your ideas with assertiveness);
• Generates CHANGES that encourage decision-making (with value propositions focused on the client but driven by yourself);
• ACCELERATE to create opportunities or take advantage of them when they arise (listen to your clients, your team and bosses, balance their needs with yours and quickly build bridges between the four segments);
• DEFINE your present (make decisions, decide which battles you will decide to fight and then take risks, close your agreements and have those difficult conversations that you are putting off) and, finally…
• ENJOY, with a certain dose of ease, the pleasure that causes both what you do and what you achieve and what you do not (celebrate the achievements, big and small of your team, do not wait for the fight to end, recognize each 'point' done on the goal, surprise them as only you could: remember that many times your success will be directly proportional to the sustained brightness in the eyes that you can see on your team. And if from time to time things are not given as you would like… come back to point 4! But next time, anticipate, don't make the same mistake twice in a row).
Message-force
Let us remember these principles and work as 'black belts' at the time of execution - looking for the KO - but as 'white belts', at the moment of continuing to learn and take the best of our teachers and mentors, while we become the BEST VERSION of OURSELVES.
Taekwon.
