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Ralf Lippold Premium Member Group moderator
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"Lead as if you have no authority" - Gary Convis
When have you encountered that this model of leadership has worked?

Regards,

Ralf
- 01 Oct 2008, 6:44 pm
Ralf Lippold wrote: > When have you encountered that this model of leadership has worked? > > Regards, > > Ralf
Paul Bayer Premium Member Group moderator
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Re: "Lead as if you have no authority" - Gary Convis
Hi Ralf,

please look carefully. The saying is "you should lead as if you have no power".
(see http://www.gembapantarei.com/2007/09/gary_convis_on_the_role... )

When have you encountered that this model of leadership has worked?
It works great. This is leading by relaxing and opening completely to the people. It is based on mastery, respect and curiosity and uses calmness, reflection, dialogue, questions … It acknowledges, that leadership and lean is about learning and developing selfregulation.

One may object, that this cannot work within an organization controlled by power and autocratic management. But autocrats are completely helpless if one reacts to force by pulling instead of pushing back. Certainly it is difficult since pushing back comes to us only too natural. But give it a try and you will see. This is what Ohno meant by recommending "Ninjutsu" (the art of the ninjas) for process improvement.

The model and experience behind this saying: „you should lead as if you have no power“ comes from martial arts and is best incorporated in classical Judo (gentle way) or Aikido (way of harmony and energy). A martial arts master is able to relax his body and mind completely and at any time to focus his energy in one point. Ki (energy) comes from relaxation. Thus (by using no power) he creates incredible power. This is a martial arts paradox.

See how Mifune Sensei (10th Dan Judo) cannot be thrown by bigger partners since his body is completely relaxed. And he is able to throw them easily: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFXbuszijCM

A leader able to relax (using no power) is able to cause relaxation and focus in his team and therefore to generate focussed team energy and power. A leader applying (only) force onto his team to direct them where they do not want to go will cause resistance, immobility and therefore will loose focus and energy.

Leading as if one has no power is no intellectual trick. It requires capability and excellence learned through hard and relentless training (shugyo). Only then one is able to relax and to use this deeper power (life energy = ki).

You may say that I am completely mad, talking all bullshit. And you may be right. For all this can hardly be explained by words, only be experienced.

Cheers,
Paul

tippex
This post was modified on 01 Oct 2008 at 11:12 pm.
- 01 Oct 2008, 10:16 pm
Paul Bayer wrote: > Hi Ralf, > > please look carefully. The saying is "you should lead as if you have > no power". > (see > http://www.gembapantarei.com/2007/09/gary_convis_on_the_role_of_manage > ment_in_a_lean_ma.html ) > > > When have you encountered that this model of leadership has worked? > > It works great. This is leading by relaxing and opening completely to > the people. It is based on mastery, respect and curiosity and uses > calmness, reflection, dialogue, questions … It acknowledges, that > leadership and lean is about learning and developing selfregulation. > > One may object, that this cannot work within an organization > controlled by power and autocratic management. But autocrats are > completely helpless if one reacts to force by pulling instead of > pushing back. Certainly it is difficult since pushing back comes to > us only too natural. But give it a try and you will see. This is what > Ohno meant by recommending "Ninjutsu" (the art of the ninjas) for > process improvement. > > The model and experience behind this saying: „you should lead as if > you have no power“ comes from martial arts and is best incorporated > in classical Judo (gentle way) or Aikido (way of harmony and energy). > A martial arts master is able to relax his body and mind completely > and at any time to focus his energy in one point. Ki (energy) comes > from relaxation. Thus (by using no power) he creates incredible > power. This is a martial arts paradox. > > See how Mifune Sensei (10th Dan Judo) cannot be thrown by bigger > partners since his body is completely relaxed. And he is able to > throw them easily: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFXbuszijCM > > A leader able to relax (using no power) is able to cause relaxation > and focus in his team and therefore to generate focussed team energy > and power. A leader applying (only) force onto his team to direct > them where they do not want to go will cause resistance, immobility > and therefore will loose focus and energy. > > Leading as if one has no power is no intellectual trick. It requires > capability and excellence learned through hard and relentless > training (shugyo). Only then one is able to relax and to use this > deeper power (life energy = ki). > > You may say that I am completely mad, talking all bullshit. And you > may be right. For all this can hardly be explained by words, only be > experienced. > > Cheers, > Paul > > > tippex
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Ralf Lippold Premium Member Group moderator
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Re^3: "Lead as if you have no authority" - Gary Convis
Even without any authority or formal power in the back it is possible to lead other groups. As you are a member of the group (same level of hierarchie) you always have the ability to do an intervention in the process through questioning what is troubling the group (concerning the very process).

Listening and actually seeing what their own story of the problem is reveals often the hidden root causes - instead trying to find that in your formal function as the specialist.

Through opening up their thinking about the problem in a new, unseen way, you already lead them and yet they are still the "chiefs" of the process!

The "effect" of that is they feel empowered because their knowledge is relevant to solving the problem and nobody posed "their" solution on them.

This applies to all levels in the hierarchy and yet the person who is doing the intervention has to be careful not to pose his personal solution or even favor it.

Nothing is more sustainable as a collectively achieved goal!

Cheers,

Ralf

PS.: Like my dear friends from Team Academy say, "Go with the flow. Trusting the process."
This post was modified on 02 Oct 2008 at 07:38 pm.
- 02 Oct 2008, 7:35 pm
Ralf Lippold wrote: > Even without any authority or formal power in the back it is possible > to lead other groups. As you are a member of the group (same level of > hierarchie) you always have the ability to do an intervention in the > process through questioning what is troubling the group (concerning > the very process). > > Listening and actually seeing what their own story of the problem is > reveals often the hidden root causes - instead trying to find that in > your formal function as the specialist. > > Through opening up their thinking about the problem in a new, unseen > way, you already lead them and yet they are still the "chiefs" of the > process! > > The "effect" of that is they feel empowered because their knowledge > is relevant to solving the problem and nobody posed "their" solution > on them. > > This applies to all levels in the hierarchy and yet the person who is > doing the intervention has to be careful not to pose his personal > solution or even favor it. > > Nothing is more sustainable as a collectively achieved goal! > > Cheers, > > Ralf > > PS.: Like my dear friends from Team Academy say, "Go with the flow. > Trusting the process."
Paul Bayer Premium Member Group moderator
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Re^4: "Lead as if you have no authority" - Gary Convis
Hi all,

Please let me I repeat, that the right quote is not about "authority" but about "power": "Lead as if you have no power".

Power is the flow of energy. Someone without formal authority can use other forms of power (rhetoric, physical power, information, access to key resources, relations …) in order to push something. The quote is not about not using (formal) authority but about not using power at all.

Leading without power means leading without force and intention. This in japanese is called "mushotoku" and means unintentionality. It is an important concept in Zen and martial arts. As Ralf mentioned "going with the flow" is the right way to direct power.

Going back to Mifune Sensei, he cannot use formal authority to throw opponents or to resist being thrown. This is entirely absurd. Gary Convis is a guy (not only with formal authority but) with real power. His teacher instructed him to be careful in using it. People constantly using their power soon exhaust their energy and become weak. You can see this everywhere.

Cheers,
Paul
- 02 Oct 2008, 9:16 pm
Paul Bayer wrote: > Hi all, > > Please let me I repeat, that the right quote is not about "authority" > but about "power": "Lead as if you have no power". > > Power is the flow of energy. Someone without formal authority can use > other forms of power (rhetoric, physical power, information, access > to key resources, relations …) in order to push something. The quote > is not about not using (formal) authority but about not using power > at all. > > Leading without power means leading without force and intention. This > in japanese is called "mushotoku" and means unintentionality. It is > an important concept in Zen and martial arts. As Ralf mentioned > "going with the flow" is the right way to direct power. > > Going back to Mifune Sensei, he cannot use formal authority to throw > opponents or to resist being thrown. This is entirely absurd. Gary > Convis is a guy (not only with formal authority but) with real power. > His teacher instructed him to be careful in using it. People > constantly using their power soon exhaust their energy and become > weak. You can see this everywhere. > > Cheers, > Paul
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Ralf Lippold Premium Member Group moderator
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Re^6: "Lead as if you have no authority" - Gary Convis
Hello,

the definition of power - has it been done yet?

What is power? Does it differ from the perspective? Power and effectiveness? Physical versus non-physical power, is there a difference in business?

A saying in inner martial arts (and objective) is to”move 10’000 ounces with just 1 ounce”. But you need the power, strength, force, authority; you name it, to apply this one ounce. You also need the sensations and techniques to evade the direct confrontation with 10’000 ounces and apply the one ounce at the right moment, with the right angle and to the right point.
Power of thoughts and thinking - especially when articulated in questions, proposal and opportunities and resulting in action.

The power that emerges from that is the ultimate driver for people to take action by themselves - instead being driven into compliance doing what the "stronger" or "higher positioned" person has said.

Regards

Ralf
- 12 Oct 2008, 2:50 pm
Ralf Lippold wrote: > Hello, > > the definition of power - has it been done yet? > > What is power? Does it differ from the perspective? Power and > effectiveness? Physical versus non-physical power, is there a > difference in business? > > > A saying in inner martial arts (and objective) is to”move 10’000 > > ounces with just 1 ounce”. But you need the power, strength, force, > > authority; you name it, to apply this one ounce. You also need the > > sensations and techniques to evade the direct confrontation with > > 10’000 ounces and apply the one ounce at the right moment, with the > > right angle and to the right point. > > Power of thoughts and thinking - especially when articulated in > questions, proposal and opportunities and resulting in action. > > The power that emerges from that is the ultimate driver for people to > take action by themselves - instead being driven into compliance > doing what the "stronger" or "higher positioned" person has said. > > Regards > > Ralf

Lean Thinking

"Lead as if you have no authority" - Gary Convis

Re: "Lead as if you have no authority" - Gary Convis

Re^3: "Lead as if you have no authority" - Gary Convis

Re^4: "Lead as if you have no authority" - Gary Convis

Re^6: "Lead as if you have no authority" - Gary Convis