Sustainable Leadership: Resilience and Responsiveness

「勝って兜の緒を締めよ」(katte kabuto no o wo shime yo)

When you win, it’s time to tighten your helmet straps. So goes a proverb from the samurai. It relates to the practice of 残心 (zanshin), lingering awareness. After overcoming an opponent, one still remains alert, attuned and ready for more. It is the embodiment of Presence in the midst of the din and confusion of uncertainty, stress and struggle. 

The principles of Resilience & Responsiveness mean, essentially the same thing. In Engaging the Core I wrote:

“Stewardship, support, service, maintenance & improvement. Building and maintaining flexibility. Everything changes. At the core of eco-centric, sustainable action is the heart of flexibility and the perceptive wisdom to respond with change.”

In the automotive industry Toyota has exemplified this practice, relentlessly expanding their market share, celebrating milestones and remaining alert, attuned and focused on maintaining, improving and exceeding the excellence already achieved.

In politics Obama took little time to celebrate or rest from his victory. He and his team are vigorously responding with the changes that are taking place on a weekly and, sometimes daily, basis.

What are we doing?

Whether we’re celebrating Obama’s victory or disheartened by it are we remaining alert and attuned to the promise of opportunity in hard times or are we distracted by our feelings of elation and despair?

Are we stuck in our industrial age mindsets or are we building the capacity for flexibility, responsiveness with change and sustainable work and life styles?

Are we waiting for someone else to do something for us or do we have the desire, commitment and accountability to do for our selves and others in the spirit of sustainable stewardship, support and service?

The times they are a changing, my friends. They’re going to continue to change. Get used to it.

Reacting or resistance to change puts us consistently a day late and a dollar short. Ever tried to fight a wave? Just ask the American auto industry.

We win some. We lose some. Do we have the capacity to respond with loss and victory, to tighten up those helmet straps? Are we building the capacity for Presence, opening our selves to possibility, flexibility and opportunity, remaining alert and attuned to what’s next? Can we place our selves in a way to influence what’s next?

Can we be what’s next?

Tags: obama, resilience, responsiveness, sustainable leadership, Toyota, zanshin