I am teaching Leadership and HRM subjects at both MBA and International MBA programs at Globis University.
Globis University exists so as to develop business leaders who create and innovate the society. “Creation” refers to starting a venture company or incubating a new business in a large firm. “Innovation” refers to drastically changing the structure of the business to correctly respond to society’s needs.
In this column, I would like to write about the association between Ki and management which I keep in mind if I were creating a business or changing the business.
Globis University exists so as to develop business leaders who create and innovate the society. “Creation” refers to starting a venture company or incubating a new business in a large firm. “Innovation” refers to drastically changing the structure of the business to correctly respond to society’s needs.
In this column, I would like to write about the association between Ki and management which I keep in mind if I were creating a business or changing the business.
Association between Ki and management
My father used to work for a Japanese trading firm. Due to his overseas assignments, I spent my childhood in North America, namely New York and Montreal. When I was in Montreal my junior high school teacher asked me what Zen is or what kind of person Zeami was. I could not answer those questions at that time. I felt ashamed of myself for not being able to answer such questions so when I came back to Japan at the age of 14, I started to practice Aikido to strengthen my identity as a Japanese. I furthered my attempt by studying Gagaku, Japanese traditional music and dance. When I was in my college, I visited Japanese farm villages as a field research in my study in social geography.
During the college, I became the president of Aikido club where I had opportunities to take an Uke (to be thrown by a master) from Arikawa Sadateru Sensei. This was like a dream moment for me. I learned so much about martial arts, how to utilize our body and how to find an excellent balance with people and the surrounding environment.
After I graduated from college, I followed my father’s path and entered a trading firm. There I was given an opportunity to study about management at Harvard Business School (HBS). Before entering HBS, I expected that I was to study about how to make money.
The professor of General Management, one of the marquee classes at HBS, was a Professor who actually ran business as the Chairman and CEO. Although he was semi-retired then, he had been selected as one of the best CEO in Midwest United States during the 80s’. His class was full of surprises. He would ask hail of questions to students. “What would you do as the protagonist of the case, the CEO?”, “Then what?”, “And then what? Why would you do so?” As I was trying to answer his questions, strangely, I felt a similar soul awakening which I experienced in the past when I was receiving profound Aikido lessons from Arikawa Sensei. Curious to find the reason, I set up an appointment to meet this Professor.
“I feel a similar Ki in your class which I felt when I was having Aikido lessons from my master Arikawa Sensei.”
“Hmmm, I give you credit for understanding Ki at your age. However, if you can not associate management and Ki, there is no use to study management at HBS. Come back again when you have thought about that.”
This meeting I had with the Professor was like a striking lightening to me. A western business person knows about Ki and said Ki and management are strongly associated with each other. He even went further to say that it will be useless to study management unless I understand this link. What exactly is “management”? I was intrigued by the deepness of his words toward management.
During the college, I became the president of Aikido club where I had opportunities to take an Uke (to be thrown by a master) from Arikawa Sadateru Sensei. This was like a dream moment for me. I learned so much about martial arts, how to utilize our body and how to find an excellent balance with people and the surrounding environment.
After I graduated from college, I followed my father’s path and entered a trading firm. There I was given an opportunity to study about management at Harvard Business School (HBS). Before entering HBS, I expected that I was to study about how to make money.
The professor of General Management, one of the marquee classes at HBS, was a Professor who actually ran business as the Chairman and CEO. Although he was semi-retired then, he had been selected as one of the best CEO in Midwest United States during the 80s’. His class was full of surprises. He would ask hail of questions to students. “What would you do as the protagonist of the case, the CEO?”, “Then what?”, “And then what? Why would you do so?” As I was trying to answer his questions, strangely, I felt a similar soul awakening which I experienced in the past when I was receiving profound Aikido lessons from Arikawa Sensei. Curious to find the reason, I set up an appointment to meet this Professor.
“I feel a similar Ki in your class which I felt when I was having Aikido lessons from my master Arikawa Sensei.”
“Hmmm, I give you credit for understanding Ki at your age. However, if you can not associate management and Ki, there is no use to study management at HBS. Come back again when you have thought about that.”
This meeting I had with the Professor was like a striking lightening to me. A western business person knows about Ki and said Ki and management are strongly associated with each other. He even went further to say that it will be useless to study management unless I understand this link. What exactly is “management”? I was intrigued by the deepness of his words toward management.
Tomoya Nakamura
