Leadership Aikido: 6 Business Practices That Can Turn Your Life Around

by John O'Neil

Book Overview

The rapidly changing nature of today's business world requires that people possess strong leadership expertise that will enable them to handle potential problems with efficiency, intelligence, and diplomacy. As managers and employers rethink out-moded business paradigms in order to keep offices running smoothly, production levels high, and morale up, Leadership Aikido presents innovative skills that answer their urgent needs. ???????? Author and management consultant John O'Neil shows us how the concepts of aikido can be used as a lifelong business practice. Aikido--the martial arts tradition that stresses victory without harm--employs six master practices that enable us to assess and develop our leadership potential. These practices of aikido are: cultivating self-knowledge; practicing the paradoxical art of planning; speaking the language of mastery; letting values drive our decisions; turning failure into success; and heeding the law of unintended consequences. Using these elements of aikido, we are then able to identify and overcome five inner enemies that impede our progress--failure to grow emotionally; failure to make creative decisions; failure to empathize; failure to manage ego; and failure to overcome alienation and boredom. ???????? In his straightforward and thoughtful manner, John O'Neil ensures us that by adopting these practices into our lives, we will benefit both professionally and personally. By embracing the philosophy of aikido and bringing beliefs, perceptions, and actions into harmony, Leadership Aikido will enable us to embark on a path of continual learning, inner personal change, and enlightened leadership that will revolutionize the way we set and achieve our goals.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0609802216
• ISBN13: 9780609802212
• Release Date: February 1999
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press (CA)
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Helpful for (Some) Leaders

This is a book I really liked when I got it last year. First, I'm a management consultant and coach to leaders, and second I regularly practice aikido. What do the six principles focus on? Self-knowledge, Planning, Habits of Language, Values, Resiliency (dealing with failure), and Control (or lack thereof). I liked the insights and ancedotes in each chapter, and there are some really good exploration exercises spread throughout the book. Do these alone or with a guide; they're great for cultivating reflectiveness. "Think time" is something all leaders need.The book will appeal to leaders who are intuitive or are exploring that aspect. Linear, hard-driven types--you probably will pass on this one for now. The author's earlier book The Paradox of Success addresses the disillusionment faced by those who have achieved success but at great personal cost. That book will find more resonance with a wider audience.Aikido is used as a metaphor, and the author shares both his admiration for the art and admits his lack of experience on the mat. The book found it's mark with me. But for those looking for aikido, they should probably go elsewhere (George Leonard or Mitsugi Saotome).

Brilliant understanding and insights into THE SELF, but...

There is one thing lacking in the work, and I say this with all humility. I mean no disrespect, the book is absolutly brilliant. But the practical techniks used don't go beyond the purely intellectual and there for are lacking. I have been the student of Yutaka Kurita sense, last direct disciple of O'sensei Morihei Uyeshiba, and again with all humility I can asure that the work lacks a deep understanding and implications of Aiki... Insights drawn from samurai philosophy little aply in the understanding of Aiki, much less for Aikido and in the understanding of TakemusuAiki...I would truly apreciate any reply. at your servise, Jack

How to be a responsible leader using aikido

This book of leadership aikido tells you how you can learn the art of aikido in business. The author shows different senarios and gives a lot of good examples. I found this book to be interesting and was trully amazed. It shows you how to handle any stressfull situation that you may have and gives you ideas on how to solve it. This book should be a must for any person who wants to be a leader and how to be a good one at it.