Leading Later

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To lead, one must establish a connection that fosters “matching” i.e., where the leader first achieves status by telling people what they are “Ready to Hear” because they already think what you are saying is true but just a different way of explaining the truth they are already thinking. You need to “Match” yourself and the subject with the others, either one or several people, to establish a connection where you have others ready, willing and able to follow because now you established a belief in their minds that you, and they, think and feel the same way - now, you can lead. 

It is often the mistake that because one has a certain expertise, that they have been in positions of certain levels of status in a group and have experience in a field, discipline or system then add in their understanding assume they can just walk in and take charge. Many black belts, first level sho-dan’s, assume because they earned that belt they can just walk in, open a dojo, and teach others and the others will assume and accept what they teach. Now, in some cases this works but in the long run, not so much.

When a person first enters into a group to accomplish a goal, that group must first create connections and become a group. Just being in a group does not achieve the respect, status and acceptance of abilities, education, understanding and experience. Having credentials is not about getting others to accept you and what you can offer, it just opens the door where they are willing to listen until you prove to them of your abilities. What I have presented above is just one way to open the doors to acceptance. It allows all the members to get to know one another, to experience the social connections through experiences they have together and then they build upon those established connections to create confidence and a “Brotherhood” that establishes the character and personality of the individuals as well as the collective, individuals as a tribe, a group or a clan, etc. 

The reason so many dojo collapse regardless of the Sensei’s desire, service oriented efforts and the mutual goals of Sensei and the dojo if there is not connection, to pacing to reach that point and not confidence regardless of symbols, credentials and perceptions then there is no clan, no group dynamic conducive to connectivity and cohesiveness and not feeling and like-minded thinking, etc. Therefore, the dojo fails, the Sensei fails and the membership lose. 

This is why I advocated that one not attempt to take the teaching role alone, I advocate that one who achieves sho-dan to remain under the tutelage of more senior and experienced until they learn these types of requirements and who have a chance to establish teaching abilities so that when they enter into a new venture, a new dojo, they can first earn others respect, confidence and beliefs so that when it comes time there leadership will have established a solid foundation so when you lead, they follow and by that established relationship one builds a dojo, a dojo family and future teachers of the arts. 

Avoid the first mistake of sho-dan, assuming your accomplishments, experiences and knowledge with understanding are going to be accepted simply because you wear a black belt or you have won a few competitive matches or you have achieved experience in the application of your arts. People don’t work that way, even tho I have a degree in a certain field along with extensive experience to back up that credential I have found that until I establish this kind of connection most will NOT accept me or my abilities until I pay my dues. Dues in this case is first, accomplishing the art of matching that literally can bring about that thread of attachment that allows us to bridge the span between strangers thereby making them friends, associates, co-workers, tribal contributors and interconnected like-minded group supportive members of the same clan whether family discipline oriented, etc. 

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