The Art of Aligned Action
Ten years ago, I made a decision to start my own business, which I named Aligned Action.
What exactly is Aligned Action? Not as a business name, but as an idea that you can use to grow your business?
Aligned Action is an Art. We all know art when we see it.
When done well, art in business is not the rote application of formulas, but rather the unique expression of the creative spirit applied in service.
Whose creative spirit? Yours. And of the people you lead.
Over the past several years, I’ve studied a variety of martial arts (hapkido, tai chi, jiu-jitsu) and have come to understand that all martial arts ultimately share a few common principles.
Specifically, all martial arts are based on the principles of effective energy transfer and efficiency of motion.
The principles are universal and unwavering, based on human physiology.
To achieve effective and efficient energy transfer, your mind, body, and spirit must be in alignment.
Otherwise, as they say, your results may vary.
As a martial artist, I must have a clear intention of what I want to accomplish in any encounter. I must then select a specific target and direct my energy toward that point. The various parts of my body must then work together to transfer energy to the target.
What is guiding this process? A clear mind. (And ultimately, at the highest levels, no-mind.)
Your spirit must be clear in order to set the intention that guides everything else. As you progress in the arts, your awareness grows — specifically your ability to be mindful of a wider range of opportunities and threats simultaneously and to then decide on appropriate action.
The martial arts are unique, reflecting the expression of a particular time, place and culture. Even an individual person within an art will do things differently, reflecting their unique abilities and style. You can move in any way you like, in any order you like as the situation dictates, provided you follow the principles of effective and efficient energy transfer.
What then, is the Art of Aligned Action, as applied to business?
The effective and efficient coordination of creative energy in service of your customer.
When done well, mutual benefit and value is created for all parties.
What are the core principles? You can express yourself in business any way you’d like, as long as you maintain alignment among four elements:
1. Intention
2. Customer
3. Team
4. Self
As the leader, you must:
1. Set a clear intention for the ultimate desired outcome.
2. Clearly define the customer and the specific problem your company solves for that customer.
3. Clearly define how your team will coordinate its energies to deliver value to the customer.
4. Maintain a clear mind, spirit, and awareness at all times.
The upside of Aligned Action is success.
The downside?
If you are not clear on your outcome, you will not succeed. (How would you know if you did?)
If you are not clear on your customer, you cannot direct your energy effectively.
If your team is not clear, you cannot coordinate your energy effectively.
If YOUR MIND AND SPIRIT ARE NOT CLEAR, then NONE OF THE ABOVE CAN BE CLEAR.
If you are not experiencing the results you want in your business, I can assure you that we can trace the cause to one of these four issues: Intention, Customer, Team, or Self.
And all roads lead back to you.
The costs of mis-alignment are enormous and cumulative by the day.
If you recognize yourself in this post, request a working session with me to get sorted out.
Do not delay.
