Leadership

One aspect of the Six Sigma system quality management system made famous by GE and Motorola is the use of the coloured belt system used in the martial arts. The colour of the belt provides guidance to the ranking of that person in the team and potentially the organisation. But do we know what the true meaning is behind the belt colour? And if we do, how do we rank alongside similar coloured belts not only within the organisation but also outside?

Personal Development

Beginners in a martial art start with a white belt, a symbol of innocence or starting out. Tradition states that the belt is not washed so that over time with practice grows expertise, with the belt becoming soiled. As the pupil continues his or her practise he or she gains more knowledge. After enough practice the student’s belt becomes black and the student has achieved enough knowledge to be at the end of the beginners and so the journey begins for not only knowledge but also wisdom!

Goals and Outcomes

The learning experience can be likened to an endless staircase with countless landings. Each step up moves us closer to a goal and just as we reach a goal, objective or outcome a new set of stairs becomes visible to take us to a new goal, objective or outcome. As each staircase unfolds in front of us it is very easy to encounter frustration, feeling of where now, how do I get there? What is interesting is that we do not know the future and have moved through perceived barriers in the past so what is stopping us now? Often the answer is taking time to learn or revisit skills that assist us in training the mind that in turn leads us to adopt a ‘break with’ mentality.

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