In the martial art Karate there is a term: Ikken Hissatsu, which I am reliably informed means “one hit, one kill”, the idea being that you try to ‘finish off’ the opponent with one overwhelming strike.
Some of you may know that I teach martial arts/self defense to quite a high level and for many the idea of the ‘one punch, one kill’ was frowned upon as being impractical for most people.
Untill a gentleman well versed in the noble art of Karate explained to me that most people can’t expect to take out an attacker with one punch, but that Ikken Hissatsu is the idea that you want to!
Ah ha! Well there’s a thought, I don’t know if there is an equivalent term in Japanese for this, but perhaps the idea of coaching someone is very much like this, you go in with the idea that one intervention will suffice; but understanding reality you have the patience and wisdom to be prepared to continue past the first blow, sorry session.
Perhaps it is the willingness of an executive coach to continue, that enables you and the coachee to sense the momentum of a conversation, to sense your commitment to the output and thus in many circumstances this acts as its own force in gaining commitment to change.
It is a powerful thought: “That your authentic presense is in itself part of the solution” and that as a leader or executive coach the technique you use will only be as valuable as the intent you have.
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