(I023) The Human Impact Kata: Leadership Beyond Frameworks
What if leadership wasn’t just about learning frameworks but about becoming them? What if, instead of simply understanding resilience, adaptability, and connection, you lived them so deeply they shaped every decision, every interaction, every challenge you faced? That’s the essence of The Human Impact Kata—a transformative practice designed to go beyond theory and embed leadership into who you are.
Learn More About the H.I. Kata
Last week, I had the privilege of hosting a webinar on the Four Pillars of the Ensō Mindset: Kokoro (heart-mind), Shu (learning the form), Ha (breaking the form), and Ri (transcending the form). We explored the profound beauty of impermanence and imperfection—principles that are more relevant than ever in today’s fast-changing landscape.
We often assume that being human—our soft skills, our ability to connect, and our intrinsic creativity—is common sense. But in reality, common sense isn’t so common. And unless we start deliberately training these skills, we risk losing what makes us truly effective leaders.
My HR career has deepened my belief that we need to put the "human" back in Human Resources. Rigid policies, obsession with profit, and prioritizing organizational goals over the well-being of those achieving them have created a workplace culture that often stifles rather than supports. But here’s the belief I hold strongly: when we value and grow our people, profit and organizational goals follow. People-first leadership isn’t just a nice idea; it’s the foundation of sustainable success.
The challenge? Traditional leadership programs focus on the framework but often fail to ensure that these skills are truly embodied. We teach leadership principles, but do we ensure they are lived, breathed, and practiced daily? H.I. Kata, a disciplined practice of refining soft skills, is needed now more than ever. It’s not enough to understand connection, resilience, and creativity—we must integrate them into our way of being.
Yet, there’s a real fear. If we don’t start working on our human skills, things are going to get a whole lot worse. Fear will take over, and instead of leading with our hearts, we’ll see workplaces driven by anxiety, detachment, and survival mode. But the alternative is possible—we can choose to connect, to learn, and to grow.
So how do we move forward? We take inspiration from the tree.
There’s a tree in Japan, known as the Miracle Pine, that stood alone after the devastating 2011 tsunami wiped out an entire forest. Against all odds, it remained, battered but unbroken, embodying the very essence of resilience. For years, it stood as a symbol of hope, a reminder that despite the ever-changing, unpredictable nature of life, growth is still possible. Even when the soil beneath it had been altered beyond recognition, the Miracle Pine persisted. Eventually, it had to be reinforced to continue standing, but its spirit remained—a testament to the power of adaptation, support, and perseverance.
Like that tree, we must find a way to grow no matter the environment. We must root ourselves in our values (Kokoro), learn and honor the structures that support us (Shu), adapt and challenge the old ways when necessary (Ha), and ultimately, transcend the limitations we once believed were fixed (Ri).
The Ensō Mindset is built on these four pillars and grounded in timeless Japanese philosophy. But thinking deeper than concepts, we must choose deliberately to become them—so that growth is not just an idea but something felt, something that creates a real impact and ripples of change in the world around us.
To bring this to life, I’m launching The Human Impact Kata—a transformative leadership experience that moves beyond frameworks to real embodiment. Starting April 1, our first cohort will begin: one for Emerging Leaders and another for Managers who are ready to lead differently. This is not just another leadership course—it’s a shift in how you see and respond to the world. Through in-the-moment coaching, perspective-shifting exercises, and a focus on integration, you’ll learn to lead in a whole new way.
And so, with the Ensō Mindset as the foundation, I invite you to join me this April. Breathe with me. This program will teach you to lead with heart, to grow through adversity, and to create the impact you were meant to make.
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