Hinkaku
Photo by Alessio Roversi on Unsplash
To become a Yokozuna (or Grand Champion) in Sumo Wrestling, there are, broadly, two sets of criteria that have to be met.
The first relates - as we might expect - to power and and skill, specifically performance in recent tournaments with a standard of two consecutive championships as an Ozeki (or an equivalent performance). This is reasonably quantifiable criteria, one that is objectively measurable.
The second set of criteria is Hinkaku, or dignity and grace. This is a measure of behavior - specifically whether the individual’s personal qualities, his demeanor and standards are beyond reproach. And yes, it is possible to have the requisite power and skill, and still not become a Yokozuna due to a lack of ‘hinkaku’.
The point is that it isn’t enough to simply have the technical and performance skills. There is more to being a champion than just that. One must also demonstrate the values - the culture - of a true champion, as measured by our personal qualities we personally adhere to and promote publicly and privately.
It’s an important ideal and one that readily translates to the workplace. Great organizations are aligned with this ethos in their own respective ways and they expect this of their best people.
The best people - in the true sense of the word - are not simply technically adept but they meld with our culture and exemplify our values. Certainly, they don’t lose who they are - you need to bring that to the table - but they don’t take away from the values of the collective.
No negativity, no toxicity, no blame of the ‘other’.
An emphasis on collaboration, positivity and growth.
A focus on collective improvement. No one person is better than the other.
Otherwise, they aren’t true champions, and despite what they might have ‘delivered’, we shouldn’t be rewarding them for what is essentially, ‘partial’ - one might even say, suboptimal - performance.
The idea of hinkaku is a concept that, in more situations than we might expect, we’d do well to remember.
