Non-combat applications/corporate realm

[parrapiti]

Dear Ray!

One of the main principles of our School is the set of Shaolin Laws (the Ten Shaolin Laws). If we apply these during our training, during our daily interactions with others, everytime we can they will become second nature. Once they become second nature to us, we will always apply them to any situation in our lives, personal, corporate or else. Then, your internal force, your capacity to focus and be relaxed and your alert mind will be even more powerful, not only for sparring, but everywhere, all the time. You will "transmit" that power, that alertness, that peace, that clarity of mind,..., in your attitude, your behaviour and your poise and you will not "feel" threatened by situations as the ones you described.

That takes clear intention and diciplined practice. Enjoy!

Piti Parra Duque

[Ray]

Dear Sifu Piti Parra Duque
I know what you mean. Although I myself do not possess any internal force my experiences with chi allows me to understand what you say. In Chinese, Shaolin kung fu trains several things among them is the eyes or mu ”目“.
Why the eyes? Because the eyes are a reflection of a person's spirit and I have found the Shaolin Eye Exercises invaluable in strengthening my own self-confidence. Furthermore, a person's tone of voice filled with confidence and strength is as strong deterrent for people with bad intentions. They become afraid and their suspicious, manipulative natures start to eat them up from the inside.
The word in Chinese for Internal Force is Nei Li "内力“ which is more like "Within/ Inside/Underneath Power" It is indeed power, and it is a valuable and essential form of self-protection. It is said that before one crosses hands with another opponent this power clashes first which is why people will stand down with a look or a word instead of a fist.

Love,

Ray

[parrapiti]

Dear Ray!

Thanks for your knowledgeable words. I´ll continue training my internal force through Shaolin Chi kung and Wahnam Taijiquan to improve my "eye"!

Piti Parra Duque

[Piers]

Dear Sifu Piti, I just wanted to say that I found what you wrote fascinating, and I don't want this thread to disappear!

I have only been learning kung fu for a few months so I am a beginner and not sure I can comment on applying it to my work, but I certainly do feel greater energy and focus than I may have had a few years ago. I also have deeper confidence and a kind of rootedness. And as for smiling from the heart - always useful to turn a situation around.

Thanks!

piers

[Chiahua]

I just had a chance to go over the pieces, and I found them really interesting reading.
There are aspects of Shaolin that are directly applicable to the board room: smiling from the heart, relaxation, and mental freshness. But I really enjoy the metaphors drawn between the logical debating skill and the "external training", as opposed to "ji ben gong", the fundamental skills and a basic philosophical approach to the negotiation. It's as if one is keeping your actual dan tian, in addition to a more "philosophical dan tian". Maybe it's tactics and strategies?

[priya]

Most interesting and great benefits

Dear Sifu Piti (may I address you thus?)

Thank you for this thread, it helps me very much to read what you and the others write with respect to this manner of application of the Shaolin Wahnam arts. Although I instinctively and intuitively have felt that the manner of approaching and dealing with 'situations' at work and in social life has altered and become more efficient since learning and practising Chi Kung under Sifu, it is very helpful to have these insights formulated in appropriate and effective terms. Thanks so much.

Have realized that when the base is firm and good, then one is able to be and do what is most appropriate and effective given the situation. It is this spontaneous and natural way of being and doing that gives room for creativity and inspired ways of handling and solving crises - and learning and progressing in the right direction with indeed maximum benefit for (all) those involved.

Please forgive me if I have been too presumptuous in placing my experience as a part of this thread. Feel very inspired by this thread and what I have read here.

With warm regards and respect,
Priya

[parrapiti]

Dear Priya!

Thanks for your words!

This is not "my" thread, but an open discussion thread (like all on this forum), for everyone to interact, comment, discuss, open perspectives, ask, etc. about a specific topic related to the Shaolin Arts.

I am (we all are, I can guess...) looking forward to reading more of your entries here!

Piti Parra Duque

[diego parra]

How much "force" should I use in a negotiation ???

Dear Piti:

It´s been a while since our last discussion in this topic. I really enjoyed your last thread, and wanted to share little experiences about the topic:

While negotiating, I have noticed that I can be using to much "force" sometimes...In recent experiences in negotiating, people have started to feel a little scared/intimidated, because I used more "force" than needed. One great lesson that Sifu gave us last time in Costa Rica is that, when the opponent is felt by one, one can just use the "smallest amount of energy" to beat him in a subtle, smooth way. I really found this being a very nice lesson, that can be applied not only in negotiation, but also in our interaction with others in the normal life...

Big hug, and thanks for opening this very nice thread...

Diego.-

[diego parra]

Taijijuan, Competitive Advantages + Strategy....

Dear Piti and all:

I really enjoy this topic about tai ji juan, applied to non combat applications...Wanted to share a little bit about strategy and taijijuan...

As a consultant in topics regarding innovation and strategies, I really have learnt a lot of things with my taijiquan practices...The "classic" definition of strategy could be regarded as: " the art of developing competitive advantages in the present, in the short term and in the long term, so that companies can develop real differentiations in the actual markets "...( Michael Porter )...

When one practices tai ji quan, one has to:

first, note what are the "skills" showed by one and his opponent (one is feeling the basic conditions of "the market" ) and how one and the other interacts (what are the basic settings of the firms in one industry or market???)...

second, one has to "create" a set of patterns that will allow to beat the opponent in a "friendly" way...( what kind of competitive advantages do I have? what kind of competitive advantages do I have to work on, to keep on being succesful???)...

by "feeling" these kinds of things, and by having applied this kinds of methaphors that bind together these very remote worlds (two opponents, two corporate firms) I really have learnt many, many profound aspects of the art of corporate strategy...

Best regards, again.

Diego.-

[diego parra]

Taijiquan, negotiation + strategy...

Piti, thanks again for having opened this very interesting post...

Here are some thoughts regarding the topic (small lessons that I have harvested from recent study and applications of this very fine art of taijiquan, applied to my recent work as a consultant):

What is "strategy?": put in very simple words, the "classic" definition of strategy in the corporate readings could be addressed as "the art of developing competitive advantages in your business, not only in the present, but also in the short (1 year) and long term (5 years)"...

As a taijiquan practitioner, I have noticed that this definition of strategy can be experienced and sensed in a very profound ( yet not only rational, as Piti posted) way...

When I practice taijiquan I have to "feel" the other for a little time, to see what are the basic conditions, or initial conditions of the combat (when one enters a market, one has to know what are the basic conditions of the market, the status in the industry...) Second, I have to develop a strategy to win, by knowing the basic standards...(and here is when strategy applies innovations, or "unexpected moves" in order to be succesful !!!

Just this little thought, I wanted to share in this thread...

Hope to hear your comments !!!

Chao,

Diego.-

[parrapiti]

The Use of “Force” in Negotiations

Diego opened an interesting question about the use of excessive force in an interaction (negotiation) on one of his entries on this thread. Here is my perspective about it:

“Every group has a threshold for tension that represents its optimal level of conflict among members. Conflict too far below this level results in group apathy, boredom and lack of involvement. Prolonged conflict above this level, on the other hand, causes shared disagreement, heightened hostility, and a loss of group effectiveness. What is needed then, is a balance between too little tension and too much tension…”

(Donelson R. Forsyth, “An Introduction to Group Dynamics”)

This same principle applies for negotiations between two or more parts. Many times, a negotiation requires for us, as conscious facilitators of the process, to “move back” and allow the counterpart to “attack”. This attack will decrease tension and allow us to move around the “most efficient tension level” (Tension Threshold – TT). This is “simple”, but not “easy to do”. When we practice Taijiquan we develop the skill of yielding, to avoid situations where “brute force opposes brute force”. We learn to “swallow” the opponent’s attack and create new opportunities for us. But in a negotiation, there are other times when we are required to initiate the attack (use force!), so the counterpart feels the threat and reacts, increasing the tension and elevating the interaction to the TT. The practice of Taijiquan helps us develop skills to asses the right action to generate the best result at the right time. Once we learn this for combat application, the transfer of these skills to the world of negotiations is natural. When we learn to be relaxed and alert at a combat situation, we can use the same skill at a negotiation to avoid “emotional reactions” to an attack. When we learn how to use force or diffuse the counterpart’s force as a means to take the interaction to the TT, we are applying the basic principles of Taijiquan to our negotiating skills. Most “negotiators” don’t even know the existence of the TT concept and even less how to recognize it and play the “force” game to move the interaction towards it. During our practice of Taijiquan we learn to differentiate between Yin and Yang and we experientially realize that they are not static opposites, but an infinite possibility of harmonious combinations. During a negotiation we can find the TT, understanding it as the most harmonious combination of Yin and Yang between the parts, and we can play the game of conscious use of force to create and recreate this balance once and again. Then the negotiation will be at it’s most effective level.

Hope to read your comments!

Piti Parra Duque

[barrys]

Parapitti Siheng,

Reading your post I am thinking of my own negotiations in the past. My background is that I sold IT systems, deals ranging from c. £50k to c.£2.5m. I have also managed sales teams doing the same. I say this just to give some context to my comments.

I like your remark about being 'conscious facilitators of the process' and makes me think about my sparring practice (and how little experience of conscious facilitation of the process I have in that realm ). Many times I needed a deal to happen by a particular date when that date wasn't important to the other company. Sitting back and hoping just doesn't work. It was always necessary to introduce some 'tension' into the situation - with it often being a misdirection or applying some 'pressure' that wasn't real - a feint if you like. One experienced salesman I worked with also used to use the "Don't throw me in the briar patch" technique popularised by Brer Rabbit - an engagement through apparent weakness, drawing the other into your area of strength.

I hadn't read the quote before on group dynamics. Thinking back I have used the approach without having named it. It also see the same process happening in the groups I run at the hospital. I remember finishing one group, thinking it must have balanced on the right line as a patient said it had felt "tolerably intrusive".

You also make the point about the way forces change and interact. I had that happen on a number of occassions. Where it felt like I was pressing and had the upper hand only to realise the situation was changing and that I had to respond in a different way. By the time it gets to negotiation both parties, in my experience, want a resolution. It was often about making sure I didn't make it difficult for the other side to settle but/and also trying to make it happen at a most advantageous point for me.

Constantly watching and gauging one's "opponent" (being in touch with them) is also important. I remember once trying to close a c.£2m software deal and feeling (but not understanding) the resistance coming from the IT Director. After some investigation we realised he was reaching retirement and wanted to leave while heading a very large IT dept. We had been talking about the cost/staff saving benefits of our product, but when we modified the approach to explain that it would take 2 years to get there and in the meantime he might need more staff, his energy moved in a different direction.

These deals often took 6-9 months to close and so there was lots of jockeying for position with competitors. I remember one deal where we were being told we had won and the salesman had almost got out the champagne and cigars. I had been cultivating contacts around the industry and found out the company had actually been persuaded by a big managment consultancy to give the deal to a much bigger software company. However, because we had a reputation for not giving up we were being lulled into a false sense of security. Having that information allowed us to set up a situation where our competition was forced to battle us on ground where we were stronger. Basically, we went along with the situation but suggested that before they buy from us we would be happier if they trialled both us and the competitor in a real life situation i.e. set up the software to do exactly what they wanted. We knew the competition found it difficult to react quickly and we eventually won the deal - much to the surprise of many people in the industry.

Maybe people might want to comment on what techniques they see in this. I have my ideas but it would also be helpful for me as I have never really thought about it in Tai Chi Chuan terms before.

Best,

Barry

[parrapiti]

Hi Barry!

Excellent examples! Thanks for sharing!

The Dean of the Business School of an important university in Colombia, who happens to be a Shaolin Chi Kung and Wahnam Taijiquan practitioner, just read this thread and commented very positively about its contents, but with entries like yours it is even better! It makes all the thoery we have been writing clearer, more illustrated and more alive.

Hope to read more about it.

Piti Parra Duque

[Andrew]

This thread is truly excellent. I am sure many here will (maybe for the first time) begin to appreciate that the skills in Shaolin Wahnam are really not just for fighting and that their application in life is much more profound than they may have imagined.

Andrew

[parrapiti]

I am on my way to a "Fundamentals for Negotiations" workshop in Caracas, Venezuela. I am looking forward to implementing and practicing the concepts developed here. I`ll inform you about new findings on my return!

(Barry, happy birthday to you!)

Piti Parra Duque