Aikido at Work

Vince Sensei recently asked about where Aikido principles may apply to my work, molecular genetics. At first I had no ready answer, so, I paid closer attention to my activities and soon saw that several of the lessons we learn at the dojo are in action during my workday.

1. Be in the moment. Whenever I set up a reaction, cast an agarose gel, or extract DNA from a plant sample, being in the moment helps me work smoothly and reduces the chance of a misstep that could ruin an entire process.

2. Take your time. Every process in the lab takes time, something I have learned to live with. Those rare times I have made mistakes (haha) were most often the result of being in a hurry. Come to think of it, being in a hurry is itself not being fully in the moment.

3. Develop good posture. In the lab and at the computer it is easy to develop back pain if your posture isn’t good. I can vouch for that.

4. Blend. This is a very important principle for the publishing end of my job. Before any of my work is accepted it must first pass peer review. Typically an assistant editor and two or three reviewers rigorously dissect my paper and provide numerous criticisms and suggestions for improvement. Peer review is not adversarial at heart but conflicts of opinion or style can arise. Blending comes into play where I must connect with their positions and intents. By carefully listening to what they are saying I can often find the angle I need to take to resolve conflicts and bring us all to a position of agreement.

5. Be aware. Even though I basically run a one-person lab, others work in my unit and in the building it occupies. Awareness of people and activities around oneself and a readiness to respond to change or need fosters a greater sense of community (connectedness) and positive relations.

6. Be centered. In the lab, being centered can involve having what you need at hand, providing for economy of motion and reduction of distractions such as looking for a missing reagent.

Are there more instances of “Aiki” in my workplace? It is likely there are, waiting for my further development to make them apparent.

Michael C. Ashley, Ph.D.

Reigi

Sensei recently reminded us of the importance of Reigi in the practice of Aikido. I am a beginner in Aikido and what is said here must be considered in that light. The literal definition of Reigi indicates manners, courtesy, etiquette. Sensei has told us that Morihiro Saito Sensei, on the subject of Reigi, said that one should be observant of what is correct behavior in a particular setting and that this awareness prevents unnecessary conflict from starting. Someone not familiar with Aikido might then say that the idea of Reigi seems to be a kind of “keep your head down” approach that avoids conflict. That is not what Reigi is about. Instead, correct behavior in a particular setting is a sign of good training leading to the strength and confidence to be humble and appreciative of others. This is not always easy for us because our popular culture emphasizes the elevation of ego over all else. To practice Reigi is to show respect for others and respect for ourselves. It is part of our experience as Aikido students to absorb the etiquette of the dojo. This is a fundamental aspect of the sempai-kohai relationship; it is part of the practice of Aikido.

This does not require, necessarily, learning a set of esoteric rules. It can be the simple exercise of good manners. As Sensei has pointed out, when you have good manners, people don’t mind being around you. Maybe a way we can apply this is to give more attention to Sensei and training partners than to our own needs, ideas and opinions. This means that we listen when we are receiving instruction, express gratitude for what has been shared with us and do our best to apply what we have learned. As a trial lawyer, I am familiar with the idea of etiquette appropriate to the situation. The application of Reigi in my practice has helped me to be a better lawyer. Despite unfavorable stereotypes, good trial lawyers understand the importance of showing sincere respect for the judge, fellow attorneys, parties and all who are involved in the court system. When that respect is absent, or breaks down, disharmony arises, and to use Saito Sensei’s phrase, unnecessary conflict occurs. It is this fundamental disharmony which causes some people to feel, regardless of the outcome of a case, that the system has been emotionally destructive. Properly understood, etiquette provides the structure within which we all interact with each other. The bad conduct of some lawyers are a symptom of the general loss of civility in our society. There is an opportunity to change that with each interaction we have both inside the Aikido dojo and outside in our daily lives. As said by Mahatma Gandhi: “We need to be the change we wish to see in the world.”
Submitted by Ed Lemons // 13 March 2010