Hansei

Hansei is a Japanese word used to describe self reflection and a willingness to admit and learn from mistakes. It also incorporates and means greeting success with modesty and humility. One must never feel superior and always be aware of room for improvement.

Every time you carry out a task or project to completion, next you must step back and reflect. Ask yourself "how can the task be carried out better the next time."  When you say " no everything was perfect " did you in all truth self reflect ?

In every task there is at least one thing that could be improved upon, to create a smoother process. Maybe one part took three days to be approved. Is there a way this could be cut to one day ?
Was the team too big, too small ?
Was everything in place from day one or did you have to chase people ?
Were you given too much or too little time ?
Was there enough encouragement ?
Where people supportive or negative ?

These are some examples of questions to ask the next time you reflect. I am sure you can come up with better questions for your situation.

It is not about dropping the mother of all bombs, blowing up the process and starting all over. It is about taking the time to self reflect and admit where the process could be smoothed out. The pat on the back is nice, but be humble and aware of the need for self reflection. When it comes to improvement, the words of Jim Rohn always come to mind
" Inch by inch is a cinch, yard by yard is hard, mile by mile is a trial. "

Footnote ......
My original writing ended above. But last night Chelsea won the Premier title in England. I have being impressed by what their manager Antonio Conte achieved with Italy in the Euros 2016 and now at Chelsea. This morning reading some press, I came across this . . . the perfect example of Hansei

On 24th September 2016 Chelsea lost to Arsenal, their second defeat in succession. It left then lying 10th in the standings. Here is Antonio Conte's words after the game

" We must reflect a lot. From the first minute we have had a bad attitude. We are now a great team only on paper, not on the pitch. We must show we are a great team on the pitch, not on paper ."

After this game, he changed their system of play and the rest they say is history. True Hansei.

Colin Myles Author

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