{"id":69902,"date":"2022-06-18T22:29:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-19T02:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=69902"},"modified":"2022-06-28T08:56:43","modified_gmt":"2022-06-28T12:56:43","slug":"samurai-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/samurai-culture\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Samurai Culture Lessons for the Workplace"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What was samurai culture like? What aspects of it should be applied to organizational culture<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ben Horowitz believes business leaders should follow the samurai\u2019s example of intentionally defining foundational beliefs coupled with instructions for everyday behavior. We\u2019ll explore Horowitz\u2019s four lessons from the samurai honor code as well as examples from the business world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading for details on these actionable values from samurai culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Lessons From Samurai Culture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The samurai<\/a> were a military class<\/a> that ruled pre-modern Japan from 1186 until 1868. Their virtues, expressed in an honor code or bushido<\/em>, were so effective that they kept the samurai in power for nearly 700 years, and they\u2019re still echoed in modern-day Japan. (Shortform note: In The Book of Five Rings<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>written in the 17th century, samurai warrior Miyamoto Musashi reflects on bushido<\/em>, emphasizing the importance of constant practice, achieving mental and physical equilibrium, and ways to defeat any enemy.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Horowitz explains that the honor code established a common foundation for samurai culture consisting not only of values but also instructions for applying them in every situation.<\/strong> Bushido<\/em> refers to these actionable values<\/em> as \u201cvirtues.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: As with the term culture, <\/em>Horowitz applies to business another word we\u2019re used to seeing in other contexts. Virtue <\/em>is a concept more commonly discussed in ethics or philosophy, and when the samurai talked about virtues, they were in fact talking about the ethical and philosophical foundation of their culture. Nowadays, virtue is often defined as the moral excellence of a person<\/a>, but other, more expansive definitions refer to virtue as an attitude, disposition, or character trait that enables us to be and to act in ways that develop our human potential<\/a>. This latter definition is closer to the one Horowitz gives of beliefs that are consistently translated into action.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: In Daring Greatly<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>Bren\u00e9 Brown argues that the gap between aspirational and actional values\u2014what we believe in versus how we actually act\u2014leads to disengagement<\/a> at work and in society at large.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lesson #1: Always Be Aware of Death<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many of bushido<\/em>\u2019s virtues are recognizable in Japanese culture today, such as in their commitment to the highest standards of quality. Horowitz argues that this commitment to quality stems from the samurai virtue of honor, which they expressed as: Always be ready for death<\/a>. To the samurai, this meant ensuring an honorable legacy regardless of when they died by constantly performing to high standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: While modern Japanese culture\u2019s admirable commitment to quality echoes the bushido <\/em>principle of behaving with your legacy in mind, the same principle can be twisted in a harmful and unhealthy way. Psychologists worry that a drive for perfection and the safeguarding of honor, both rooted in centuries-long tradition, contribute to high rates of suicide in Japan\u2014the highest in all of Asia<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the same way the Samurai prepared for death, Horowitz encourages business leaders to consider their company\u2019s<\/em> death. If your company went out of business today, would you be proud of its legacy? Horowitz argues this mindset helps you look beyond the usual ways to measure success<\/strong>, such as profit, and consider the organization\u2019s purpose and impact. (Shortform note: In his book Who Will Cry When You Die?<\/em><\/a>, Robin Sharma also advocates contemplating the end of your life to determine the values that actually matter to you. Sharma argues that to live a life you won\u2019t regret, you must take control of your life<\/a> today, beginning by identifying your purpose<\/a> and using that to craft a life you will be proud of<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lesson #2: Choose Your Virtues With Action in Mind<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To apply the samurai approach, you must begin by choosing your culture\u2019s virtues carefully. Horowitz advises you to reflect on the <\/strong>behaviors<\/em><\/strong> that will translate your virtues into the culture you want<\/strong>. Remember, culture is created through the actions<\/em> of your employees. Additionally, Horowitz identifies two characteristics a virtue should have to be effective:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Characteristic #1: A Virtue Must Be Achievable<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Effective virtues are practical and set you up for success, not failure.<\/strong> To create an effective virtue, Horowitz says you should specify what the belief would look like in practice, so you can determine whether it\u2019s a virtue you can live up to. If you\u2019d have a hard time applying the virtue consistently, it doesn\u2019t belong in your culture, because you\u2019ll constantly fall short. For example, accountability is a popular corporate value. A cultural virtue for accountability might be, \u201cSee our actions and decisions through, even when the outcome is not favorable.\u201d You would only incorporate this virtue into your culture if you can commit to that level of accountability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: In Dare to Lead<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>Bren\u00e9 Brown shares advice on how to make sure you regularly practice your values<\/a> (virtues). She suggests creating a list of behaviors with which to regularly assess whether you\u2019re putting your beliefs into practice<\/a>. Consider what kinds of behaviors support the belief and what kinds of behaviors would be outside of it, and go back to the list often to see if you\u2019re practicing your beliefs.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Characteristic #2: A Virtue Must Be Defining<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Effective virtues define who you are<\/a> as an organization<\/strong>, so they point to what makes your company unique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You shouldn\u2019t select virtues that all other organizations in your industry are already espousing. If they are industry givens, your employees practice those virtues by default, and there\u2019s no need to enforce them specifically. What\u2019s more, Horowitz warns not to take cultural industry standards for granted. They might not work for you, or you might adopt the cultural practice without adopting the belief that underpins it. For example, fun office perks such as games and nap pods became popular thanks to Google\u2019s emphasis on encouraging creativity<\/a>. But flooding an office with perks without the underlying commitment to creativity doesn\u2019t accomplish much. If employees can play ping-pong between meetings but don\u2019t have opportunities to pitch new projects, the virtue of fostering creativity with play becomes meaningless. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: One way to choose virtues that define your organization is to identify the ones that your star employees already have. In Traction<\/em><\/a>, Gino Wickman advocates determining your organization\u2019s core values<\/a> by listing the characteristics of your star performers and deciding which of those define your company<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lesson #3: Explain How to Apply Virtues<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Effective virtues incorporate definitions, instructions, and examples. <\/strong>Horowitz explains that <\/strong>bushido<\/em> contained all the information warriors needed to apply the virtues, starting with precise definitions. It defined what each virtue was <\/em>and what it wasn\u2019t, <\/em>and explained what each looked like in action. The virtues complemented each other, preventing warriors from narrowly pursuing one to the detriment of another. For example, a warrior should have the courage to fight, but should also be benevolent and not harm anyone unnecessarily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: Horowitz\u2019s description of bushido <\/em>might make it seem like the code is a single, coherent book. However, it\u2019s actually a collection of texts written throughout the reign of the samurai, and it evolved and changed over time<\/a>, sometimes contradicting itself. But despite having different authors through different eras, it maintains a coherent overall ethos and approach to the way of the warrior.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Besides instructions, bushido<\/em> gave concrete examples of how to apply each virtue, using storytelling to make them easy to understand and remember. The stories tried to foresee every possible scenario<\/em> in which a samurai would have to apply a specific virtue. The stories also anticipated different reactions<\/em> a warrior might have and explained how well each reaction fulfilled the code\u2019s expectations. Finally, to keep the virtues alive, the samurai taught these stories to every new generation, thus cementing them in the psyche of all warriors across centuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: The samurai approach to communicating virtues through storytelling is one companies might already be familiar with, but in other contexts. For instance, in Building a StoryBrand<\/em><\/a>, marketing expert Donald Miller explains how to use stories to create the most effective marketing campaigns<\/a> by casting customers as the heroes of a story about your brand. He also explains how to foster engagement from employees by sharing the same customer-centered story with them and then creating an employee-centered story that casts them<\/em> as heroes and aligns their purpose with the company\u2019s mission<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After choosing your virtues, Horowitz recommends taking these steps to follow the samurai approach for applying them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1) Define the virtue explicitly<\/strong>. Explain it in unambiguous terms and address as many scenarios as possible to help people understand and apply it in all situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2) Make the purpose of the virtue clear<\/strong>. Having a compelling \u201cwhy\u201d will make the virtue easier to apply, so make clear why you\u2019ve chosen the virtue and what it will accomplish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3) Set up rules that force people to put the virtue into action.<\/strong> Following a rule rooted in a cultural virtue will help employees acquire the virtue through muscle memory. The rule will force them to engage in the specific behaviors that the virtue calls for, and help them internalize the virtue by acting on it. For example, if the virtue is efficiency, you might set up a rule to \u201cGet it done now, improve on it later.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4) Make virtues complement each other. <\/strong>Balancing your culture\u2019s virtues will prevent people from fixating on one behavior to the detriment of other equally important ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5) Integrate the virtue into the hiring and onboarding processes<\/strong>. Using the definition of the virtue and the actionables you have established, develop a cultural interview to assess whether candidates can put the virtue into practice. Once they\u2019re in, the onboarding process should teach them the right cultural lessons from day one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Five Elements of Strong Cultures<\/strong>

In Multipliers<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>Liz Wiseman and Greg McKeown identify five elements of strong cultures that fit the samurai approach<\/a>. Some of them overlap with the steps Horowitz lays out:

Vocabulary:<\/strong> Everyone uses the same definition for words and phrases, such as the definitions of virtues.

Conduct:<\/strong> Everyone responds a certain way in a certain situation, such as following rules to put the virtue into action.

Convictions:<\/strong> Everyone agrees on what is true and shares assumptions, such as the purpose of the virtue.

The final two elements complement the samurai approach:

Myths:<\/strong> Everyone admires the same people based on their accomplishments, behavior, or traits. You can do this by identifying employees who embody the virtue and highlighting them as role models<\/a>.

Customs:<\/strong> Everyone adheres to the same customs and behaves the same way. You can do this by ensuring that every employee will have the opportunity to put the virtue you\u2019ve selected into practice.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Example: Creating a Rule to Enforce a Virtue<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

When Horowitz co-founded Andreessen Horowitz<\/a>, a venture capital<\/a> firm, he wanted the central virtue of the firm\u2019s culture to be respecting the entrepreneur. To establish the virtue, he applied the samurai approach:<\/p>\n\n\n\n