Asakura Clan House Code - Law #10 | Part 10 of 17 Article Series

ORIGINAL TEXT:

If you treat those retainers who have served you faithfully in the same ways as those who have not, how can the former be encouraged to continue serving you faithfully?

MODERN INTERPRETATION:

For an organization to survive, it needs people to commit to its survival.  By treating people who commit the SAME as those who do NOT, you give NO incentive for the supporters to continue supporting.  EQUAL TREATMENT doesn’t work in creating a committed organization.

Equal Treatment for Unequal Service DOESN’T WORK

There is great risk to treating a loyal, committed, responsible individual in the same manner as someone perhaps with great talent or ability, but has acted like a “snake in the grass.”  As a leader, one must encourage loyalty and togetherness.  It is easier to do so when those qualities are encouraged, and their opposites discouraged.

Thought Experiment: Imagine Two Friends Ask for Your Help

Imagine two friends ask for your help. 

Friend #1 has helped you many times in the past - financially, emotionally, and otherwise.  Friend #1 has supported you through your biggest life challenges.

Then you have Friend #2.  You met Friend #2 last year, at a social gathering, and you’ve hung out on a few occasions and got along with each other.

Both friends connect with you on the same day, and both ask for your help.  They each claim that they need $5000 for an immediate financial situation.  You only have $5000 to give, and you can only choose one.

If you can only help 1, who do you choose?

Who gets the financial assistance?  Friend 1, who’s always been there for you?  Or Friend #2 who you barely know but seems nice.

Equal Treatment would be akin to telling both of them, “I’ll flip a coin, 50/50, the winner gets the loan.”

While Friend #1 might understand your decision making process, and continue to be your friend afterwards, Friend #1 would lose considerable respect for your friendship, and would be less likely to “go the extra mile for you when it really counts.”

Samurai Organizational Culture and Loyalty

Equal Treatment sounds kind enough, but in practice, applying TOO MUCH Equal Treatment in an organizational culture leads to lack of commitment, hatred and contempt for leadership, spreading of hateful comments, and breeds the opposite of loyalty: sabotage!  

If an older Samurai lost two of his brothers in battle for you, and participated in 3 full scale wars with devoted service, yet is treated in the same fashion as a new Samurai yet to prove his worth in battle, you will alienate the older Samurai. 

Leaders - Take a Lesson from the Asakura on Promotions

“Position” in an organization is less important than loyalty, steadfastness, and ability.  Again, the first law of the Asakura House Code is applicable here.

Give a promotion to someone who manipulated their way to the front of the line, and you’ve effectively encouraged unethical behaviour, lying, cheating, stealing, and have discouraged good ol’ fashioned hard work, teamwork, honesty, and other qualities.

Encourage and respect a man’s support for you, and you will get more of it.

NEXT ARTICLE IN THE SERIES: A PREVIEW

The next article, Law #11, is regarding the priority of loyalty over ability with certain important tasks.