How to Become a Great Leader: Shu Ha Ri

In Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time, Jeff Sutherland describes an interesting concept from Japan—Shu Ha Ri. He writes:

'First, learn the rules and the forms, and once you've mastered them, make innovations. Finally, in a heightened state of mastery, discard the forms and just be—with all the learning internalised and decisions made almost unconsciously.' 

The quest for shortcuts and quick wins is often an attempt to skip the hard work of learning. However, implementing the tricks of masters won't make you a master.

Instead, start at the beginning. Learn the basics of product development, people management, and business strategy. Young entrepreneurs aren’t known for wanting to follow the rules—but when you’re starting out, that’s exactly what you need to do.