What do Japanese poetry and executive leadership have in common? A lot, as it turns out.

First, some context: the year ahead looks starkly different than the one we faced going into 2022. Aside from the obvious pandemic-related shifts in how we live and work, we’re now facing very different economic and business prospects.

Things are tightening. Investments and capital are harder to come by. Entrepreneurs, startups, and big businesses alike are facing tough questions. This shift is particularly jarring given that “growth at any cost” has been a clear and present theme in the markets over recent years.

In the new economic reality of 2023, companies will die by overconsumption, not starvation.

This is where Japanese poetry comes in

Perhaps you’re familiar with haiku. Originating in Japan, haiku is one of the most famous forms of poetry. It’s known for its strict structure: three lines, 17 syllables total. That’s it. If you can’t convey your message in 17 syllables, your haiku isn’t a success. You need to reimagine it so it’s clear, focused, and impactful.

Now, more than ever, leaders should take a lesson from haiku. The severe constraints of the haiku form force tough decisions. Which words are essential? Which concepts absolutely need to make it in? What doesn’t fit and can be cut away?

A great haiku is all the things above: clear, focused, impactful. It’s also disciplined. The same goes for business. 

How constraints can set you free

The idea of “constraint” is typically considered to be negative. You may think it’s the antithesis of freedom, liberation, and boundless possibility.

However, I believe that in many circumstances, particularly in challenging economic climates, constraint can actually be the key to creativity and innovation. Constraint eliminates clutter and hesitation. When you have a clear set of rules, you can hold every question or idea up to those rules and make a quick decision: does this fit or not? If not, there’s no point in second-guessing.

Management by haiku

For business leaders, constraint means pushing for fierce clarity on your mission, vision, and values. When you are completely clear—and your team is clear, too—you’re released from uncertainty, from micromanagement, and from the need for constant permission. You’re released from investing time and resources in the wrong places.

This is what I’ve dubbed management by haiku. My team and I are aligned and clear on our mission and goals. They may not be literally laid out in three lines, but they’re tightly constrained and relentlessly edited. We know we are all headed towards our north star. This constraint and clarity means we’re free to use our time together to move forward with intention, because we know who we are and where we’re going.

That doesn’t mean we can’t bring in new ideas. We do so constantly. New ideas and perspectives—especially those that challenge what we’re doing right now—are critical to management by haiku. Does the haiku hold up under challenge? If not, do you need to refine it? Poetry is fluid. You can rewrite a haiku, but it can never get longer. If you add in something new, something else has to go. You can’t pursue every opportunity. You can’t throw resources in every direction.

I came to the idea of management by haiku because I believe that corporate culture is built on the decisions your people make when you, the leader, are not in the room. When you manage by haiku, your culture is inextricably tied to a sense of focus and direction. That certainty evokes a sense of psychological safety. As long as you’re in the haiku, trying new things, taking risks, and failure can all be forms of advancement.  

Why management by haiku is key to leadership in 2023

KPMG recently reported that more than eight in ten global CEOs anticipate a recession over the next 12 months, with seven in ten expecting that a recession is going to disrupt anticipated growth. That means leaders need to take action to keep the company moving in the right direction without expending extra resources. Focus, clarity, and discipline are the way to do that.

If that still sounds stifling, remember this: haiku is, after all, poetry. It’s strictly structured, but it’s also one of the purest forms of creative expression. Discipline and art aren’t mutually exclusive.

Management by haiku works in any economic climate, but it is particularly important in a moment of uncertainty. Haiku removes uncertainty from what you’re doing so you can better withstand external uncertainty. No chasing shiny objects. No unnecessary wrong turns.

Your management haiku doesn’t have to be exactly literal, of course. Feel free to try to fit your mission, vision, values, or north star goal into five syllables, seven syllables, and another five syllables. (It might be a good exercise.) But you should be able to articulate your focal point within a few short lines. If that’s prohibitively difficult, ask yourself what things you’re holding onto that might be distracting from the greater purpose.

If you want to not only survive, but thrive in 2023, it’s time to keep it to 17 syllables.