This time, Inamori* spoke about the above motto in Kyocera philosophy.
What Inamori said is quoted with “”.
“ In my case, I am thoroughly rational in the world of my work and research, and I absolutely do not tolerate anything ambiguous or irrational. However, as soon as I step away from the company, I also believe in the spiritual realm, such as the world of Buddha, which is the opposite. Problems arise when these two opposing personalities become unbalanced. “
Today, I would like to talk about a case where I made an error in judgment and had to correct my direction to keep the balance. To correct the direction, we should follow the process below.
1. Recognize your weaknesses (what you are missing)
2. Recognize that your weaknesses caused underperformance in your business
3. Find a balance (take opposing actions)
Let me explain them one by one.
1. Recognize your weaknesses (what you are missing)
“ He (The company’s CEO) trained the grandson of the founder, saying, ‘This is a company that your grandfather established, so you should learn the corporate culture and take over.’ In 10 years, he made the grandson president, but after one year, he fired that grandson, even though the company was listed on the stock exchange worldwide and the grandson’s term had not yet begun. That CEO’s decision raised criticism from around the world. The reason he fired that grandson was his attitude.
The corporate culture had always been simple and frugal, and the CEO had spent a lot of efforts to share those cultures and values with that grandson. Therefore, he was believing that grandson understood all those values, however, the moment the grandson became president, he started redecorating the president’s office. The company had plenty of money. The company was so profitable that he bought expensive calligraphy, paintings, and antiques to decorate the executive offices. All those actions of the grandson obviously disappointed the CEO. That CEO did something dramatic by making the grandson of the founder president and firing him in one year. “
(Quoted from the Inamori Digital Library.)
→ I think this president realized his own shortcomings. Those shortcomings were being too kind and nice for the next generation younger management and spoiling him. The CEO probably trained and educated that grandson with great care. However, when he appointed the grandson president, he probably realized that grandson’s true nature: that grandson was not suitable for the top leader. As to my case, I trained our staff with great care, and at the same time have spoiled her. She has never corrected her deficit in working skills.
2. Recognize that your weaknesses caused the underperformance in your business
” That CEO was a sort of the trusted non-family member and joined that company as an ordinary businessman and built that company into a great enterprise. He was kind enough to tell that grandson, ‘You are the one to take over the management position,’ but the moment he decided that the grandson was no longer suitable for leading the company, he fired the grandson within a year. He knew that he would receive a lot of criticism from affiliated companies around the world, but he made no excuses. That was his extreme personality. ”
(Quoted from the Inamori Digital Library.)
→ I think the grandson was probably steadily preparing to take over the president position and to start his dictatorship. I also assume that there were probably executives under that grandson’s network. I think that CEO fired all of these resources. Additionally, when that CEO realized how bad that grandson was, I think the CEO also realized that bad results and influences were spread in every aspect in the management under that CEO’s regime.
As to my case, I have devoted a lot of energy to care my staff, and consequently, I was not able to spend much of my time to explore new businesses, which I have to do. I realized that my deficit has appeared in my business administration.
3. Find a balance (take opposing actions)
“ A person who does not have extreme contradictions may not be qualified to be a top leader. A person who is neither violent nor kind, but is just on average, may not be able to become a top leader. In other words, it is the extreme contradictions, and these contradictions are the keys for success. Don’t let contradictions end as contradictions.
Contradictions are the cause of success and failure at the same time, but being able to see things clearly and make contradictions function normally is the highest intelligence in modern times. Moreover, the virtue I mentioned earlier: it’s people’s character and humanitarian value. Therefore, I think we must make the best use of our talents and characteristics based on the humanitarian values that we have been developing in our mind. “
(Quoted from Inamori Digital Library.)
→ This time, I have determined to eliminate thoroughly something evil from our company. I wrote “something evil” because I am not referring to the staff him/herself, but I have never allowed for something evil to spread in our company. This is happening all over the world now. If you are not prepared to thoroughly eliminate evil, your company will fail. Evil can detect something which is tolerantly overlook their existence. We must seriously confront those evil roots.
Kindness and affection are necessary to train and educate people. However, something evil must be taken away as those who with evil naturally take advantage of others’ goodwill and are willing to spread. I have really learned the meaning of “balancing the two extremes” through my own experience. I appreciate the words which Mr. Inamori shared with us.
* Mr. Kazuo Inamori, the founder of Kyocera, KDDI (one of the top tele communication companies in Japan) and the top of revitalization project of JAL. As a well-known Japanese entrepreneur, he has been sharing his experiences and management know-how with managements of small to middle companies in Japan.
Further queries or doubts, please email to ytomizuka@abrilsjp.com
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