The secret of Japanese companies: Japanese leadership

The essence of Japanese leadership

The points are the following.

Let me explain the above points.

1 Top should be the hardest worker among staffs

When I went to the factory, I went to the on-site and worked with the workers (clerks). Then the factory manager rushed to me. “It looks totally ridiculous, the president of the head office works side by side with on- site clerks. We’ve prepared your office in the office building. So, you can just stay there and call us, if necessary. Working on-site may not authorize your position as a president. Workers won’t respect you as you are working here. This is the American culture, please understand. ”

“I understand your point but leave me alone. I would like to develop a company where staff work hard and respect a president who works much harder than they do. ” About a year later, this factory had started making profits.

→ The United States was founded by people from Europe who have been maintaining social classes for a long time. While invading Native Americans, they brought a lot of native Africans and used them as slaves. I think that the image of the ruling class and the controlled classes are recorded into their DNA as a status-quo.

I wonder how difficult it is for the coexistence and co-prosperity of different nations and cultures. Like the Kyocera case, the Japanese management model has been maintained overseas and accepted locally, which encourages us to promote overseas operation.

2 Work with employees with impartial mind

Mr. Inamori also told as follows:

At noon, while having lunch at a restaurant with the factory manager, “All staff did their best to make profit, so I’m going to pay a bonus. I’m thinking of paying an average of one month’s salary as a bonus per person. What do you think? “I said. “It’s totally non-sense!” said the factory manager. “You say you pay your employees a one-month extra bonus, but if you do, they won’t be in the office for a couple of weeks. Upon getting the extra money, they will go somewhere with their family. Don’t do that. If you want to show your gratitude, I’m the one who made our business profitable, so I am supposed to get paid say 80% of the bonuses you plan to pay to the employees. ”

“Stop, shame on you. I don’t want to pay you a penny.”

→ I feel this factory manager believes that he is generously giving employees great opportunities to work in that factory. He also believes it’s all his skill to develop a company profit. That kind of person sometimes has a sort of mental block towards their social classes. No matter what rewards you get, you will never be satisfied or grateful. The factory manager may have thought that he would get a temporary bonus and change to another factory instead of staying with a Japanese company that he didn’t understand.

3 Don’t use leader’s capability only for himself

Mr. Inamori continued with that factory manager.

I was very much upset. “That’s enough. You are a poor selfish guy. So even if you talk about work, you are always protecting yourself.”

“Please don’t get me wrong. I’m always thinking about the well-being of your employees. I’m thinking about the workers.”

“Fair enough. Look at your dishes. Now I have been spending a lot of my resources to discuss important issues with you. Thus, I don’t even pay attention to my meals. I put higher priority on discussing with you, improving your performance, than completing my meals. But you have already finished almost all your dishes. This just simply tells me how selfish you are. I am afraid that I don’t trust you as a factory manager. You don’t have to stay with us any more. “In the end, I asked him to leave our factory.

Even if you get an annual salary of 500 million or 1 billion yen, you can’t use it up. I can’t understand how come they are insisting to get non consumable amounts for the rewards of their management skills.

Mr. Inamori says that the abilities given to top management should not be misused for his own fortune. This is exactly the episode that shows this motto.

If America is a country of freedom and philanthropy where God’s love is realized, Americans should understand what Mr. Inamori is saying. God gives each person an ability. I think, under any religion, we should understand that ability is given to realize love and God’s will and is not used to fill your egoistic desire.

After World War II, Japan lost its religion in a sense. There might have been an intention of the winner counties: taking Japanese mental identity. If you try to take other’s mental identity, you would also be taken if your mentality or ethical values come from your religion. This is a good example. And likewise, the United States has lost its religious spirit, which has distorted its society.

Whenever you try to take something from someone, you are the one to be taken.

Mr. Inamori says as follows;

Mr. Inamori has reiterated why leaders should remain humble. I totally agree with him and now got learned a little humbleness is the key to our fulfillment.

Further queries or doubts, please email to ytomizuka@abrilsjp.com

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