Episode #162: The Winning Formula When Speaking

Why Do Even Senior Leaders in 日本企業 (Japanese companies) & 外資系企業 (global companies) Still Struggle with Authentic Public Speaking?

Many executives in Tokyo worry about how to deliver a compelling message—especially in formal settings where expectations are high. A recent Middle School English speech contest in Japan revealed a surprising truth: the best communicator is not always the most fluent speaker.

This real-world example highlights a core communication challenge faced by business leaders in Japan:
reading speeches, chasing linguistic perfection, and losing emotional connection with the audience.

Mini-Summary:
Authenticity and delivery—not perfect language—determine communication impact for leaders in Japan.

At this contest, even a foreign Ambassador chose to read a speech word-for-word. Despite being a native English speaker and experienced diplomat, the delivery felt stiff. This illustrates a common executive pitfall:
reading a script damages presence, confidence, and audience connection.

By contrast, Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado delivered a powerful bilingual message—English and Japanese (英語と日本語 English and Japanese)—without notes. A senior government official did the same.

The lesson for executives:
Position or native fluency does not guarantee communication excellence—only authentic delivery does.

Mini-Summary:
Leaders who speak freely and authentically create stronger emotional impact than those who rely on scripts.

The contest winner did not have the best English pronunciation. But he won because he was the best communicator. His advantages included:

• A story that matched his identity → authenticity

• Dialogue with his grandmother → audience connection

• Natural body movement → full-body communication

• Congruence between message and behavior → credibility

This aligns with what we teach in プレゼンテーション研修 (Presentation Training), リーダーシップ研修 (Leadership Training), and エグゼクティブ・コーチング (Executive Coaching):

Audiences remember sincerity, emotion, and clarity—not flawless grammar.

Mini-Summary:
Authenticity and emotional delivery outperform linguistic perfection every time.

How Should Leaders in Japan Communicate to Create Stronger Influence?

Executives in Tokyo—whether in 日本企業 (Japanese corporations) or 外資系企業 (multinational firms)—can apply these principles immediately:

1. Avoid reading speeches

Even if the content is complex, reading breaks audience trust and weakens leadership presence.

2. Prioritize the audience when crafting your message

Relevance determines whether people listen—and whether they act.

3. Focus on connection, not perfection

Occasional mispronunciations are irrelevant if the message is delivered with passion and clarity.

4. Use full-body communication

Voice, gestures, posture, and energy must align with the message.

These are core pillars of Dale Carnegie’s global methodology—practiced for over 100+ years worldwide and 60+ years in Tokyo (東京).

Mini-Summary:
Leaders succeed when they communicate with sincerity, relevance, and full-body presence—not memorized perfection.

• Authenticity creates deeper audience engagement than linguistic accuracy.

• Reading speeches weakens credibility, especially for leaders in high-visibility roles.

• Emotional storytelling is more persuasive than perfectly delivered facts.

• Dale Carnegie’s proven methods help both Japanese and multinational executives develop powerful communication skills.

Founded in the U.S. in 1912, Dale Carnegie Training has supported individuals and companies worldwide for over a century in leadership, sales, presentation, executive coaching, and DEI. Our Tokyo office, established in 1963, has been empowering both Japanese and multinational corporate clients ever since.