Episode #185: Be The Light On The 2017 Hill

Are New Year’s Resolutions Enough to Truly Transform You and Your Team?

Every January, professionals in Japan and around the world make ambitious personal resolutions — lose weight, get organized, be more patient. Yet, too often, these goals remain inward-looking. What if this year, you aimed higher — not just to improve yourself, but to uplift those around you? At Dale Carnegie Tokyo, we believe true leadership begins when you become the light for others.

Most workplaces struggle with negative energy — fault-finding, backbiting, complaints, and low morale. Instead of correcting or criticizing others, imagine becoming a “serial encourager.” Recognizing people’s efforts, even small ones, builds trust and collaboration. When leaders focus on others’ strengths rather than weaknesses, performance and morale soar.
Mini-summary: Shifting from a “fault finder” to a “good finder” creates a culture of empathy, cooperation, and productivity.

In Japan’s modest, high-pressure culture, professionals often suppress their full potential to fit in. This quiet struggle — what Thoreau called “lives of quiet desperation” — can hold organizations back. Leaders who provide encouragement, recognition, and psychological safety enable their teams to reach new heights.
Mini-summary: In a society that values restraint, authentic encouragement unlocks untapped talent and motivation.

• Recognize others’ strengths and contributions.

• Offer tactful, constructive feedback that encourages growth.

• Praise small steps forward to build confidence and momentum.

• Remove negativity from daily speech and replace it with empowering language.

As leaders, we decide whether to dwell in criticism or radiate positivity. Being the “light” means choosing optimism, generosity, and empathy — values that align with Japan’s best traditions and modern global leadership.
Mini-summary: The workplace you desire starts with the energy you project.

• Shift from self-focused resolutions to impact-focused goals.

• Choose encouragement over criticism to inspire team excellence.

• Recognize cultural pressures in Japan and respond with empathy.

• Speak positively — your words shape your organization’s culture.

Founded in the United States in 1912, Dale Carnegie Training has been empowering leaders, sales professionals, and organizations around the world for more than a century. Our Tokyo office, established in 1963, continues to support both Japanese and global corporations through programs in leadership training, sales training, presentation skills, executive coaching, and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) training.

Together, let’s make this the year you become the light that transforms your workplace.