Episode #52: Do Your Homework

Why do even experienced speakers sometimes fail in Japan?

Even world-class speakers can stumble if they skip basic preparation. I recently watched a prominent, highly experienced speaker address a prestigious audience in Japan. The talk should have been a triumph—but it fizzled for two avoidable reasons: it was scheduled for 25 minutes and ended in 8, and the most fascinating material wasn’t visible to most of the audience. In Japan, these mistakes aren’t minor; they can damage credibility and respect.

Mini-summary: Experience doesn’t protect you from failure. In Japan, homework before the speech is non-negotiable.

Japan is a formal, schedule-driven culture. If your slot is 25 minutes, it needs to be 25 minutes—not 8. Finishing early creates a dead gap that organisers must awkwardly fill, and Japanese event planners are not known for improvising on the fly. Worse, ending far too soon can signal to the audience that they weren’t worth your preparation. It lands as disrespectful or flippant.

Mini-summary: In Japan, time is a promise. Breaking it disrupts the event and subtly insults the audience.

The audience notices instantly. When the speaker began wrapping up, people looked at their watches in surprise. I caught another attendee’s eye—his expression basically said, “Is this speaker serious?” The room felt cheated. For a self-important or high-status audience (common at executive events), that feeling of being short-changed can close doors fast—especially when they were the exact group the speaker needed to win over.

Mini-summary: Ending early isn’t neutral—it creates disappointment and distrust in the room.

In Japan, the reason for a long slot is often logistical, not educational. I’ve frequently been asked to speak from 4:00–6:00 pm—two hours at the end of a full conference day. At first, I wondered why they would exhaust the audience like that. Eventually I realised: I was the “filler” between their program and the 6:00 pm party. Food and drinks were set for a fixed start, and my role was to keep the audience occupied until then. If I ended early, the organisers would “lose face” because the schedule would collapse.

Mini-summary: Long slots in Japan may be about protecting the event flow, not your content.

Once you understand your role, your preparation becomes smarter. If your mission is to hold attention for two hours, structure the arc accordingly, with variety, energy shifts, and pacing. One of the most effective methods is using visuals—especially simple, high-impact images rather than dense data tables. Many Japanese presenters love detailed graphs, but audiences respond strongly to clear photos that you narrate with story and meaning.

Mini-summary: Knowing the slot’s purpose lets you design a talk that stays engaging for the full time.

Check the room setup early. The speaker I watched had intriguing photos—but didn’t put them on slides. He waved them from the podium, which meant only a few people could see them. In most Japanese venues, a screen and projector are standard. Asking for them is easy, but you must ask before you arrive.

Mini-summary: Great content fails if the audience can’t see it—confirm AV and display plans in advance.

Before any talk in Japan, confirm the essentials:

• Timing and purpose: How long is your slot, and why does it exist in the schedule?

• Audience analysis: Who will be there, what do they care about, and what do they already know?

• Venue logistics: Screen/projector availability, room layout, microphone type, lighting, and sight-lines.

• Translation needs: Will there be consecutive or simultaneous translation if you speak in English?

• Success criteria: What would impress this group, and what outcome do organisers want?

As the saying goes: no one prepares to fail, but we fail to prepare.

Mini-summary: In Japan, preparation is respect—cover timing, logistics, audience, and translation every time.

How does this connect to leadership and engagement in Japanese and multinational companies?

Engaged employees are self-motivated. Self-motivated people are inspired. Inspired staff grow your business. The question for leaders in 日本企業 (Japanese companies) and 外資系企業 (multinational/foreign-affiliated companies) alike is: Are you inspiring your people? Dale Carnegie Tokyo helps organisations build leaders who communicate with clarity, credibility, and motivational power through リーダーシップ研修 (leadership training), 営業研修 (sales training), プレゼンテーション研修 (presentation training), エグゼクティブ・コーチング (executive coaching), and DEI研修 (DEI training)—all tailored for business realities in 東京 (Tokyo) and across Japan.

Mini-summary: Strong preparation and communication are leadership skills that directly drive engagement and performance.

• In Japan, time discipline equals respect—always deliver the full scheduled length.

• Understand the real reason behind your slot so you can design the right structure.

• Use simple, story-driven visuals to sustain attention over long sessions.

• Do your logistics and audience homework early—especially AV and translation.

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.

If you want to inspire engagement and elevate performance in your organisation, contact Dr. Greg Story at greg.story@dalecarnegie.com or explore our resources at japan.dalecarnegie.com.