Why Japanese Executives Should Stop Chasing Perfection in English Presentations

Japan’s deep respect for kata (the correct way to do things) and kanpekishugi (perfectionism) creates extraordinary craftsmanship, reliability, and quality. Everything has an established order. Everything should be done “properly.” As an Australian transplant, you once questioned this relentlessly—“Why does it have to be done this way?”—only to learn that this is how it is done.

But this same perfectionism also influences spoken communication. When speaking English, Japanese professionals often feel that if their speech is not perfect, it is shameful. Even when exposure and study have not been sufficient to achieve perfection, no excuse is accepted internally.

Mini-Summary: Japan’s commitment to perfection is admirable, but it becomes counterproductive when applied to spoken English.

A recent example highlights the issue:
A senior Japanese executive in a global company insisted on reading every speech word-for-word in English to ensure grammatical perfection. He even planted colleagues in the audience to ask pre-scripted questions with pre-scripted answers. To him, this was diligence. To his global leadership team, it looked inauthentic and fragile.

They were grooming him for a major role. But what they wanted was:

• Imperfect but natural English

• Confidence without scripting

• The ability to answer spontaneous questions

• A presence that feels real, not engineered

In their eyes, authenticity mattered far more than perfection.

Mini-Summary: Global leaders value clarity and presence—not perfectly engineered English.

Not even close. Native speakers routinely misuse grammar, verbs, tense, and pronunciation. You’ve heard well-educated English speakers say “somethink” or “everythink.” You yourself—despite holding a PhD, MA, and BA with Honours—still worry about mispronouncing rare words and admit grammar has defeated you since Year Three.

If even native speakers are imperfect, how could perfection possibly be expected in a second language?

Mini-Summary: No one speaks perfectly—not even native speakers. So why demand perfection from yourself in a foreign language?

They become better communicators.
They relax.
They speak more naturally.
They connect more deeply with audiences.

Having coached thousands of leaders in プレゼンテーション研修 and エグゼクティブ・コーチング across 日本企業 and 外資系企業, you’ve seen this repeatedly: perfectionism is a cage. Once removed, communication becomes energised, persuasive, and memorable.

Mini-Summary: Freeing yourself from perfection increases confidence, connection, and credibility.

Absolutely not.
Foreign audiences:

• grew up hearing imperfect English

• are accustomed to international diversity

• simply ask for clarification when needed

Japanese audiences cannot criticise because they themselves are not perfect speakers. The perfection standard exists only in the speaker’s imagination.

Mini-Summary: The only person expecting perfection is you; audiences just want to understand you.

While studying Japanese in 1979, you discovered a universal truth:
If you wait to craft the perfect sentence, you will never speak.
Conversations move on. Opportunities disappear. Life doesn’t wait for perfect grammar.

The same rule applies to presentations:

• Let the slides be grammatically perfect.

• Let your spoken words be natural and human.

• Let imperfections show your authenticity.

• Let passion carry your message.

Audiences remember the speaker, not the linguistic detail. A passionate, dynamic presenter with imperfect English will be remembered as impressive. A native speaker delivering perfect English in a monotone will be forgotten instantly.

Mini-Summary: Perfection isn’t memorable. Passion is.

• Kata and perfectionism are strengths—until they are applied to spoken English.

• Audiences value natural delivery and presence over flawless grammar.

• Let go of perfection; embrace clarity, energy, and authenticity.

• Allow your slides to carry the perfect English—your voice carries the connection.

• Passion and humanity outperform perfection every time.

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.