Thought Leadership

From Command to Collaboration — How Modern Leaders Inspire Action Instead of Giving Orders

Ordering people around used to work in the command-and-control era — hierarchy was clear, obedience was expect...

After the Crisis — When Should Leaders Loosen Control and Reignite Innovation?

During Covid-19, many companies tightened expenses, froze investments, and centralized decision-making just to...

Why Time Is the Enemy of Great Leadership — From Macro Management to Micro Mastery

Leadership takes time — time to listen, coach, and connect with each person.Like a conductor harmonizing an or...

Leading Across Generations in Japan — From Tough Love to Trust and Understanding

Years ago, we flipped the traditional hierarchy on its head. Top-performing salespeople were promoted to branc...

The Age of the C Player — How Leaders in Japan Can Build Talent When A Players Are Out of Reach

A social media ad read, “We’re looking for A players in sales.”That’s great — if you’re a major corporation wi...

Charisma or Trust? Rethinking What Makes a Successful Leader in Japan

When we imagine successful entrepreneurs, we often picture dynamic, outspoken individuals — the Steve Jobs or ...

Time for a Business Year-End Cleanup — Reviewing Suppliers, Services, and Hidden Costs in Japan

Japan’s ōsōji (大掃除) tradition inspires more than a clean house—it’s the perfect metaphor for how leaders shoul...

From Command to Persuasion — Rethinking Leadership in Japan’s New Workforce Reality

For decades after WWII, leadership followed a simple rule: “I have stripes, you don’t — do as I say.” That mod...

Leadership Coaching Superpowers — Encourage, Focus, Elevate & Empower for Stronger Teams in Japan

anese and multinational companies alike, leaders are under immense pressure. Meetings, execution targets, and ...

Winning the Japanese Client Meeting — From Pitch to Permission

In Japan, client meetings are often elaborate affairs filled with multiple attendees, hierarchies, and unspoke...

The Dangerous Zone for New Leaders — Balancing Doing and Leading

You’ve finally made it. Recognized for your talent and promoted to lead the very people who used to be your co...

When Rules Replace Thinking — How Leadership Shapes Customer Flexibility

In BtoB sales, most problems appear after the meeting—poor follow-up, weak objection handling, or missed close...

Becoming the Role Model Leader Your Team Actually Wants to Follow

When you mention “leaders” and “role models” in the same sentence, smirks often appear.Many professionals in J...

Selling with Emotion — Why Passion Builds Trust Faster Than Logic

We’ve all heard that people buy on emotion and justify with logic.But where does that emotion come from?In Jap...

From Micromanagement to Engagement — How Leaders Can Truly Connect with Their Teams

When I entered the workforce in the early 1970s, “engaging your team” wasn’t a leadership concept—it didn’t ex...

Authenticity vs. Aggression — Why Japan’s Leaders Must Redefine “Authentic Leadership”

The word “authentic” has become a business mantra.But what does it truly mean?In Japan’s post-war corporate hi...

The Four Achilles’ Heels of Leadership — Blind Spots That Can Destroy Your Credibility

We all know Achilles—the legendary Greek hero made famous by The Iliad and Hollywood’s Troy.His body was invin...

The Hidden Danger of “Smart-Looking Stupidity” — How Leaders Can Protect Their Teams from False Competence

Every organization has them — the confident talkers who look sharp, sound capable, and fool even senior leader...

Why “I Like Talking to People” Is the Wrong Reason to Enter Sales

When an underperforming employee says, “I like talking with people, so I want to move into sales,” it’s a terr...

The SER Formula — How Great Leaders Build People Through Strength, Evidence, and Relevance

In the classic film To Sir, With Love, Sidney Poitier inspires a class of troubled students to believe in thei...