Thought Leadership

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

The Five Faces of Power — Which Type of Leader Are You?

We’ve all worked for them — the power-hungry, the insecure, the empire builders, and the inspiring few.Leaders...

The Lost Art of Listening — Why Japan’s Leaders Must Slow Down to Lead Effectively

In an age of constant connectivity, leaders have never been more plugged in—and less present.Technology promis...

Bridging the Gap Between Interest and Action — How to Create Buying Urgency in Japan

Every CEO, CFO, and HR leader in Japan wants improvement—but few actually take action.Between wanting to buy a...

Leading Through the Three Performance Zones — Managing Teams Effectively in Japan’s Evolving Workforce

In Japan’s shrinking labor market, the dream of building “the perfect team” is pure illusion. Even if you mana...

Mastering Audience Attention — How to Structure and Deliver Powerful Presentations in Japan

In today’s Age of Distraction, presenters have only seconds to capture attention—or lose it forever.If you ram...

Handling Client Complaints in Japan — Leadership Lessons from Dale Carnegie Tokyo

When a client complains about poor service, how should a leader respond?Do you defend your team, side with the...

Be the Light: How Leaders in Japan Can Inspire, Engage, and Retain Their Teams in 2025 | Dale Carnegie Tokyo

Every January, leaders set ambitious personal goals: hit targets, get promoted, improve themselves. But what i...