Trying to get buy-in at work but hitting a wall? You’re not alone. From boardrooms in Tokyo to hybrid teams across APAC, influencing others can feel like a battle of logic, but the real key is how you listen. Based on new research, practical tools, and cross-cultural leadership insights, this article explores how curiosity, storytelling, and civility can help leaders change minds without creating friction. Especially relevant for leaders navigating the unspoken rules of workplace harmony in Japan, this piece offers actionable tips you can apply tomorrow.
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Is your leadership approach running on empty? Meet Takashi, a veteran sales manager whose motivation tactics have hit a wall. This article examines the tension between Agency Theory (which assumes employees need constant oversight) and Self-Determination Theory (which suggests people are naturally motivated under the right conditions). Through Takashi's journey, we'll explore how traditional control-based management often backfires, while offering practical, actionable steps for leaders ready to shift gears. Discover how Japanese companies are already reimagining motivation and learn specific techniques to transform your team from reluctant participants to engaged drivers of success.
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Struggling with decision-making and accountability in a matrix organization? You are not alone. In Japan, we’ve seen companies embrace matrix structures for cross-functional collaboration, only to face role ambiguity, misaligned priorities, and slow execution. Without clear accountability, decision-making stalls. Learn how Apple’s DRI model offers a practical solution for making matrix organizations work.
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In this comprehensive dialogue, Masaki Wakabayashi, the President, and CEO of GE Healthcare Japan, unfolds his journey and the pivotal experiences that shaped his leadership style, his drive for excellence, and his profound commitment to fostering a culture of diversity, openness, and innovation within the organization.
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Bayer AG's pivot to a team-centric model marks a significant cultural shift towards collaboration over hierarchy, with coaching at its core to boost teamwork and development. This approach boosts innovation and agility, enabling leaders to foster a proactive, entrepreneurial culture. It highlights the critical role of participative leadership in driving organizational change and achieving success in today's dynamic business environment.
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