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Years ago, I was having lunch with a Japanese lady who was a regular commentator on a live weekend television show. After asking about my work as a coach, she said, “Actually, Helen, every time I’m on the show live, I’m terrified that I might not be able to answer a...
People often see me now as a successful businesswoman - a confident and skilled communicator. But, it wasn’t always that way... When I first joined the management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, I felt surrounded by INCREDIBLY intelligent people. I hesitated...
– a conversation with Noriko Makino Villanti During her two decades in the corporate world, Noriko always worked hard, but it was only years later that she realized she didn’t have a goal for herself. She was always running, but didn’t really know where she was...
I feel like I need to rant a little bit. Maybe it’s because I’ve started going to the gym and lifting weights regularly (yay!) - and maybe I’m being affected by all the testosterone in the air! I just keep thinking - where are all the women? Not just at the gym. In...
As you advance in your career and start to lead more meetings, you may face the common difficulty here in Japan of getting people to speak up - especially now that many meetings are online. I remember when I published my book Eigo no Shigoto-jutsu back in 2016 and was...
Have you ever been in a meeting and attempted to express your idea or opinion, but somehow people didn’t seem to hear it? And then someone else said what you wanted to say, and everyone listened and thought it was an excellent idea? How do you feel about that? I’ve...
“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” George Bernard Shaw said this in the early 1900s, And miscommunication seems even more likely today in global business. Why is that? I see three big reasons: Diverse backgrounds...
How do you feel when you’re in a meeting - maybe online - and you’re suddenly asked a question that you weren’t prepared for? This is a huge concern that I often hear from my clients. They don’t want to be embarrassed by not having a clear answer. Can you relate?...
- A conversation with Haruko Kawashima When you face a difficult situation, do you keep crying, yelling, and complaining? Or do you start to look for something better - a solution, perhaps? This second approach is a sign that you’re a leader. Leadership isn’t about...
How often are you using Zoom these days? Only a few months ago, I regularly had to explain what Zoom was when Japanese managers and executives were signing up for my online coaching and programs. Now, it seems that most Japanese business professionals are familiar...
Do you use weak words in meetings? Do you know what weak words are? I’ve noticed that many of my Japanese corporate clients and online students use weak words. The good news is that it’s a habit that you can fix quickly when you’re aware of it. The bad news is that...
If you’re like many of my online students and corporate clients here in Japan, you’re doing more online presentations than before. And you probably feel quite nervous about them, right? Is your message clear? Is your English correct? Can the audience understand your...