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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...
If you’re like many Japanese business professionals who feel uncomfortable or uncertain speaking in online meetings and presentations in English, you may think that your English capability is the problem. Actually, that’s probably not the main problem. In fact, you...
I’ll never forget when I was sitting next to a British gentleman – interpreting for him – in a meeting full of Japanese businessmen... When the Japanese presenter showed one particular slide, the British gentleman turned to me and said, “Jesus Christ! I don’t know...
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?...
If you’re like many business professionals, even though you may no longer be commuting, you’re exhausted at the end of the day. This may be because you’re working longer hours, forgetting to take breaks, or feeling increasing underlying stress from the ongoing...
- 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...