Hank, serious question...How does that work in Japan? My (very) limited understanding of much of the Japanese culture is to avoid confrontation, express opinions subtly or through 3rd parties and to avoid making any statement that could or might give direct offense? Am I way off or has it changed?
Thanks
Jon
Absolutely - they are un-confrontational by and large! You are right on! For me - When in Rome do as the Romans do - as long as it does not violate one's values and principles. It might be the perception that I do here in Japan as I do on the forum. Not true. Actually, among Japanese men as a whole - the more silent you are in a large group, in conjunction to your age - the more you are perceived to be the leader/boss/supervisor. Then a few words become very impact-ful. However, a caveat is - the more smaller the community is such as country towns - the more (comparatively) open and verbal people are.
I teach this observance and respect to some of our personnel. However, in dealing with new personnel and those that transfer in, it becomes very necessary to take the bull by the horns, so to speak, and get them into the above frame of mind. You HAVE to know your personnel or they can mess things up.
The old addage "East is east and west is west and never the twain shall meet." Boy is that Japan / N.AM-Euro.
Now, as to some probable perceptions of me :biggrin: - I am of the old school mentality. Basically conservative, strong on values and principles and that is where I try to head in my arguments. As a result I operate is like republicans and democrats of old who would debate to the n'th degree on the house floor republicans, and then go to dinner together afterward. I can debate, strongly disagree and still be friends.
I like what Daniel said about being "Brutally Honest".
One last thing, I do find that pushing hard working people into a corner and making them be quiet only bottles up things that make it worse. I give them an out and let them be heard as well as their opinion discussed. Relieves a lot of pressure, and not surprisingly - new ideas do come out. AS mentioned above, some "sensitivity" classes are often patronizing and have the result of further pushing the hardest workers into a corner that forces them to be who they are not!
Being "sensitive" as management means listening to and discussing with vocal people as much as the silent people.