strategy

“Quiet and discreet” is a wise man’s strategy.That’s what Jill Chan, a Taiwanese-born super introvert who has achieved success in the super extroverted society of America, says.A world bestseller by Mr.“A Quiet Person’s Strategy Manual: How Introverts Can Demonstrate Their Quiet Power in This Too-Noisy World”(Written by Jill Chan, translated by Akiko Kanzaki)teeth,It unlocks the secrets of introverts’ unique abilities: listening, attentiveness, humility, calmness, and observation.

A leading expert in business strategy theory,Professor Katsuhiko Shimizu of Keio University Business Schooland,this bookI sympathize with the introverted leader’s way of preaching. We asked Professor Shimizu to talk about what is important for leaders and introverts. (Interviewed and composed by Akiko Ogawa)
>> Click here for the previous article “Why you don’t have to aim for a ‘daring boss'”

The key is to feel that you are looking after yourself

――I think there are times when leaders want their subordinates to be more motivated. What do you think is important as a leader to motivate others?

Katsuhiko Shimizu (hereafter Shimizu): I think it boils down to looking after your subordinates.

Even if you read a book or attend a seminar on how to motivate your employees, it won’t work if you don’t know your subordinates well.

For example, there are people who are good at “scolding” and people who are not good at it. I think there is also the technique of wording.

However, more than that, it is important whether you can feel that “this person is trying to understand you and is watching you carefully.”

What the NBA ’11-time champion’ legend did

Shimizu: There is a very impressive episode in the book “Eleven Rings” written by American professional basketball coach Phil Jackson. He is one of the top coaches in NBA history, having led his team to 11 championships, including the Chicago Bulls with Michael Jordan.

It doesn’t work if you have a genius like Michael Jordan on your team. “Me!

It seems that Phil Jackson gave each player a “workbook suitable for that person”. Instead of reading the same book with the whole team, he found something that “you can do better if you think this way” and gave each person a different book.

Of course, some players don’t read it, but at least it conveys that “I care about you as an individual.”

――That’s amazing. “Books distributed to everyone” and “books chosen for you” are completely different in how you receive them. You can’t do it unless you look closely at each person.

Shimizu: There is a Chinese proverb, “A warrior dies for those who know themselves.” If it’s for a leader who you think “knows you well”, you might feel motivated to do your best. Conversely, if you feel like, “This boss doesn’t care about me,” you’re not going to be motivated.

“Observation” and “Listening” are the top necessary skills for leaders

――“The Quiet Person’s Strategy Book”described that introverted leaders are observant and good at listening one-on-one. He is not a charismatic leader, but he quietly exerts a deep influence. When you feel that they are watching you and listening to you, you will feel like you want to do your best for this leader.

Shimizu: We tend to think that a strong leader with the ability to communicate is good, but just because you are an extrovert doesn’t mean you can motivate your subordinates. I think that “observation” and “listening” are among the top skills that leaders need.

――The example of the assignment book is easy to understand, but what should I do to convey “I’m watching you carefully”?

Shimizu: Phil Jackson can do it because he’s a top-notch coach, but it’s usually difficult to do that. I think it would be a good idea to observe his subordinates carefully and find a feedback method that suits them and you.

――“The Quiet Person’s Strategy Book”It was pointed out that introverts are better at written communication than face-to-face communication. If you are not good at giving face-to-face feedback, you may want to send it by email.

Shimizu: In such a case, I think you should tell them frankly, such as, “I can’t say enough about face-to-face feedback.” So please email me your feedback. The most important thing is whether or not they really look at you.

That said, even if you find it difficult to give face-to-face feedback, you may discover something if you actually try to do it face-to-face. Challenge is also important.

Is ‘micromanagement’ demoralizing?

――When you carefully observe your subordinates and give them feedback, you may fall into the trap of “micromanagement,” giving instructions after checking them in detail. Is micromanagement demoralizing?

Shimizu: There are quite a few leaders, including Steve Jobs, who are very particular about the details.

Elon Musk also said, “Stick to one pixel,” and Michael Eisner, the founder of Walt Disney’s renaissance, was also famous for his micromanagement of meddling in the details of products and advertising. In that sense, micromanagement should not be dismissed unconditionally.

However, basically, it’s best to let the other person know how much detail you want to point out and give instructions to.

Just because you’re observant and notices details doesn’t mean you have to tell them everything. Even if you can see it, sometimes it is important not to say it. You have to choose according to the opponent and the situation.

If you have a personality that tends to go into detail, I think it would be a good idea to frankly say something like, “I’ll tell you all the details, but you don’t have to listen to everything.”

Nobel Prize-winning economist Richard Thaler“amazing”Distinguished behavioral scientist Katie Milkman put all her knowledge into it.“How to Change Yourself: A Powerful Behavioral Science That Makes Your Body Move Even if You Don’t Like It”(Written by Katie Milkman, translated by Yuko Sakurai, Diamond Publishing). It is a global bestseller, with publications scheduled in 26 countries around the world.“What can I do to change my behavior and that of others?”Angela Duckworth, a psychologist and author of “Perseverance GRIT”, explains various things while explaining the “principle of behavior” of human beings.「this bookAnyone can become a superhuman by readingHe praised and wrote a preface.In this manuscriptIbid.From, we will introduce some of the surprising contents specially.

If you change your environment, you can cut off the “old self”

Consider a study of transfer students at Texas A&M University.

Some of the transfer students came from local junior colleges, while others came from other towns.

In this study, we compared students whose environment did not change with those who did. Some of the transfer students remained largely unchanged in their environment, maintained most of their lifestyle habits, and kept in touch with the same friends in the same area. On the other hand, there were students whose lives changed completely.

The study also examined whether the degree of change students experienced affected habits such as watching television, reading newspapers, and exercising. As expected, it turns out that the degree of change makes a big difference.

Students who transferred mainly from local junior colleges and experienced little change in their environment largely maintained their original lifestyle habits, whereas students who experienced greater changes were more likely to change their behavior.

Hengchen and Jason, in my research as well,On the calendar, too, we found that larger milestones elicited greater responses.

New Years, for example, has a much greater impact on behavior than a typical Monday. The more important the date was, the more likely it was that I would take a step back, reflect on myself, and cleanly cut off the past.

The more I think about this research, the more I feel like it’s a fresh start.(a new start)I couldn’t help but feel like I was sleeping without being fully utilized.

　When you want to change yourself, you can make it easier to break old habits and ways of thinking by changing your environment.And even simple things like finding a new cafe to work in or a new gym can go a long way.

You can also use major changes in your life to reassess what’s most important to you. Illness, a promotion, or a move can create interruptions that can turn your life around.(Omitted)

Start on a day with a “fresh start feeling”

If you want to make positive changes in your life, but you’ve failed in the past and feel like you’ll never do it again, look for opportunities for a fresh start.

Is there a day that feels like a clean break from the past? It could be your birthday, the first day of summer, or just Monday.

Or can we change the physical environment? (Or can I help my subordinates change their environment?)

Even if you can’t move to a new house or office, working in a cafe or changing other routines might give you a fresh start.

And could we reset the metrics that measure our progress toward meeting our goals? Breaking down annual sales goals into monthly goals might create more frequent reset opportunities for yourself (and your struggling employees).

(This manuscript is“How to Change Yourself: A Powerful Behavioral Science That Makes Your Body Move Even if You Don’t Like It”excerpt from)