Next month, I will take my first trip to Asia. My destination is Kyoto, on the island nation of Japan. I’ve been a Japan fan for many years, as I studied the Japanese art of Aikido for twenty years, and have practiced traditional Zen meditation with a Japanese teacher.  These disciplines continue to inform how I see the world. My family all have our personal reasons for looking forward to our Asian journey.

Japanese business is not as globally strong as it was twenty years ago. Back in the 80s, a number of business books trumpeted the Japanese way of doing business as a useful model for American business. After the Japanese recession of the 90s, that interest in the Japanese way has declined.  

I predict that along with the rise of the Chinese economy, our modern world of work will continue to be influenced by Japanese, Chinese and Korean business practices in the coming years. While I don’t expect that we will completely transform the Euro/American workplace into an Asian clone, some integration of these ideas would be valuable for the way we work.

Focus on the long term – American business is notoriously obsessed with short-term results.  In the 90s I worked for a crooked dictator of a boss who led my company into bankruptcy by focusing only on the short term interest. The Asian cultures teach us to look at a longer period, and consider the impact that decisions made now may have over years and decades. When we focus on the benefits our mission has for the world, and not just the investor, the long-term focus becomes more important.  

Value of group decisions – Our culture is very individualistic.  Charismatic and powerful leaders make big decisions, and take less time considering input from other members of the team. In Japan, great consideration is taken to include everyone’s input. Perhaps their method of deciding is slower, however it may also create more working harmony and support for the choices made.  

Obsessed with quality – Yes, Toyota has been in the news because of quality problems. This is a remarkable and surprising story because the Japanese culture and Toyota have been synonymous with attention to quality.  I predict that Toyota will recover American trust, because attention to quality has been a fundamental value for this multinational.  Our culture could do well to embrace quality obsession as well.

Respect for the Generalist – In Japanese cultures, many workers rotate through different functional skills, gaining practical knowledge in multiple areas. In our culture, employers typically hire people because of specialized skill in a job function – not because the person has broad general knowledge.  The person with general knowledge, deep understanding of many areas, is often a flexible responder during challenging times. The preference for specialists is a strategy for short-term success only. Generalists can make a difference under varied conditions.  

I will be traveling to Japan during the last week of March and the first week of April. I hope to catch the cherry blossom season, drink some sake, and walk through a temple where robed monks tend gardens and look within.