自分の決める戦略

Man holding strategy arrow

The best military strategists always choose the terrain on which they will do battle, rather than allowing the enemy to choose for them. So, in business, why would you possibly allow others to define the topography of your business environment instead of choosing the topography yourself? Yet, that is often precisely what business people do.

[:en]There is No Japanese Mindset[:ja]日本人特有の考え方などというものはない[:]

[:en]Nationality and national culture are not granular enough to explain behavior. There is no  “Japanese mindset.” I have traveled to more than twenty countries, and lived outside my native United States for almost my entire adult life. I speak Japanese and French fluently, and just enough Italian, German, and Mandarin Chinese to get myself into trouble. When I put my mind to it, I can even fake Spanish—and people understand me! I have worked with and known people from all over the world. Yet, I have never known any single person who could be described as typical of the country from which they come, because it is not nationality that […]

[:en]No Pain Points, No Problems[:ja]問題を抱えない顧客へのアプローチ[:]

[:en]What if your prospects and clients have no pain points and no problems? Presumption of damage is never a good way to start a relationship with anyone, whether in business or otherwise. Not long ago, I was working with a sales team to help improve their capability to ask questions when meeting with prospects. Without fail, during role plays when I played the customer, each one asked me variations of “Do you have any particular problems?” When I responded, “No, we don’t have any particular problems,” each salesperson was flustered and did not know how to respond. Each one, after a few awkward exchanges, simply withdrew and promised to call again […]

まず改革を進めること。同意は後から得れば良い。

change first

何をするにせよ周りからの同意を得てから行う、というのは理論上では良いことかもしれませんが、だからといって行動を起こす前に同意を得なければならない、ということはありません。私が存じ上げる素晴らしいリーダーの方々も、同意を得られないからといって、そのせいで物事の実行を遅らせるなどということはしません。逆に、まず実行してからその成果を見せることで、同意を得ようとします。結局のところ、実際の成果を経験してもらう事ほど、同意を得るための説得に役立つものはないのですから。

[:en]No Pain Points, No Problems[:ja]問題を抱えない顧客へのアプローチ[:]

[:en]What if your prospects and clients have no pain points and no problems? Presumption of damage is never a good way to start a relationship with anyone, whether in business or otherwise. Not long ago, I was working with a sales team helping improve their capability to ask questions when meeting with prospects. Without fail, during role plays when I played the customer, each one asked me variations of, “Do you have any particular problems?” When I responded, “No, we don’t have any particular problems,” each salesperson was flustered and did not know how to respond. Each one, after a few awkward exchanges simply withdrew and promised to call again at […]

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