244 Be Careful Using Your Hands When Presenting In Japan
The Japan Business Mastery Podcast By Dale Carnegie Training Tokyo Japan
Release Date: 03/27/2025
248 Top Leader Challenges
The Japan Business Mastery Podcast By Dale Carnegie Training Tokyo Japan
Running a successful business requires sharp focus on cost control, maintaining quality, building the brand, staying alert to competitors, and appealing to stakeholders. However, a growing challenge in today's business world is managing people. In Japan, there’s a rising concern about attracting and retaining qualified staff. The once abundant pool of candidates is shrinking, with more industries facing staffing shortages. Employees now have multiple job options, making it essential for businesses to stand out and ensure they keep their employees satisfied. People don't leave companies, they...
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247 Deep and Broad Presenting
The Japan Business Mastery Podcast By Dale Carnegie Training Tokyo Japan
When delivering a great presentation, it's easy to feel satisfied, especially when the audience is soaking up your content. But the challenge comes when things are going well, and you want to elevate them to the next level. I recently attended a presentation where the speaker nailed it: the content was relevant, the room was packed, and the delivery was top-notch. But even with all these elements in place, there was still one thing missing that could have made the presentation even more powerful. The speaker did a fantastic job presenting broad industry trends and future projections, which...
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246 Japan Is So Business Formal
The Japan Business Mastery Podcast By Dale Carnegie Training Tokyo Japan
In Japan, politeness and formality go hand in hand, shaping interactions in ways that might feel unfamiliar to people from more casual cultures like the United States, Australia, or Canada. While some European countries may find Japan’s structured approach more familiar, many Western visitors are surprised by just how much etiquette matters—especially in business and official settings. One of the most formal experiences I had in Japan was accompanying Australian Ambassador John McCarthy when he presented his credentials to the Emperor. It was a grand occasion, starting with a waiting...
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245 Boss Genius Coaching
The Japan Business Mastery Podcast By Dale Carnegie Training Tokyo Japan
Bosses get this wrong. The younger generation demands a new type of boss—someone persuasive, focused on their career development, and who is skilled as a communicator and coach. Japan’s demographic crisis makes meeting these demands even more critical. With fewer young people entering the workforce, competition for their loyalty is fierce. Employers unable to satisfy their expectations will lose talent to competitors or rely increasingly on non-Japanese workers to fill the gap. Statistics reveal the challenge: 35% of young Japanese graduates quit their jobs within three years. One key...
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244 Be Careful Using Your Hands When Presenting In Japan
The Japan Business Mastery Podcast By Dale Carnegie Training Tokyo Japan
Don’t get this wrong. Good posture never goes out of style, yet many presenters struggle with it. Standing straight projects confidence, enables better breath control, and conveys energy. However, the presenting environment often tempts us into poor habits. Even seasoned performers—actors and singers—struggle with posture during award acceptance speeches. Instead of standing tall, they hunch over microphones, giving audiences an unflattering view of their bowed heads. These professionals, familiar with microphone technology, should excel at its use but often fail to adapt to the setup....
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243 Setting the Foundations For Making The Sale In Japan
The Japan Business Mastery Podcast By Dale Carnegie Training Tokyo Japan
Nemawashi, translates to “groundwork” and is rooted in the practice of moving large trees. This intricate process—preparing roots, wrapping them, and relocating the tree—serves as a metaphor for meticulous preparation before decisions in business. In Japan, decisions are typically made before meetings, with the gathering itself serving as a formality to approve prior agreements. The groundwork involves engaging stakeholders individually, securing their buy-in, and addressing potential concerns. In contrast, Western decision-making often occurs during meetings, with open discussions and...
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242 Mood Control In Japan
The Japan Business Mastery Podcast By Dale Carnegie Training Tokyo Japan
Don’t be delusional. Do you consider yourself moody? Perhaps not, but as a boss, your team may perceive you differently. Employees are keenly attuned to your every movement, tone, body language and expression, constantly evaluating your mood to gauge whether it's a good time to approach you with work-related matters. Your ability to mask emotions or maintain equilibrium amidst challenges significantly influences the workplace atmosphere. As the leader, your mood sets the tone for the day. A positive attitude can uplift the team, while a negative one can drag them down. The challenge lies in...
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241 Open The Kimono When Presenting In Japan
The Japan Business Mastery Podcast By Dale Carnegie Training Tokyo Japan
Stop wrecking your presentations. When delivering talks, many speakers separate their personal identities from the content, focusing solely on facts, data, and evidence. This approach, often favored by technical individuals, misses the opportunity to create deeper engagement with the audience. As an introvert, I understand the hesitation to share personal stories. However, keeping oneself out of the narrative is a significant mistake. Injecting personal experiences and insights into a presentation transforms it from theoretical to practical, resonating more deeply with the audience. Audiences...
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240 Buyer Styles In Japan
The Japan Business Mastery Podcast By Dale Carnegie Training Tokyo Japan
Salespeople are ignorant. When interacting with Japanese buyers, personality differences play a more critical role than cultural differences. Understanding personality styles can help improve communication and sales success. A two-axis framework categorizes personality types: a horizontal axis measures from low assertion on the left across to high assertion on the right, and a vertical axis measuring people orientation at the top vs. outcome focus down below. Bottom right, the Driver type is highly assertive and outcome-driven. Often business founders, they value results over...
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239 Taking Accountabilty In Japan
The Japan Business Mastery Podcast By Dale Carnegie Training Tokyo Japan
Stop being weak. The beauty, weight loss, fashion, and entertainment industries inundate us with images of unattainable perfection, leaving many feeling inadequate—too tall, short, fat, thin, or unsuccessful. It’s easy to fall into the trap of wishing for better circumstances: wealthier parents, a better education, or a more favorable start in life. But wishing changes nothing; the past cannot be undone. While mistakes, poor choices, and misfortunes may weigh us down, the key is to stop dwelling on what lies behind us and channel that energy into moving forward. To progress, we must act as...
info_outlineDon’t get this wrong. Good posture never goes out of style, yet many presenters struggle with it. Standing straight projects confidence, enables better breath control, and conveys energy. However, the presenting environment often tempts us into poor habits. Even seasoned performers—actors and singers—struggle with posture during award acceptance speeches. Instead of standing tall, they hunch over microphones, giving audiences an unflattering view of their bowed heads. These professionals, familiar with microphone technology, should excel at its use but often fail to adapt to the setup.
As a presenter, you can avoid this by preparing beforehand. Test the microphone to ensure it suits your needs, and request alternatives like a handheld or lavaliere mic if necessary. If caught off guard, don’t hesitate to remove the microphone from its stand or lift the entire stand to bring the mic to your level. The key is to take control of the tech, not let it dictate your posture or delivery.
Podiums are another culprit behind poor posture. Many speakers clutch the podium for balance or as a substitute for gestures, especially if unsure what to do with their hands. This restricts movement and leaves the speaker hunched over, further diminishing their presence. Instead, step slightly back from the podium so the temptation to go for the grip is eliminated, stand tall, and use a slide clicker to navigate your presentation. Free from the restrictions of the physical podium, your gestures can enhance your words and engage the audience.
If you must use a podium for notes or as a laptop stand, maintain good posture by standing upright and away from the podium’s edge. I often rotate the podium toward me, so that I can easily see my laptop screen, as I stand to the side. This prevents reliance on the podium for support and keeps my hands free for natural gestures.
Good posture marks a professional who commands their environment, tech, and presentation space. By addressing these physical and technical challenges, you can focus entirely on engaging your audience—our ultimate goal.