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Episode 220 - The Listening Skill That Changes Everything
04/21/2026
Episode 220 - The Listening Skill That Changes Everything
"If you've ever worked hard to communicate clearly—in English or Japanese—and still walked away from a meeting unsure whether you were truly understood, you're not alone. Many of my clients assume the problem is their English. But in 35 years of working with business professionals in Japan, I've found that the real issue is almost never vocabulary or grammar." In this episode, Helen Iwata—bilingual Brit, leadership and communication coach, and author of 英語の仕事術—explores one of the biggest sources of stress and wasted time in global workplaces: miscommunication. Through personal stories, a surprising exercise involving a pig and Doraemon, and practical techniques you can use straight away, Helen explains why miscommunication happens even when everyone is doing their best—and what to do about it. In this episode, you'll discover ➜ Why hearing and listening are not the same thing ➜ Why real listening is harder than it sounds—and what gets in the way ➜ Why asking questions can feel uncomfortable, especially in a Japanese work environment—and how to move past that ➜ How to use open and closed questions to close the gap between what was said and what was understood This is Episode 220 and the first in a special 5-part series celebrating the 10th anniversary of Helen's book 英語の仕事術, published with Shogakukan. WATCH ON YOUTUBE: ✍️ READ ON THE SASUGA! BLOG ✍️ さすが！ブログで読む 🎁 Free resource mentioned in this episode: 25 QUESTIONS FOR MORE PRODUCTIVE MEETINGS 📩 Get practical techniques and inspiration in English and Japanese: SASUGA! TIPS FOR YOU newsletter FOLLOW HELEN ON LINKEDIN: FOLLOW HELEN ON INSTAGRAM:
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