Working in a Japanese company demands people to shed most of their past working at their home country itself ! This message has been conveyed to me through many incidents happened to some of my colleagues working in a Japanese company. But ultimately, the things will turn out to be good for the individual.
One of the basic essential element of Japanese work culture is 'obedience'. Disobedience is not at all encouraged or tolerated in a Japanese company. Obedience is not only limited to the Japanese work culture, infact it is one of the behavioral aspect of almost all Japanese. Japanese obedience to the law, obedience to parents, teachers, doctors and other prominent figures in the society is remarkably higher than any other country. This doesn't mean that other countries have higher levels of disobedience.
Japanese obedience to the boss and the system has become popular to the rest of the world through Japan's participation in Second world war, where as per most of the western historian, Japan was dragged into the war by a group of misinformed leadership. Her suffering and myseries out of that wrong decision is not to mention and not a subject of discussion today. Whatever be the consequence, obey the boss is the primary thing a Japanese is supposed to do.
When I was doubtful about the effectiveness of machine physiotherapy suggested by my Japanese doctor and expressed my concern to go back to my country for further treatment, I was told to just obey the doctor and trust him by my boss.
Exactly like a Nihonjin, I obeyed my boss and continued the physiotherapy treatment with Japanese doctor. As of today I am only the beneficiary of my obedience to my boss. He told me to just obey the doctor. I obeyed both my boss and doctor. I got the result good and now I am able to recover through the method suggested by my doctor. It is assumed that seniors know well what the juniors want and always suggest the good their juniors.
It is this mentality of Japan, that 'seniors know what the juniors want' lead Japanese people to follow year old cultural trait of obedience. Teachers are well respected in Japanese society. Even a doctor is called 'Sensei' same as a Teacher. This is like 'Guru' which is used in India to denote a person of high respect. Guru is rather a teacher with higher knowledge and spiritual appearance. Sensei in Japan is a person at a respectable position, who advise good things to people. Obeying sensei is always considered an obligation to the people.
Before preparing the mind to work in a Japanese company, be sure to offset the mentality of 'Individual achievements'. Individual is not important in Japan. It is the group, the collective idea which will be counted as important in Japan. This psychological approach has led to many complex thought processes and behavioral mutations over many years in Japanese society which led many people to leave their 'ego' at home.
With grudge at the core of the mind, people continue to obey the boss. Over a period of time it will be proved to them that the boss was right and afterall the decision of the boss was in favor of the company. A Japanese boss never takes a decision in favor of an individual which is not in favor of the company. The interdepartmental transfers and work assignments decided by a boss is also a collective decision in favor of the company.
Personal ego has very less value in a Japanese company. This is one of the most important thing to be kept in mind and to be reminded self while being in Japan. Individual ego and individual ideas which is not useful for a group is not going to be entertained in Japanese companies. Curse the boss is the only thing you can do in Japan. But the time will prove that the boss was right.
But there are instances, where the subordinate can influence the decision of the boss. That should be well before the boss discuss the matter with his boss and other groups and reach to a collective decision. Once the decision is taken, there are almost zero possibility for a change. It will be fianl and our duty will be just to obey.
Obviously, there are many ways to disobey the boss. That can be done by submitting the resignation, but that will cost the job itself !
One of the basic essential element of Japanese work culture is 'obedience'. Disobedience is not at all encouraged or tolerated in a Japanese company. Obedience is not only limited to the Japanese work culture, infact it is one of the behavioral aspect of almost all Japanese. Japanese obedience to the law, obedience to parents, teachers, doctors and other prominent figures in the society is remarkably higher than any other country. This doesn't mean that other countries have higher levels of disobedience.
Japanese obedience to the boss and the system has become popular to the rest of the world through Japan's participation in Second world war, where as per most of the western historian, Japan was dragged into the war by a group of misinformed leadership. Her suffering and myseries out of that wrong decision is not to mention and not a subject of discussion today. Whatever be the consequence, obey the boss is the primary thing a Japanese is supposed to do.
When I was doubtful about the effectiveness of machine physiotherapy suggested by my Japanese doctor and expressed my concern to go back to my country for further treatment, I was told to just obey the doctor and trust him by my boss.
Exactly like a Nihonjin, I obeyed my boss and continued the physiotherapy treatment with Japanese doctor. As of today I am only the beneficiary of my obedience to my boss. He told me to just obey the doctor. I obeyed both my boss and doctor. I got the result good and now I am able to recover through the method suggested by my doctor. It is assumed that seniors know well what the juniors want and always suggest the good their juniors.
It is this mentality of Japan, that 'seniors know what the juniors want' lead Japanese people to follow year old cultural trait of obedience. Teachers are well respected in Japanese society. Even a doctor is called 'Sensei' same as a Teacher. This is like 'Guru' which is used in India to denote a person of high respect. Guru is rather a teacher with higher knowledge and spiritual appearance. Sensei in Japan is a person at a respectable position, who advise good things to people. Obeying sensei is always considered an obligation to the people.
Before preparing the mind to work in a Japanese company, be sure to offset the mentality of 'Individual achievements'. Individual is not important in Japan. It is the group, the collective idea which will be counted as important in Japan. This psychological approach has led to many complex thought processes and behavioral mutations over many years in Japanese society which led many people to leave their 'ego' at home.
With grudge at the core of the mind, people continue to obey the boss. Over a period of time it will be proved to them that the boss was right and afterall the decision of the boss was in favor of the company. A Japanese boss never takes a decision in favor of an individual which is not in favor of the company. The interdepartmental transfers and work assignments decided by a boss is also a collective decision in favor of the company.
Personal ego has very less value in a Japanese company. This is one of the most important thing to be kept in mind and to be reminded self while being in Japan. Individual ego and individual ideas which is not useful for a group is not going to be entertained in Japanese companies. Curse the boss is the only thing you can do in Japan. But the time will prove that the boss was right.
But there are instances, where the subordinate can influence the decision of the boss. That should be well before the boss discuss the matter with his boss and other groups and reach to a collective decision. Once the decision is taken, there are almost zero possibility for a change. It will be fianl and our duty will be just to obey.
Obviously, there are many ways to disobey the boss. That can be done by submitting the resignation, but that will cost the job itself !
Thanks for the comment on my blog Did You Know?
ReplyDeleteVery interesting readings here. I would to visit Japan someday to meet the people and see how colorful it is. The architecture of the buildings are awesome. Keep up the good work.