Planting the Roots Before the Tree Can Stand

In my professional journey, I’ve had the privilege of working with both large American companies (Motorola, IBM) and a Japanese organization (Epson). Each culture offered valuable lessons on leadership and decision-making.

In American businesses, the leadership style often emphasizes direct and open communication, swift conflict resolution, and a relentless focus on speed and empowerment. Decisions are made quickly, with a strong drive to act and adapt.

However, transitioning to a Japanese company introduced me to an entirely different approach. Japanese management values consensus and deliberate decision-making. It required me, as a manager, to invest significant time in involving stakeholders early and building alignment across the board.

I recall a Japanese colleague once advising me: “You haven’t done enough nemawashi!” 

He explained it with a compelling analogy: “Plant the roots before the tree is ready to stand.”

Nemawashi, a concept deeply ingrained in Japanese culture, means ‘preparing the root zone.’ It reflects a process of careful groundwork before implementing major decisions or changes.

This involves:

• Engaging relevant stakeholders early on.

• Gathering diverse perspectives.

• Gradually building understanding, trust, and consensus.

The philosophy is simple but profound: A tree can only grow strong and stable when its roots are deep. Similarly, decisions backed by broad understanding and support are more robust and better implemented.

For Western business leaders, Nemawashi offers an eye-opening lesson: While it may seem slow, this approach fosters collaboration, trust, and smoother execution. It moves beyond formal meetings and top-down directives, encouraging meaningful dialogue and inclusion.

Though decisions might take longer to prepare, their outcomes are often more comprehensive, sustainable, and widely accepted.

What do you think?

Could incorporating Nemawashi principles enhance decision-making and teamwork in your organization?

#Leadership #BusinessCulture #DecisionMaking #Collaboration #JapaneseBusiness