The Last Week of LILTDY

Hi, everyone!! I'll write about review of the presentation week.

Firstly, I'd like to apologize for my poor organized presentation. Since I was very nervous, i failed to care about time management. At that time, I felt that  i was not qualified to be a debater lol i'll keep on working hard to improve my presentation skill!

It was interesting to listen to the presentation of all of you. Since I focus on one company in my essay, this presentation week was the good opportunity for me to absorb various analysis about general leadership skills. Also, I was amazed by how good presenters everyone was. Most of you prepared well, and talked with confidence... Someday i really want to make a speech like you guys.

Winter term passed so quickly that I can't believe it's almost the end of this term. Through this class, I could learn a lot about leadership skill, and these knowledge will be surely useful for my future. I've never thought that there is a strategy for successful negotiation or good handshake. 

Thank all of you for being great classmates, and thank you so much Ken, for being a great leader in this class:) 

Hibiya Sensei's Lecture

First impression:
She was so attractive!! Her speech had the power to involve the audiences in her speech. Also, her speech includes her unique (?) sense of humor and energetic gestures. Although she is not so tall, I felt as if she were really tall and strong. I want to be a speaker like her... this feeling came to be bigger and bigger after finishing my presentation at the second period of today lol

Communication:
She emphasized the importance of speaking "the third language". I also think it is important to speak as many languages as possible in order to communicate with many people in the world. Before listening to her speech, I hesitate to take the world languages courses, because it will be difficult to manage my schedule.  However, her speech changed my mind... she pushed me to be optimistic about my future lol

DEKIRU!!!! ... Being Optimistic
Her words "DEKIRU!!!!" influenced me a lot. I am actually a negative thinker (same as the CEO of DAISO lol), but I felt like doing something with the words "DEKIRU" gave me the energy to accomplish my tasks.

Chapter 10: Creativity

I'm so sorry for the delay of this post....

This chapter focus on the method of finding creative solutions. This chapter connects to the chapter of optimism. When I read this chapter, it reminded me of this proverb: "If there is a will, there is a way."

 I think this strategy demands flexibility, and it is not an easy task when it comes to the situation at the Edge. Since the situation was "dead or alive" for Shackleton, it was surprising that he kept being optimistic and never gave up pursuing their goal: "going home". 

The reason of his achievement was maybe the presence of his mates. If he were alone in the Antarctica, he would not have been able to maintain his mind to go back to his home. Since Shackleton felt the responsibility to influence the lives of all of the members of Endurance, it was the duty for him to be strong as a leader. 

Lesson from him:
...Do not give up coming up with the solution.  

About Mr. Kitashiro's class

I was really inspired by this guest lecture. For this week's free topic, I want to write my impression of the lecture.

Before this class, I thought he would be a kind of person who is difficult to get along with, because Ken told us his achievement. I could not imagine the person who totally changed the business style of one of the most biggest company in the world. The real Mr. Kitashiro was, however, very kind and honest person. To tell the truth, I was really surprised...because it seemed to me that he was an ordinary man at first(I changed my mind...after the lecture, he was not "ordinary" at all lol). 

1. his manner
I really liked the way he talked to us. His voice was really soft and comfortable to listen. Moreover, I felt he had strong confidence through eye contact, posture, humor and the way he involved us in his speech. His public speech style was very similar to my ideal one... 

2. his story
The most memorable story was "Courage to say NO". In order to change the "no discount policy" of IBM, he never gave up and eventually went to the headquarter of IBM for direct negotiation. In Japanese culture,it is kind of crazy action, because the headquarter is considered as "the absolute authority" without any reason. Maybe we tend to stick to "tradition" or "rule" in our style. 
I think his lecture gave us the courage to survive the present society. Even if we have to do something uncomfortable in our culture in order to pursue the best outcome, we should not be afraid of doing that, at least we should try it, because it is "mottainai" to waste our chances. 

I would like to thank Mr. Kitashiro and Ken for giving us the opportunity to listen to this amazing lecture.

Song: Sara Bareilles "Brave"

Chapter 8 Lighten Up!

Strategy: Find something to celebrate and something to laugh about.

In this chapter, the author shows that celebration and laugh can make the difference. That means these behaviors work effectively to strengthen the bond within the team. 

In terms of celebration, we can see a lot of examples of the companies which build the custom into the organization. Recruit Career, a famous Japanese temp agency, give the expense of a trip during the holiday (up to 200,000 yen) if the brunch of the company achieves its goal. This system is called "GIB(=Goal in Bonus) system". The point is that the employees have to go to the trip with at least three other employees who also get the money. As the consequence, it will be more likely to be easy to cooperate with co workers during the work, because they are able to understand each other through the trip. I think this kind of celebration is effective, because it is "win-win" situation for both employees and the company.

Laughter. In this book, it is called as "vital mental medicine". Yes, it is very true!!!!
The effect of Laughter...

・Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.

・Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.


・Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.


・Laughter protects the heart. ・Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.

・Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.

・Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.

・Laughter dissolves distressing emotions. You can't feel anxious, angry, or sad when you're laughing.

・Laughter helps you relax and recharge. It reduces stress and increases energy, enabling you to stay focused and accomplish more.

・Humor shifts perspective, allowing you to see situations in a more realistic, less threatening light. A humorous perspective creates psychological distance, which can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed.

・Be more spontaneous. Humor gets you out of your head and away from your troubles.


・Let go of defensiveness. Laughter helps you forget judgments, criticisms, and doubts.


・Release inhibitions. Your fear of holding back and holding on are set aside.


・Express your true feelings. Deeply felt emotions are allowed to rise to the surface.

From:http://www.helpguide.org/life/humor_laughter_health.htm

Video: "Humor and Health: How's Your Laugh Life?"

Free choice: Extended Outline of My Essay

Hi, everyone!
Since I revised my outline, I post it on this blog. If you have any suggestion, please let me know by adding a comment...

Disney

Ⅰ　Introduction

 A.How successful??

Seeking Alpha

“In general, Disney has achieved great success in growing their business and increasing  earnings in the last few years.”

Investopedia

“Walt Disney is one of the most powerful companies, in one of the most powerful sectors of any economy: entertainment.”

Disney Wiki

The company is best known for the products of its film studio, the Walt Disney Studios, and today one of the largest and best-known studios in Hollywood. Disney also owns and operates the ABC broadcast television network; cable television networks such as Disney Channel, ESPN, A+E Networks, and ABC Family; publishing, merchandising, and theatre divisions; and owns and licenses 14 theme parks around the world. It also has a successful music division.

 B.Thesis

The success of The Walt Disney Company is the result of two things: the great leadership of its founder and the successors who have been keeping the mission statement of the company.

 

 C.Purpose

This paper will explore why the Walt Disney Company has become successful by two aspects. Firstly, this paper will explain what kind of key quality Walt Disney had. In addition to that aspect, it will explain how the successors of the company has been maintaining the mission statement of the company.

Ⅱ　Walt Disney’s key quality

 A. Always exceed the expectation (try to show new thing)

Animation… everybody did not think his plan would succeed at first

“The Steamboat Willie”...Animation with sound

“The Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”... Full Color & Long Animation

Audio-Animatronics… “It’s a Small World”, “Pirates of the Caribbean”, “Enchanted Tiki Room”

“He was the most critical person in the company”

  B. Stay true to your value

Walt Disney went bankrupt five times but never gave up his dream…

Einstein once said, “Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.” ...Walt Disney is a perfect example.

ex. Did not care what the critics said toward his vision.

Mickey Mouse “it was all started by a mouse.”

also a constant reminder that the company has strong roots and it embraces American values.

 C. Differentiate your offer

Creating “Uniqueness” within the system of the company

example...Visitor=guests, workers=associates

Everyone feel that they are doing something special=motivated

 D. Lead by examples and delegate

provided inspiration by creating many important characters in Disney’s history

example: Mickey and Friends

Communication with associates

Ultimately his employees were happy to work long hours without any pay because they believed in what they were doing.

  E. Roy Disney… The perfect brother I’ve ever known

More realistic because he was once a banker worked for Bank of America

Example:

Building a Company

・before they succeded, Walt was deceived by a man called Powers. But Roy noticed that the guy was a trickster.

・Found the source of funds(Bank of Italy(America), ABC), managing money problems(constructing business plan, in charge of trademark right), managing strikes

・Walt :“He is by nature a banker, so he is the brightest in terms of money. I totally rely on him in that issue, and do not have nothing to complain about.”

Disney Way

・Participation of worker and their families

...Roy invited all of the groups in the company for lunch or dinner, and played the role as a host.

...After the death of Walt, invited the families of the workers for meetings at the company and he explained the future of the company.

Ⅲ　Mission statement of the company

   A. Walt’s Core Concept… To Dream, To Dare, To Believe and To Do

   

   B. After the death of Walt Disney (How they keep the statement)

The Company’s 10 management principle… the easiest way to convey Walt’s belief

1.Make Everyone’s Dreams Come True

2.You Better Believe It

3.Never a Customer, Always a Guest

4.All for One and One for All

5.Share the Spotlight

6.Dare to Dare

7.Practice, Practice, Practice

8.Make Your Elephant Fly

9.Capture the Magic with Storyboards

10. Give Details Top Billing

Why they had to keep the mission statement??

  Because “Disney” became not only the founder’s name but brand.

 

C. Comparison to other companies (Apple…)

・Apple

NHK

After Steve Jobs died, stock price has gradually dropped, because many people worry that Cook(Jobs’ successor) will be able to keep on releasing innovative products like Jobs. Moreover, some of the executives of the company left the company.

The reason of these changes are simple. The successor of the company failed to find out what is important in the company.(In the case of Apple, it is “creative atmosphere”). Since Cook is just a pro of efficient management, he could not make the right decision for the company, and it related to dissatisfactory of the customers.

Iphone...many ppl say that IPhone 5 etc. is not “brand-new” smart phone. As the consequence, the share of the smartphone was smaller than Samsung.

Therefore, Apple did not prosper after the influential founder passed away.

・Disney

On the other hand, Disney have continued to succeed even after the death of its icon: Walt Disney. The reason is that Disney understood what is essential for the company to survive after the founder died. That means maintaining the brand of “Disney”. They share this principle with all of the workers in the company, so it became easier for the company to determine which way they had to go.

Ⅳ Conclusion

  A. Summary

  B. How we can apply to our lives

“Leadership is the ability which set the standard and manage the creative atmosphere within the group. Moreover, people are motivated to achieve a long-range but constructive goal  by the participatory environment that acknowledges the value of individuals.”

Leading at the Edge Chapter 6

Core Team Value
Strategy 6: Minimize status differences and insist on courtesy and mutual respect.

In this chapter, the author showed the importance of reinforcing the team message. The content of this chapter looked similar to that of Chapter 5 at first, but I found that the method appeared on this chapter is the foundation of the strategies 5. That is to say, it is important to achieve strategy 6 before strategy 5, because courtesy and mutual respect is the key factor to spread and make the crews believe this message: "We are the one, we live or die together."

...Minimize Status Differences and Special Privileges
The author compares Shackleton to Robert Scott, and emphasizes that Shackleton created fair environment during his journey. As the result, he succeeded in creating a sense of unity within the team. For example, Shackleton refused to get special privileges and he could admit he was wrong. This behavior created the environment that "each person experienced a basic sense of respect regardless of his or her role in the organization".

...Insist on Mutual Respect and Courtesy
Shackleton created an environment that crews helped other members by showing his attitude of self-sacrifice. Crews saw his behavior toward them, and influenced by the action. Also, crews never forgot the heart of courtesy even in a harsh environment. That means they always said "Thank you" or "excuse me" with their words. 


Comment:
What I learn from this chapter is that we have to follow the basic method of communication. The behavior of Shackleton is very simple. For instance, he just say "Thank you." or try to respect everyone on the ship. It reminds me of the education in elementary school... Since we cannot understand what is relationship or how to maintain the bond at that time, the teacher always stresses that "respect others" or "say Thank you", right? As we grow up, we may forget the fundamental principle of human relationship, because adults tend to focus on worthless things, such as a perception of "upper class". I think we should change our minds, and see other people as just human beings (it doesn't matter how they are rich/poor, their looks, their races, their beliefs, their academic backgrounds etc.)