Coach's VIEW is a business column authored by executive coaches in COACH A, aimed at providing valuable insights and effective approaches for leveraging coaching to foster organizational and leadership development. The column draws on the latest coaching trends and data, as well as insights from notable global publications on coaching.
How Could you Shine a Light in a Corner?
There is a well-known quote from Saicho, the founder of the Tendai school of Buddhism.
'Shine a light on a corner. It would be a national treasure.'
It means that the kind of person who lights up society in a corner that others do not notice, is a national treasure. I believe, in other words, it describes a person who does his best in his place without seeking anything in return, such as praise or attention.
The essence of this quote from Saicho is that behavior of a person that shines a light on a corner influences and propagates to others.
What is Important is the Accumulation of Small Changes
Even in these days when big changes and innovations are spotlighted, there is an executive who taught me the importance of accumulating small changes that lead to big changes, through not overlooking small changes.
John's company has been undergoing a major organizational transformation project with the goal of building a strong organization that can face the rapid changes in the Asian market.
We, COACH A, support the core leaders of their organization as coaches, while at the same time, we regularly conduct surveys of the entire organization.
Shortly after the project began, I asked John,
'Besides this regular survey, how can we measure the progress of this project?'
He gave me the answer,
'Please call it as an accomplishment if you feel like buying our products in our store.
I can see that our company has a lot of potential for more improvement, not like some other companies that have already been thorough in their daily improvement activities. Given that, if each employee is willing to be a little more creative than he/she was yesterday, their performance will improve. But if they do not have a good relationship with their boss and the people around them, they never feel motivated to improve their performance.'
At that time, I did not quite understand what John said to me.
Finding Charm in their Products!
However, the other day, I was in a store and found the products from John's company neatly lined up in a row, looking at me, as if they were smiling. While watching them for a while, customers reached out to buy them one by one. Of course, I bought one, too.
'Now I understand what he meant!'
After a year and a half, we finally came to a point.
When I looked at the products in my hands, I could visualize a relay of many people-the person who arranged the products beautifully in the store, the person who delivered the products, his or her boss, co-workers, the person who helped with the shipment from the factory, the driver, and so on.
Communication within John's company must have been changed so that it affected each person's attitude towards their work, and this must have propagated through their involvement. When I saw the products on the shelves, I realized that the project was starting to bear fruit.
We Affect Each Other through our Relationships
One of the objectives of coaching is to improve the accountability of individuals and organizations. Accountability in coaching refers to proactively and voluntarily accepting responsibility for work and business, and each person thinking and acting on his or her own responsibility.
Coaching changes communication within the organization, and the proactive individuals influence each other through their daily interactions. It would be excellent if this proactive attitude in the organization and in the team can influence the people around them and change their surroundings.
I recently have experienced this for myself.
People Live in Relationships
On one of my days off, I went out to the office to get the rest of my work done. Upon my arrival, I found that the lights were on in the office and one of my Thai staff was there.
'Good morning. Why you are here on your day off?'
She said with a little hesitation.
'I came to give the plants some water. I had a yoga class nearby.'
In Thailand, where I am based, commercial facilities have been closed for the last few months due to COVID-19. I have been working from home because of the curfew request by Thai government. Under such circumstances, we saw each other for the first time in a while.
She is a type of person who is calm and good at doing a fixed job in a proper way than initiating her own way. She seldom speaks out at meetings and I sometimes wonder if she is enjoying her work. When I learned that she came to the office because of her concern for the potted plants, she gave me so much energy to work that day.
My own initiative was affected by hers. It was the experience that made me realize what has been probably happening in John's company as well.
*****
People live in relationships.
The little things you say or do may unintentionally cause you to light up others.
You may also be influenced by the words and actions of the people around you that light up yourself.
I have decided to name the creation of this chain of influence "Operation Light Up One Corner" .
What will you try to light up today?
I am sure there is an employee somewhere who is lighting up a corner today.
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Language: Japanese
The author of this article
After completing a master's at the Waseda University Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Michiko joined Tokyo Marine and Fire Insurance (now Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd.). In the Product Planning Department she developed new products for financial institutions and carried out strategic planning to enter new markets.
Since 2006 she has worked at COACH A as an executive coach, supporting top management in leading organizational reform for a variety of industries including manufacturing, finance and service. In January 2017 she took on the role of Managing Director at COACH A (Thailand) Co., Ltd., COACH A's national base in Thailand. She was appointed Director, Executive Managing Officer in March 2021 and returned from Thailand. Now in current position from April 2023, being in charge of the North America business.
