Many companies in Japan would like to promote more female employees into management and leadership positions. However, many Japanese women are reluctant to accept promotions.
One key reason is that they don’t want to be like the old-fashioned command-and-control managers they themselves have reported to. They are lacking a model for how they can be leaders while still being themselves – a template for a way to manage that doesn’t require giving up their personalities and strengths. We believe that the concept of servant leadership, with its emphasis on supporting team members and creating an environment where they can perform their best, is a particularly good fit for Japanese women who are looking for a model of leadership with which they can feel more comfortable. This seminar will cover the key skills of servant leadership, with exercises that help the participants connect the skills to their own situations. The unique communication challenges faced by female Japanese leaders will also be discussed.
