How Trust and Self-Doubt Create Great Leaders

 "In the business world, I believe there is no absolute 'right answer.' There isn’t a universal law or equation where if you do X and Y, Z will definitely follow.

This doesn’t mean we should act recklessly. Rather, all we can do is take actions that we 'believe' to be the best choice at that point in time. Our solutions and ideas aren’t always the best, and while they might look promising now, they could yield poor results in the future.

Conversely, what seemed like a major failure at one point may end up turning into a positive outcome over time.

Thus, the key is not to be overconfident in our own correctness. As leaders, we might understand the business well, but others—especially those focused on specific departments—might have insights we lack. 

In other words, even decisions we considered 'optimal' can later emerge as problematic from different perspectives. What we saw as the best way may actually be outperformed by approaches in other departments or companies.

'In the business world, there is no absolute right answer; only the belief that one’s action is the best at that moment.' This applies to everyone in the business sphere.

So, to progress along this endless journey without definitive answers, two elements are essential:

  1. Put forth the best possible plan you can at this moment, believing it to be the right path and acting upon it.
  2. Understand that your ideas or solutions aren’t flawless. Be open to seeking better answers by re-evaluating from different perspectives and embracing diverse opinions.



Trust in oneself and self-doubt might seem contradictory, but managing both is what makes a great business leader.

While achieving (1) alone is difficult, doing both (1) and (2) simultaneously is even more so. I still lean heavily towards (1) and need to strengthen (2).

We must be ambitious yet humble, always striving to find ideas, methods, and responses better than what we have now."

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

No Regrets Later: Start Today

Image
 As more mid-career employees join our company, I’ve started to notice that many of them are now younger than me. I became the president at 30 years old, and for a long time, people called me a "young president." But now, I feel I’m entering a new phase—somewhere between mid-career and veteran. It’s the stage where energy and experience combine to create the best opportunities to make an impact. At this age, it’s common to reflect and think, “If only I had done that back then…” or “What would have happened if I had tried?” Of course, we can’t change the past. But we can use our past experiences to shape the future. Maybe you didn’t try something before because you were afraid of failure. Or maybe you didn’t have the confidence. But it’s never too late to take action. What matters is starting now—so we don’t look back two or three years from now with the same regrets. If you feel regret but don’t take action, you only create a habit of inaction. On the other hand, the so...
Read more

Facing Fear and Seeking Growth

Image
 Some of you may already know this, but I make it a habit to read 10 to 15 books every month. It’s not so much a hobby—rather, I feel uneasy if I’m not constantly exposing myself to new ideas, disciplining my mind, and learning with hunger and intention. It might sound unpleasant to some, but in reality, having a strict boss or senior colleague who constantly tells you, “This is not good enough!” is a privilege. I don’t have that in my current position. No one tells me what’s right or wrong. And even if someone did, their “right” isn’t necessarily my right. So, I’m always on a journey to find my own answers—that’s what life is for me. In a book I read last week, there was a line that really struck me: “Success lies on the opposite side of fear.” It doesn’t just refer to financial success. True success—real achievement—exists only beyond what we fear the most. This reminds me of what we often say at Hattori Way: “Step outside your comfort zone!” But this quote is even sha...
Read more

What is the "Kinoko Management" style for Hattori??

Image
 As the season for warm, hearty meals approaches, mushrooms— kinoko in Japanese—frequently appear in dishes like hot pots. I personally love maitake mushrooms, although “mushroom” is how we refer to them in English. Interestingly, we intentionally call our management style Kinoko Management in English as well, keeping the unique essence of this concept. Mushrooms are not vegetables but fungi. Their defining role is in promoting decomposition, enabling the cycle of life to continue. What we see above ground—the mushrooms themselves—is just the tip of the iceberg. Below the surface lies the expansive mycelium network , an intricate web that connects mushrooms and plants, instantly sharing information and nutrients. Without fungi, the world would be overwhelmed by dead plants and animals. Thanks to their work, living organisms return to the earth, becoming nutrients that sustain new life. Mushrooms come in countless varieties. They differ in size, shape, and color—some are vibrant ...
Read more