"A chance to change Japan" Keizai Doyukai representative secretary Sakurada May 13 15:58

The spread of the new coronavirus has hit Japan's economy like never before. Our lives and working styles are changing drastically as we have no choice but to prioritize infection prevention. How do you see these changes, and what is the role that management should play? We asked Kengo Sakurada, the lead secretary of the Keizai Doyukai, which has more than 1400 business owners. (Interviewer, Mariyo Hayashi)

This crisis is a new opportunity

First of all, I asked how you see the impact of the spread of the new coronavirus on the Japanese economy.

Representative Sakurada
"In a word, I think it has become more difficult than I had expected. As you know, Japan is not a country that can do without independent trade, so it means that the world will prolong to Japan. I think it will be tougher than originally expected in terms of prolonging the impact. ''

However, this crisis will open up new opportunities to change Japan.

Representative Sakurada
"I think this is a crisis, but I think it is also a great opportunity. I think that more and more business people will pay attention to this, and I would like to take this opportunity as a major opportunity for Japan to change. users had "
" for example, investment in machinery for telework, or raise the productivity by reviewing the personnel system. This means that input, rather than a working amount, pay the wages by came out results and quality, or and back Eliminate commuting time, increase productivity and use it more meaningfully. "

Representative Sakurada
"The Japanese way of working is to give specific tasks to subordinates, that is, they are not used to job-type work at all. It has not been 70 years after the war. Originally, Japan should have done it when the world changed for the last 30 years of Heisei, but I knew it, but I did not come. ”
" People who do telework sit at desks from morning till night It's not good at all, because the main purpose of the job is to give value .. What did you make by taking the train, going to the office, sitting at the desk, working late into the night? I was asked if I made such an output, and said, "No, I worked hard." ... This is over. "

Change in consciousness

Representative Sakurada says that the crisis has changed his consciousness. Representative Sakurada is the president of "SOMPO Holdings", a major non-life insurance company. He shared his thoughts on each of the people involved in the Group's nursing care business.

Representative Sakurada:
“The nursing care business is at great risk of infection. At the same time, the nursing care business cannot be teleworked. I am very grateful like medical staff, but the people who work are Every day, I have to leave my child, go to a nursing home, and take care of the elderly.If I am infected, I will be infected with the weakened elderly. It's working with a lot of tension, and that tension in turn creates stress. It stresses the immune system, creating a very vicious cycle. "

Mr. Sakurada,
"In the insurance business as well, I strongly say that 20% of the people who work for the head office can stay at home. Rather, ask them to find out what they cannot do at home. However, that is not the case for nursing care. You have to stay 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. When you feel like these people, in the same group, one person like this, one person like this, what kind of message do these people have? I want to send it, how can I keep my motivation high? I pray that every day there is a person who needs to be inspected and the person in charge there is not positive, but that situation continues There is "

Representative Sakurada:
“We have to manage our business because we have a pandemic, a crisis caused by the coronavirus, and we really don't know what will happen in the“ new ordinary ”. It is not the level of "the future has no extension on the past", not the clean word of "creative destruction". It is not only to survive, but to change Japan further, one's own business I feel that we have to be prepared to destroy the model and corporate culture. ''

What managers should do

What should be done as a manager in the face of this crisis? Mr. Sakurada, in his own words, says that it is important to convey a clear message to employees regarding what they are doing now and how they will develop their business after the situation has settled.

Representative Sakurada:
"As a top company, no matter how big or small, I can clearly say how I think of my words in this corona, and what I will do after that, at least I will make such efforts every day. I think it is required by the management. ''

Representative Sakurada:
"The biggest role of a manager is to run a business. I think management is to give hope to customers and the employees who support it. This is so dangerous. I believe that it is not the business of the manager to analyze the tough and explain the reason logically, but this way I can overcome it, and on the contrary, a better future is waiting I think it is important to show our employees that this is the case, and work hard to appeal to our customers. "

Show the world that "it would be a problem without Japan"

In addition, he expects the government to take drastic measures in anticipation of the end of the spread of infection.

Representative Sakurada:
“I think it's okay for an unprecedented amount of fiscal mobilization. Japan will change with this opportunity. Everyone will change from the way they work, from the people's consciousness, from the management's consciousness. And when we make an investment for that, we will show such a blueprint and vision and deliver cash to people who are really in trouble quickly.

Representative Sakurada:
“We need to discuss what we can do once again, including such measures, even if we deliberately remove the financial constraints. We will return greatly in the future by doing it now, not by taking measures. I'd really like to expect that kind of leadership that everyone in politics, administration, companies, and the people have the conviction that it is supposed to be. "
" This time is the last chance, and we will create a new Japan, the world From the point of view, I would like you to take the lead with enthusiasm in the sense that I will make a figure that I will be in trouble if Japan is not there. ''

Economy reporter
forests Maridai
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through the interview, such as the distribution industry and information communication
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