58: Hans Heijligers, Head of Japan, IHG Hotels and Resorts

<p>Hans Heijligers shares his global leadership insight having led in over a dozen countries before becoming the Head of Japan for IHG Hotels and Resorts, a British multinational hospitality company. Mr. Heijligers first arrived in Japan in 2014 after having worked in Singapore and has been with IHG for seven years.</p> <p> </p> <p>When comparing the different countries he has worked in, Mr. Heijligers says all countries are quite different, yet the cultural adaptation and leadership abilities required are quite similar. Although initially Mr. Heijligers learned that Japan has a very unique business culture, in finding common grounds he has been able to add value. As a foreign expat leader, Mr. Heijligers finds this particularly important when making important decisions. Hence, when developing an agenda and setting a strategy that works for the organization and the Japanese employees, he had done so in a collaborative way. Mr. Heijligers has also learned when to take a step back and stay patient. He adds: “If you allow the Japanese teams to have their own conversations, and if you're comfortable enough, [you can] say I don't need to be part of that…And start slowly, but surely build a culture around that.” This kind of patient and collaborative approach has allowed Mr. Heijligers to build trust over time within his team. Mr. Heijligers further notes: “Japan is not so much about what you see…[it] is a lot about what you don't see…So learn to be...uncomfortable sometimes.” In order to foster good relations, Mr. Heijligers says it is essential to have continuous conversations with the head office to communicate what will work best in the unique Japanese business culture.</p> <p> </p> <p>On engagement and innovation, Mr. Heijligers explains it is important to understand what each individual “cares” about and base their mission and values on it. He says for IHG, “one of the things that you should care for is that you're here to make lives better for people.” These people include the employees themselves as well as the