11: Nikhil Gutpe President of Barilla Japan

<p>The standard dress code is much more formal in Japan than many other countries, even including other Asian countries. Casual Friday, for example, is not a thing here in Japan.</p> <p>I have had to make sure in meetings, as the boss, that I do not state my opinion first, because then there will just be silence and no one will be willing to speak up.  While in other countries, you are free to question the boss, and even say to a certain extent that I do not agree with this, in Japan, it would be a disaster.</p> <p> </p> <p>One thing that is excellent about Japan is the network of expats. You just need to ask the questions. You hear a big noise about how different Japan is, about how tough it is, but once you get here, and you ask questions of expats, and you experience things with an open mind as to why and how they are occurring, you can pick up simple things and start connecting the dots.</p> <p> </p> <p>You have not come here to be comfortable. You have come here for the challenge, so throw yourself into it and learn and have fun. Remember you have come to Japan, Japan is not going to change for you, so you need to work out how to go with the flow of what cannot be changed in Japan but influence what you can influence in the patch of Japan that you are being entrusted with.</p> <p> </p> <p>Nodding and smiling and saying yes does not necessarily mean they agree with you. You need to ask questions in such a way as to the answer might be negative, because if the answer can be given in the affirmative, then they will do so whether or not they actually are saying yes in the way Westerners understand it. Japanese have an extraordinary poker face and body language that is hard to read. So asking questions where the answer might be negative is vital if you are to find out if they are actually in agreeance and things will happen, or they are just saying that they hear what you are saying.</p> <p> </p> <p>I want my employees to make mistakes, because that way you will learn. If you make the same mistake again, you are