The Japan Business Mastery Show cover art

The Japan Business Mastery Show

The Japan Business Mastery Show

By: Dr. Greg Story
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For busy people, we have focused on just the key things you need to know. To be successful in business in Japan you need to know how to lead, sell and persuade. This is what we cover in the show. No matter what the issue you will get hints, information, experience and insights into securing the necessary solutions required. Everything in the show is based on real world perspectives, with a strong emphasis on offering practical steps you can take to succeed.Copyright 2022 Economics Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • The Power Of Enthusiasm When Presenting In Japan

    The Power Of Enthusiasm When Presenting In Japan
    May 28 2026
    Enthusiasm is not decoration in a presentation. It is the force that transfers belief from the speaker to the audience. In Japan, where business audiences often value substance, humility, preparation, and credibility, enthusiasm must be authentic rather than theatrical. When professionals present, they are selling more than information. They are selling their personal brand, their company brand, their message, and their conclusion. The speaker who combines expertise with genuine passion becomes much easier to trust, remember, and follow. Why does enthusiasm matter when presenting in Japan? Enthusiasm matters because audiences do not only evaluate the speaker's information; they evaluate the speaker's conviction. If the presenter does not seem to believe the message, the audience will not feel compelled to believe it either. In Japanese business presentations, especially with executives, clients, sales teams, and internal decision-makers, the audience often watches for preparation, sincerity, and credibility. This is true whether the speaker is presenting in Tokyo, Osaka, Singapore, Sydney, New York, or London. Enthusiasm signals that the presenter has moved beyond data and has reached a clear point of view. It also helps cut through the formality of the room. The best energy is not loudness. It is visible commitment to the message. Do now: Treat enthusiasm as proof of belief. Show the audience that the message matters to you before asking it to matter to them. Are all professionals really in sales when they present? Yes, every professional is in sales when presenting because every presentation asks the audience to accept an idea, support a decision, or remember a message. The word "sales" may feel uncomfortable, but the activity is unavoidable. A lawyer sells an argument. A consultant sells a recommendation. A manager sells a strategy. A professor sells a way of thinking. A founder sells a vision. A country manager in Japan may be selling change to headquarters, while a regional executive may be selling alignment across Asia-Pacific. Even if the business card does not say salesperson, the podium turns the speaker into a persuader. That is why dismissing sales as something only "car salespeople" or "vacuum cleaner salespeople" do is dated and dangerous. Do now: Before presenting, ask: "What am I selling — my idea, my conclusion, my brand, or the next action?" What are presenters really selling to the audience? Presenters sell three things at once: their personal brand, their company brand, and their message. The audience forms judgments about all three while the speaker is talking. Personal brand comes first. Does this person seem credible, prepared, thoughtful, and worth listening to? Company brand follows. If the speaker is dull, confused, or flat, the organisation's reputation also suffers. Finally, the message must be sold: the insight, lesson, proposal, or conclusion the speaker wants the audience to accept. In B2B sales presentations, leadership meetings, investor briefings, training rooms, and conference keynotes, these layers are always operating together. The presenter cannot separate themselves from the impression they create. Do now: Build the talk so your credibility, your organisation's credibility, and your message all reinforce each other. Why is subject matter expertise still essential? Enthusiasm without expertise is empty performance; expertise without enthusiasm is forgettable. The strongest presenters combine technical mastery with human energy. In Japan, where senior audiences often expect depth, precision, and evidence, a speaker must have a strong base in the subject matter. Enthusiasm cannot replace preparation. It can only amplify it. A sales trainer, engineer, financial adviser, HR leader, or university professor must know the topic well enough to answer questions, handle objections, and explain the logic behind the recommendation. As of 2025, audiences are also surrounded by AI-generated content, online lectures, and searchable reports, so the presenter must offer something more valuable than generic information: lived experience, judgment, and conviction. Do now: Earn the right to be enthusiastic by mastering the material first. How can presenters sound genuinely enthusiastic? The best way to sound enthusiastic is to speak about the part of the subject that genuinely lights your inner fire.Forced energy feels fake, but real interest is hard to hide. Inside every profession there are topics that matter deeply to the speaker. A sales leader may care about helping clients make better decisions. A trainer may care about changing behaviour. A founder may care about solving a problem that wasted years of effort. A Japanese country manager may care about bridging local customer needs with global headquarters strategy. When the speaker chooses the angle they truly care about, voice, gesture, pace, and facial expression naturally improve. This is not theatre. It is alignment...
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    8 mins
  • Make The Need Gap Vast In Sales

    Make The Need Gap Vast In Sales
    May 21 2026
    Salespeople often think the buyer's problem is the problem. It isn't. The real issue is whether the buyer feels the gap between where they are now and where they need to be is large enough, urgent enough, and costly enough to act on. In B2B sales, especially in Japan, Australia, the US, and Europe, buyers rarely move because a salesperson says, "You have a problem." They move when they convince themselves that doing nothing is too expensive. That is why the salesperson's questioning process matters more than the pitch. Why do buyers delay even when they have a clear need? Buyers delay because recognising a need and acting on that need are two completely different things. If the buyer thinks the current situation is "close enough" to the desired outcome, urgency disappears. In corporate sales, this happens inside SMEs, multinationals, startups, and large Japanese conglomerates. A sales leader may want higher conversion rates, a HR director may want stronger managers, or a CEO may want faster execution, but none of them will buy unless the perceived gap feels painful. Post-pandemic budget discipline has made this even sharper. Buyers must justify every investment against opportunity cost, risk, timing, and internal priorities. Do now: Don't assume a stated need equals buying intent. Help the buyer explore whether the cost of inaction is bigger than the cost of change. How can salespeople make the need gap feel urgent? Salespeople make the need gap urgent by asking questions that help buyers discover the consequences of delay for themselves. Telling buyers the gap is big sounds like sales talk; getting them to say it is powerful. This is where consultative selling, SPIN Selling, Dale Carnegie questioning skills, and modern discovery frameworks all overlap. The salesperson's job is not to lecture. The job is to guide the buyer from "we should probably improve this" to "we cannot afford to leave this as it is." In Japan, where consensus decision-making and risk avoidance are common, this self-discovery process is especially important because internal stakeholders need language they can repeat inside the organisation. Do now: Replace claims with questions. The buyer must verbalise the gap, the risk, and the timing. What is the best question to ask after discussing the buyer's future goal? After the buyer explains where they want to be, ask: "What happens if you can't get there fast enough?" That question quietly turns a future goal into a present business risk. Every executive wants progress faster than their current system allows. Sales teams want revenue growth now. HR teams want capable managers before turnover rises. Japanese firms facing labour shortages, digital transformation pressure, and global competition cannot wait forever. This question exposes the speed gap: the distance between the buyer's desired future and the organisation's current pace. It also creates a natural opening for your solution later, because you are no longer selling a product; you are helping them accelerate a business outcome. Do now: When buyers describe the "should be" state, immediately explore the consequences of not reaching it quickly enough. How do barrier questions widen the sales need gap? Barrier questions widen the need gap by forcing buyers to name the obstacle stopping them from reaching the desired future. Once the barrier is clear, the salesperson can ask what happens if that obstacle remains. A strong barrier question sounds like this: "If you know where you are now and you know where you want to be, why aren't you there yet?" This question works across sectors: manufacturing, technology, professional services, finance, healthcare, and education. The barrier might be skills, systems, leadership, budget, internal alignment, time, or confidence. The key follow-up is: "What happens if you cannot clear that obstacle?" Now the buyer is not discussing a vague improvement project. They are discussing the business impact of being stuck. Do now: Identify the obstacle, then explore the cost of failing to remove it. Why should buyers describe the problem instead of the salesperson? Buyers believe their own conclusions more than they believe a salesperson's assertions. If the salesperson says, "This is a big issue," the buyer discounts it; if the buyer says it, the issue becomes real. This is critical in sophisticated B2B selling. Procurement teams, executives, and department heads are trained to filter vendor enthusiasm. They expect exaggeration. They mentally mark down the salesperson's claims. But when the buyer explains the implications in their own words, the psychology changes. The conversation shifts from persuasion to ownership. In Japanese business culture, this is even more valuable because people often avoid direct confrontation or overt pressure. Thoughtful questioning lets the buyer reach the conclusion without losing face. Do now: Stop trying to prove the gap. Ask questions that let the buyer prove ...
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    8 mins
  • Negotiating With Annoying People

    Negotiating With Annoying People
    May 14 2026

    Q: Why is negotiating with difficult people an important leadership skill?

    A: Difficult people do not simply go away. They can turn small issues into major frustrations and make progress harder than it needs to be. In a workplace that values alignment, leaders need practical ways to reduce stress, keep conversations productive, and move toward agreement.

    Mini-summary: Difficult people are part of working life, so leaders need a practical method for handling them well.

    Q: Where should you hold a difficult negotiation?

    A: Meet on mutual ground whenever possible. Face-to-face is usually better than a long email exchange or a complicated phone discussion. A neutral setting, such as coffee or lunch away from the office, can help both sides speak more openly and focus on resolution rather than territory.

    Mini-summary: Neutral, face-to-face meetings create better conditions for solving difficult issues.

    Q: What should be clarified before trying to solve the problem?

    A: Define the issue clearly and agree on what is actually being discussed. People often argue under the same label while talking about different problems. If the issue is large, break it into smaller parts so each point can be handled in concrete detail.

    Mini-summary: Clear definition prevents people from arguing past each other.

    Q: How should you prepare for the conversation?

    A: Do your homework. Build the other person's case from their perspective to test your own assumptions and reveal gaps in your information. Decide your best alternative if no agreement is reached, what you can accept, what you can live with, and what an ideal outcome would be.

    Mini-summary: Preparation strengthens judgement and helps you negotiate with more confidence.

    Q: How do you keep the conversation moving forward?

    A: Look for shared interests. Conflict often makes differences look bigger and common goals look smaller. There may still be a common objective, even when people disagree about the best path. Keeping attention on the desired future helps maintain momentum.

    Mini-summary: Shared interests create forward movement when conflict narrows perspective.

    Q: How should you handle emotion during the negotiation?

    A: Deal with facts, not emotions. Focus on the issue rather than the messenger. When ego enters the discussion, it becomes harder to stay rational, but separating personalities from problems is essential. Ask clarifying questions, encourage the other person to talk, and listen carefully instead of becoming defensive.

    Mini-summary: A fact-based approach lowers heat and improves understanding.

    Q: What helps bring the negotiation to agreement?

    A: Present alternatives and provide evidence. Options show flexibility and a willingness to compromise. Evidence gives credibility to your suggestions and helps the other side see that your approach is grounded.

    Mini-summary: Options and evidence make agreement easier to accept.

    Q: How should the negotiation end?

    A: End on a good note. Confirm the action steps, who is accountable, by when, and how progress will be checked. A clear ending turns discussion into execution.

    Mini-summary: A good finish creates accountability and reduces future confusion.

    Author Bio: "Dr Greg Story, Ph.D. in Japanese Decision-Making, is a veteran Japan CEO and trainer, author of multiple best-sellers and host of the Japan Business Mastery series. He leads leadership and presentation programmes at Dale Carnegie Training Tokyo."
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    8 mins
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