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(3) Don’t fight against resistance to reform
The commencement of a reform, following the determination of a keyword that drives the era, will always generate opposition and resistance to it. The opposition and resistance to the structural reform, which has been promoted by the Japanese government in the Heisei era, truly resemble what is described in the 1956 White Paper.
The modernization in the Showa era subsequently achieved great success; a new age increasingly prospered even as old things were destroyed. In contrast, the structural reform in the Heisei era seems to wreak more havoc the more efforts are made, plunging most people into a desperate situation. How can that be?
Change entails tension, in any age, for any organization. It is only natural that agreement on change is hard to reach. In leadership theory, generally, when we effect a change in an organization, the most important point is as follows: when resistance to change occurs, never fight against it but fully understand the position of members of the opposing party, empathize with them, and give due consideration, in concrete terms, so that they can get by. We should never fight against resistance to reform. Fighting only hinders the progress of reform, leaves lingering grudges, and spreads destruction without ever leading to a constructive reform.
Each of the members who oppose and resist reform will cite different reasons for objecting to it. Upon advancing reform, when we attend to each of them with sincerity and be considerate of each of their positions, then the objectors will eventually be inclined to make some concessions or to engage in trial and error, while they may not completely agree with the reform. Only then will the reform truly become a tangible movement.
Hence, basically, a reform requires, by all means, a strong passion and a firm conviction that everybody can become happier upon its accomplishment. A reform that consists of deception or a mere attempt by the mighty to survive by discarding some members can never sincerely attend to the opposition or resistance. In the end, such a reform is bound to fail, leaving only destruction in its wake.
To table of contents (English)
(Date published / 公開日： 7/2/2021)
(Date last updated / 最終改訂日: 7/2/2021)
