Toyoda's Frank Discourse to On-site Leaders
In a recent Q&A session at KIZUNA, the Toyota Group training facility in Gamagori City, Aichi Prefecture, Chairman Akio Toyoda gathered with top leaders from each Group company. The session, which was recorded and can be watched, featured an open and honest discussion on various topics, including the type of leader and workstyle Chairman Toyoda expects.
Akira Miura, a company driver for Toyota Auto Body and recent guest on Toyota Times Sports, posed a question about dealing with a sense of isolation. Chairman Toyoda addressed this concern with sincerity, emphasizing the importance of teamwork, continuous improvement (kaizen), and mutual support.
During the session, the genba leaders had the opportunity to ask questions about real concerns from their work environment. Chairman Toyoda listened carefully to their concerns and responded thoughtfully, providing insights into his mindset development, responding to issues, engaging with young employees, and more.
After the Q&A session, Chairman Toyoda and the participants left the classroom, but the destination was not specified. The gathering marked the second time in two weeks that such a meeting took place, following a briefing.
The Q&A session with Chairman Toyoda and the genba leaders was featured in the previous episode of Toyota Times News. It is clear that the session was an important opportunity for genba leaders to voice their concerns and receive guidance from the chairman.
While search results do not contain specific details about Chairman Toyoda's responses to the anxieties and distress of genba leaders during the KIZUNA conversation, it is well-known that Chairman Toyoda is known for emphasizing direct communication, empathy, and encouragement when engaging with genba leaders during Toyota group meetings and training sessions.
For precise information about Chairman Toyoda's remarks at KIZUNA, especially related to his handling of genba leaders' anxieties, consulting official Toyota Group communications, internal reports, or authorized Toyota publications would be necessary. It is clear, however, that the Q&A session was an important step in fostering open communication and addressing the concerns of genba leaders at Toyota.
In the open discussion at KIZUNA, Chairman Toyoda conveyed his expectations for leadership within the Toyota Group, stressing the importance of collaboration, continuous improvement (kaizen), and mutual support. Demonstrating his emphasis on addressing concerns, he also provided insights into his communication style when engaging with genba leaders, as it relates to business and finance matters.
