Toyota President Akio Toyoda Shares Candid Advice with Employees

In the recent Toyota Times News broadcast, the host Yuta Tomikawa gave the audience a glimpse into President Akio Toyoda’s New Year’s greeting and the Q&A session that followed. The session was not originally planned, but it proved to be a valuable opportunity for employees to ask the president questions on a wide range of topics.

Tips for Engaging Employees in Training

The first question posed to President Toyoda was about how to draw people in when training them. With 40 years of experience in manufacturing, the employee was eager to know the president's tips for engaging employees in training.

President Toyoda responded by saying that one of the most important things when training people is to make sure they feel comfortable and that they have the right environment to learn. He suggested that creating an open and supportive environment is key to engaging employees in training.

"You should try to create an environment where they can ask questions and get feedback, and also feel comfortable to share their thoughts and ideas," President Toyoda said.

Reflecting on his 20-Year-Old Self

The second question was about what President Toyoda was doing when he was 20 years old. The employee asked this question as he had just attended his Coming of Age Ceremony.

President Toyoda shared that when he was 20, he was studying at university and was already involved in the family business. He said that during that time, he was trying to understand the company and the industry and was learning as much as he could.

"I was always trying to learn, and I think that's one of the most important things you can do when you're young," President Toyoda said.

Asking Employees for Feedback

The third question was about President Toyoda's opinions and whether there was anything he wanted to ask his employees. President Toyoda responded by saying that he is always interested in getting feedback from his employees and that he values their opinions.

"I think it's important to always be open to feedback, especially from our employees, who are the ones who are closest to the work and the customers," President Toyoda said.

Getting a Sense of the Silent Majority

The final question was about how to get a sense of what the silent majority is thinking. President Toyoda said that it can be difficult to get a sense of what the silent majority is thinking, but it is important to try to understand their perspective.

"I think it's important to listen and try to understand what people are thinking, even if they're not saying it out loud," President Toyoda said.

He also emphasized the importance of creating an environment where people feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas.