Sensitivity is a necessity when exploring the jungle of networking in Japan. While forging connections can be rewarding, it’s essential to avoid common mistakes that can hinder successful interactions. By understanding and sidestepping these errors, you can foster meaningful relationships and make the most of your networking endeavors in the Japanese business landscape.
Don’t ask for a sale/introduction too quickly
Building a relationship and trust is crucial in any interaction while networking in Japan, whether it’s a business deal or a personal introduction. Pushing for a sale or asking for an introduction too quickly can come across as aggressive or insincere. It’s important to establish a rapport and understand the other person’s needs and interests before making any direct requests. Taking the time to listen, understand, and provide value can lead to more successful outcomes in the long run.
Don’t correct a Japanese person’s English
No one is perfect in a language, especially when the language isn’t native to the country. By correcting a Japanese person’s English, you embarrass the speaker and change the dynamic of the meeting. They probably won’t want to meet you again because of what they’ve chalked up you to be.
Correcting a Japanese person’s English reflects on you and your character as someone who isn’t humble or is condescending, which is highly prized in Japanese culture. If you’re ever confused about something while networking in Japan, it is better to clarify and say you can’t hear so well as this is less embarrassing for the other party and places the blame on your own deficiencies, another common thing in Japanese culture.
Don’t jump into Japanese too quickly when the person wants to speak English
When someone is trying to communicate in a language they’re learning, it’s considerate to give them the opportunity to practice and improve. If the person expresses their desire to speak in English, respect their choice and engage in English-speaking conversations. Jumping into Japanese too quickly might hinder their language development and discourage them from practicing English. However, if they initiate the conversation using Japanese or signal that they would like to switch, then it’s appropriate to switch languages.
Don’t skip personal introductions and get to know each other time
The worst thing you can do while networking in Japan would be to make the interaction feel transactional. No person wants to feel used and furthermore, they won’t likely remember you if you don’t tell them anything about yourself. It’s important to have a self-introduction prepared and get to know the person on the other end. We’ll be discussing self-introductions or Jikōshōkai in the next section.
How to thrive in networking in Japan
Thriving in networking in Japan demands austria phone number library a dedicated commitment to understanding and adhering to nuanced cultural expectations. This entails embracing the strong reliance on trusted relationships and thus referrals, drinking parties, geographically different networking styles, and even language barriers. By authentically immersing oneself in these customs, individuals can bridge cultural divides, showcase sincerity, and ultimately cultivate enduring relationships that enrich both their professional network and personal growth. To learn more about other etiquette rules, read our article on Japanese Business Etiquette.
How Does One Utilize Jikōshōkai and Referrals?
Jikōshōkai, or self-introduction, is a key element in Japanese networking, allowing individuals to concisely share their background and skills. A well-crafted Jikōshōkai can lead to referrals, as it reflects genuine enthusiasm and a true character. Referrals can then be nurtured through reciprocal interactions, gratitude, and a commitment to mutual success. Enhancing one’s professional network in Japan. Much of the Japanese business landscape hires based on referrals and in order to get to that stage, you need to establish your character.
To create a successful Jikōshōkai, customize it with the following.
- Occupation. Introduce yourself with your job title such as the ones in the How are Japanese Titles Used in Business section. Only introduce your company name if it’s a professional business setting or a networking event, as otherwise, it wouldn’t seem humble.
- School. The university pool in Japan doesn’t number so high so stating which one you come from might form more of an idea on your background. For Japanese university students with no experience, this is a great option to start with. Simply starting your university and saying you’ve graduated from there is enough but try not to be too pretentious with your word choice.
Residence. Where you live is a common question you’ll get, especially if you don’t look completely Japanese. So, it’s not strange to include it in your self-introduction.
Finally, remember to include your name in the mix. In casual situations while networking in Japan, only your family name is necessary but if it’s a more formal occasion. Add in your first name. Most importantly start and end with a bow and try to offer your business cards somewhere in between if you get the chance.
Top 5 tips on navigating Nomikai
A typical day of work in a Japanese workplace world where everyone’s favorite setting doesn’t include much interaction between workers and supervisors. The formalities of work make relationships difficult to build within that setting. That’s why nomikai or drinking parties are so integral when working with a group of people, as it bypasses the formalities beyond the office. These are also excellent places to learn more about the people around you and network. Navigating these parties may be difficult for someone who hasn’t experienced it yet but it follows a repeating rhythm. Here are a few tips to get you started:
- Where to drink: Most nomikai are held at izakayas or Japanese pubs.
- What to drink: Most first orders are draft beer (nama bi-ru).
- How to drink: If you’re drinking with your supervisors. It’s essential to pour the supervisor’s drinks. When drinking, remember to say cheers or kanpai with everyone.
- Afterparties: You may be invited to an afterparty in another place (usually another Izakaya) to have a more relaxed drink. You should decide ahead whether or not you’re ok with missing your last train as these typically last long.
- How to end a nomikai: Ending a nomikai means getting together in a circle for a clap to signal the end of a successful nomikai, also known as ippon jime.
How do networking/business styles vary in different areas of Japan?
Japan may be monoethnic but the cultural b2c phone list diversity ranges across the different prefectures. Networking in Japan requires adaptability according to where you are in the country, the same way that dialects are different. There is a subtle shift in engagement with each other that you can take advantage of while traveling and meeting people across the country.
The common stereotypes are that Tokyo is stylish, Nagoya is brand-oriented, and Osaka is food-centered. But the social tendencies differ much deeper among the three. There are a few key differences to networking in each city which we’ve listed in the table below: Please note these are just generalities and don’t apply to everyone, but use as a reference to when self-reflecting on how you can have networked more effectively – additionally many people in the big cities are not originally from there!