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Tachi Yamada is a Japanese businessman who has served in executive roles with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Takeda Pharmaceuticals and GlaxoSmithKline. Several years ago, he gave an interview on the lessons he’s learned about management and people.This is an excerpt of what he said (link to full interview is below):

 

“A second key lesson was from a doctor named Marcel Tuchman. He was the most compassionate person I have ever met in my life—I mean, full of human kindness. And every time he met somebody, you had the sense that he cared more about them than anything else in the world. So what I learned from him is that when you actually are with somebody, you’ve got to make that person feel like nobody else in the world matters. I think that’s critical. So, for example, I don’t have a mobile phone turned on because I’m talking to you. I don’t want the outside world to impinge on the conversation we’re having. I don’t carry a Black-Berry. I do my e-mails regularly, but I do it when I have the time on a computer. I don’t want to be sitting here thinking that I’ve got an e-mail message coming here and I’d better look at that while I’m talking to you. Every moment counts, and that moment is lost if you’re not in that moment 100 percent.”

 

Now, consider Simon Sinek’s interview on Millennials in the Workplace, especially minutes 2:40-7:40 and 12:10-17:43:

 

For this week’s discussion board, consider both Yamada’s and Sinek’s comments, the textbook reading this week,and your own experiences. Discuss the following:

 

What do you think Yamada means by the statement, “that moment is lost if you’re not in that moment 100 percent”? How does this relate to listening? Do you think this is a reasonable expectation in the workplace?

What do you think of Sinek’s “No cell phones in the conference room” philosophy?What is it championing?

How does technology impede (or aid) focus in a conversation?

Do you believe kindness is an important principle of listening and communicating in business? Can kindness be developed? How?

Finally, share if you are comfortable doing so, any changes you would like to make regarding the above..

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