『The Sales Japan Series』のカバーアート

The Sales Japan Series

The Sales Japan Series

著者： Dale Carnegie Japan
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 The vast majority of salespeople are just pitching the features of their solutions and doing it the hard way. They are throwing mud up against the wall and hoping it will stick. Hope by the way is not much of a strategy. They do it this way because they are untrained. Even if their company won't invest in training for them, this podcast provides hundreds of episodes with information, insights and techniques all based on solid real world experience selling in Japan. Trying to work it out by yourself is possible but why take the slow and difficult route to sales success? Tap into the structure, methodologies, tips and techniques needed to be successful in sales in Japan. In addition to the podcast the best selling book Japan Sales Mastery and its Japanese translation Za Eigyo are also available as well.Copyright 2022 マネジメント マネジメント・リーダーシップ 経済学
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  • Honing Our Unique Selling Proposition

    Honing Our Unique Selling Proposition
    2025/11/11
    If your buyer can swap you out without pain, you don't have a USP — you have a pricing problem. In crowded markets (including post-pandemic), the game is won by changing the battlefield from price to value and risk reduction for the client. This playbook reframes features into outcomes and positions your offer so a rational buyer can't treat you as interchangeable. Why do USPs matter more than ever in 2025? Because buyers default to "safe" and "cheap" unless you prove "different" and "better". As procurement tightens across Japan, the US, and Europe, incumbent vendors and new entrants flood categories, dragging deals into discount wars. Shift the conversation from line-items to business outcomes: time saved, revenue gained, risk removed. In Japan's consensus-driven buying, precedent and social proof are de-riskers; in the US, speed and ROI proof points get you shortlisted; in Europe, compliance and sustainability signals matter. Use comparative, sector-specific language (SMB vs. enterprise, B2B vs. consumer) so your value feels native to each buyer's reality. Do now: List 3 outcomes you deliver that a competitor cannot credibly claim, and make them the first 90 seconds of every sales conversation. Summary: Lead with outcomes and risk reduction, not features or price. How do you turn features into buyer-relevant outcomes? Translate specs into "jobs done" with timestamps and dollars attached. If you "sell training," your buyer actually wants higher per-rep revenue and lower ramp time; the workshop is just the tool. Frame cause-and-effect: "As of 2025, teams using our method cut onboarding by 30–60 days," or "post-implementation, win-rates rose 8–12% in enterprise accounts." Compare across contexts: startups prize speed-to-first-value; multinationals prize uniformity at scale. Anchor with entities to boost credibility: "Aligned to Dale Carnegie's behavioural change frameworks and Fortune 500 norms." Do now: For each feature, write: "So that the buyer can ___ by ___ date, measured by ___." Then delete the feature and keep the sentence. Summary: Convert every spec into a measurable, time-bound business result. What proof calms executive risk in consensus markets like Japan? Show durable track record and mainstream precedent, not hype. Tenure ("operating since 1912"), adoption ("serving a majority of Fortune 500"), and multi-market delivery ("100+ countries") signal you're not an experiment. Executives at firms like Toyota and Rakuten want to see that others have done due diligence and achieved consistent outcomes. Present proof as risk offsets: longevity = vendor stability; blue-chip logos = quality validation; global presence = repeatability across geographies and languages. In Europe, add references to ISO-aligned processes; in the US, reference board-level impacts and revenue KPIs. Do now: Build a one-page "Risk Reducers" sheet with 5 credibility markers and a 3-line narrative for each. Summary: Package track record as risk insurance for the buyer. How do you compete on instructor quality without sounding generic? Expose the standard, the filter, and the client-side benefit. "250 hours of train-the-trainer over ~18 months" is a rigorous filter; say what it fixes: variability. Many training vendors have star-and-struggle instructors; your certification process "cures" inconsistency, delivering predictable outcomes across cohorts and locations. Tie this to executive concerns: CFOs fear wasted spend; CHROs fear uneven adoption; Sales VPs fear lost quarters. As of 2025, quantify where possible (completion rates, manager NPS, behavioural transfer at 90 days) and compare to sector benchmarks. Do now: Turn your internal QA process into a 5-step visual the buyer can explain internally. Summary: Make your quality bar tangible and link it to reduced variance in outcomes. How do you avoid the price trap in late-stage negotiations? Re-anchor total value and introduce "switching cost of downgrade." When rivals discount, show the cost of failure: extended ramp, inconsistent delivery, and lost deals. Use a simple model: (Expected Revenue Uplift + Risk Reduction Value) − (Implementation & Change Costs). Add comparative caselets: "In APAC, an SME cut churn 3 points post-programme; in North America, a SaaS enterprise lifted ASP by 6%." Create a "good–better–best" offer that scales outcomes, not just hours. Do now: Bring a 1-page value calculator to every Stage-3 meeting; make the CFO your audience. Summary: Move from hourly rate to enterprise value and downgrade risk. How do you tailor USPs for global rollout without bloating the pitch? Modularise by region, role, and sector; keep a common spine. The spine: outcomes, risk reducers, delivery quality. The modules: language and cultural localisation (Japan vs. ASEAN vs. EMEA), regulatory anchors (EU GDPR, Japan's labour reforms), and sector examples (manufacturing vs. SaaS vs. consumer). Your global network isn't trivia; it's the operational ...
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    12 分
  • ASIA AIM Podcast Interview with Dr. Greg Story — President, Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training

    ASIA AIM Podcast Interview with Dr. Greg Story — President, Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training
    2025/11/04
    "Relationships come before proposals; kokoro-gamae signals intent long before a contract". "Nemawashi wins unseen battles by equipping an internal champion to align consensus". "In Japan, decisions are slower—but execution is lightning-fast once ringi-sho is approved". "Detail is trust: dense materials, rapid follow-ups, and consistent delivery reduce uncertainty avoidance". "Think reorder, not transaction—lifetime value grows from reliability, patience, and face-saving flexibility". In this Asia AIM conversation, Dr. Greg Story reframes B2B success in Japan as a decision-intelligence exercise grounded in trust, patience, and detail. The core insight: buyers are rewarded for avoiding downside, not for taking risks. Consequently, a new supplier represents uncertainty; price discounts rarely move the needle. What does? Kokoro-gamae—demonstrable, client-first intent—expressed through meticulous preparation, responsiveness, and long-term commitment. Greg's journey began in 1992 when his Australian consultative selling failed to gain traction. The lesson was blunt: until trust is established, the offer is irrelevant because the buyer evaluates the person first. From there, the playbook is distinctly Japanese. Nemawashi—the behind-the-scenes groundwork—recognises that many stakeholders can say "no." External sellers seldom meet these influencers. The practical move is to equip an internal champion with detailed, risk-reducing materials and flexible terms that make consensus safer. Once the ringi-sho (circulating approval document) moves, execution accelerates; Japan trades slow decisions for fast delivery. Greg emphasises information density and speed. Japanese firms expect thick printouts, technical appendices, and rapid follow-ups—even calls to confirm an email was received. This signals reliability and reduces the purchaser's uncertainty. Trial orders are common; they are not small but strategic—tests of quality, schedule adherence, and flexibility. Win the test, and the budget cycle (often April-to-March) can position the supplier for multi-year reorders. Culturally, face and accountability shape referrals. Testimonials are difficult because clients avoid responsibility if something goes wrong. Longevity itself becomes social proof: "We've supplied X for ten years" carries weight. Greg's hunter-versus-farmer distinction highlights the need to support new logos with dedicated account "farmers" who manage detail, cadence, and service levels that earn reorders. Patience is tactical, not passive. "Kentō shimasu" may mean "not now," so he calendarises a nine-month follow-up—enough time for internal conditions to change without ceding the account to competitors. Throughout, he urges leaders to think in lifetime value, align to budget rhythms, and communicate more than feels natural. The result is a high-trust system where consensus reduces organisational risk—and where suppliers that master nemawashi, detail, and delivery become integral partners rather than interchangeable vendors. Q&A Summary What makes leadership in Japan unique? Leadership succeeds when it reduces organisational risk and preserves face during consensus formation. Nemawashi equips internal champions to address objections before meetings, while ringi-sho formalises agreement. Leaders who foreground kokoro-gamae, provide dense decision packs, and allow time for alignment see decisions stick and execution accelerate. Why do global executives struggle? Western managers often prize speed, big-room persuasion, and minimal detail. In Japan, uncertainty avoidance is high; buyers seek exhaustive documentation and incremental proof via pilots. Under-investing in detail or follow-up reads as unreliable. Overlooking budget cycles and internal approvals leads to mistimed asks and stalled ringi. Is Japan truly risk-averse? Individuals are incentivised to avoid downside, which shifts decisions from "risk-taking" to "risk-mitigation." The system favours tested suppliers, visible track records, and trial orders. Price rarely offsets perceived risk. Trust and history function as risk controls; once approved, delivery speed reflects the system's confidence. What leadership style actually works? A patient, service-led style that privileges relationships over transactions. Leaders ask permission to ask questions, listen for hidden constraints, and co-design low-risk pilots. Farmers—or hunter-farmer teams—sustain cadence, escalate issues early, and remain flexible as conditions change, protecting the champion's face and the consensus. How can technology help? Decision intelligence platforms can map stakeholders and sentiment across the approval chain. Digital twins of delivery schedules and SLAs, plus living dashboards of quality metrics, give champions ringi-ready evidence. Structured knowledge bases, rapid response workflows, and audit trails strengthen reliability signals during nemawashi. Does language proficiency matter? Language ...
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    42 分
  • How To Get Better Results

    How To Get Better Results
    2025/10/28
    We've all had those weeks where the pipeline, the budget, and the inbox gang up on us. Here's a quick, visual method to cut through noise, regain focus, and turn activity into outcomes: the focus map plus a six-step execution template. It's simple, fast, and friendly for time-poor sales pros. How does a focus map work, and why does it beat a long to-do list? A focus map gets everything out of your head and onto one page around a single, central goal—so you can see priorities at a glance. Instead of scrolling endless tasks, draw a small circle in the centre of a page for your key focus (e.g., "Time Management," "Client Follow-Up," "Planning"). Radiate related sub-topics as circled "planets": prioritisation, block time, Quadrant Two focus, weekly goals. This simple visual cues the brain to spot what moves the needle first and what's just distraction. In 2025's noisy, Slack-popping world, mapping beats lists because you see interdependencies, not just items. It's a low-tech cognitive offload that scales across roles—from B2B SDRs to enterprise AEs—in Japan, the US, or Europe alike. Do now: Grab a blank page, pick one central outcome, and sketch 6–8 sub-topics in 3 minutes. What's the six-step template I should run on each sub-topic? Use this repeatable mini-playbook: (1) Area of focus, (2) My current attitude, (3) Why it matters, (4) Specific actions, (5) Desired results, (6) Impact on vision. Walk a single sub-topic (say, "Prioritisation") through all six prompts to turn fuzzy intent into daily behaviour. This prevents feel-good plans that never reach your calendar. The key is specificity: "Block 90 minutes at 9:00 for top-value tasks, phone on Do Not Disturb" beats "be more organised." Leaders can cascade the same template in pipeline reviews or weekly one-on-ones to connect tasks to strategy and help teams self-coach. Do now: Copy the six prompts onto a sticky note and keep it next to today's focus map. Can you show a concrete sales example for time management? Yes—prioritisation in practice looks like: organise, calendarise, and execute the top-value items first, every day.Start by acknowledging the usual blocker: "I never get around to it." Then translate to action: buy or open your organiser, maintain a rolling to-do list, and block time in your calendar for the highest-value, highest-priority items before anything else. Desired result: your best time goes to tasks with the greatest impact (e.g., discovery calls with ICP accounts, proposal updates due this week). Vision impact: consistency compounds—your effectiveness rises, and so does your contribution to team revenue. This is classic Quadrant Two discipline (important but not urgent) adapted for post-pandemic hybrid work. Do now: Book tomorrow's first 90 minutes for your top two revenue drivers and guard it like gold. How should I prioritise when markets differ (Japan vs US vs Europe) or company size varies? Anchor priorities to value drivers that don't care about borders: ICP fit, deal stage risk, and time-to-impact. In Japan (often relationship-led and consensus-driven), prioritise follow-up and multi-stakeholder alignment; in the US (speed + experimentation), prioritise high-velocity outreach and fast iteration; in Europe (privacy/regulatory sensitivities), prioritise compliant messaging and local context. Startups should weight pipeline creation and early GTM proof; multinationals should weight cross-functional alignment, forecasting hygiene, and large-account expansion. The focus map adapts: the central circle stays constant ("Close Q4 revenue"), while the "planets" change by market and motion (ABM research vs channel enablement vs security reviews). Do now: Label each sub-topic with the market or motion it best serves (e.g., "JP enterprise," "US SMB," "EU regulated"). How do I turn focus maps into weekly cadence without burning out? Run a lightweight loop: Monday map, daily 90-minute deep-work block, Friday review—then iterate. On Monday, pick one central theme (e.g., "Client Follow-Up") and 6–8 sub-topics. Each morning, choose one sub-topic and run the six-step template; protect a single 90-minute block to execute. On Friday, review outcomes vs. desired results, retire what's done, and promote what worked. Leaders can add a shared "focus wall" for visibility and coaching. This cadence blends time-blocking (Cal Newport), Eisenhower Quadrants, and sales hygiene—without heavy software. As of 2025, hybrid teams using this approach report better handoffs, cleaner CRM notes, and fewer "busy but not productive" days. Do now: Schedule next week's Monday-Friday 09:00–10:30 focus block in your calendar. What are the red flags and watch-outs that kill focus? Beware "activity inflation," tool thrashing, and priority drift. Activity inflation = doing more low-value tasks to feel productive. Tool thrashing = bouncing between apps without finishing work. Priority drift = letting other ...
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    11 分
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