Toyota's head boss, Toyoda, shows sincerity to shop-floor leaders with his frank remarks
In a gathering at KIZUNA, the Toyota Group training facility in Gamagori City, Aichi Prefecture, two weeks after a briefing, the genba leaders of Toyota Group companies met with Chairman Akio Toyoda to discuss their concerns and seek advice.
The leaders, responsible for frontline manufacturing and operations, had many real concerns, including engaging with young employees and colleagues at work, and responding to issues when they arise. Chairman Toyoda began the Q&A session with the words, "Anything is fine, so please speak up."
During the session, Akira Miura, a company driver for Toyota Auto Body and a recent guest on Toyota Times Sports, asked Chairman Toyoda about dealing with a sense of isolation. Chairman Toyoda's response was not detailed in the available sources, but his leadership approach often involves connecting to historical values and emphasizing collaboration and practical efforts.
The conversation between Chairman Toyota and the genba leaders is being documented in a video. The video will provide insights into how the chairman addresses the concerns of frontline leaders and offers advice on engaging with young employees and responding to challenges.
Chairman Toyoda's vision for the Toyota Group, as introduced during his recent leadership roles, focuses on "Making cars the pride of Japanese culture" and building a democratic, automotive-industrial nation contributing to Japan's peaceful rebuilding and global culture. He draws inspiration from his grandfather Kiichiro Toyoda’s postwar vision for the automotive industry's role in society.
In the past, Chairman Toyoda has demonstrated a willingness to engage directly in Q&A formats to clarify and reassure stakeholders. For instance, at the Annual General Meeting of the Automobile Business & Culture Association of Japan (ABAJ), he answered questions about his future plans, although the specific concerns raised by genba leaders or the exact dialogue were not detailed.
The genba leaders likely voiced concerns related to implementing Toyoda's ambitious cultural vision and the operational impacts of automotive industry transitions, such as decarbonization and digital transformation. Chairman Toyoda tends to address these concerns by connecting to historical values, emphasizing collaboration, preparation, and practical efforts, and demonstrating a willingness to engage directly in Q&A formats to clarify and reassure stakeholders.
The exact responses of the genba leaders and Toyoda’s specific replies at the KIZUNA training facility’s Q&A are not documented in the available sources, but the broader pattern in Toyoda’s leadership involves open dialogue, respect for traditional values, and a collaborative approach to advancing the industry’s cultural and technological future.
- The genba leaders, during their discussion with Chairman Akio Toyoda, may have raised concerns about implementing his cultural vision for the Toyota Group, particularly in regards to engaging with young employees and responding to challenges such as decarbonization and digital transformation.
- In the light of his leadership approach, Chairman Toyoda is expected to address such concerns by connecting them to historical values, emphasizing collaboration, practical efforts, and engaging directly in Q&A formats to clarify and reassure stakeholders.
