From the point of human resources, staff seems to develop well in situations where senior management listen to their subordinates attentively on a daily basis. By comparison where seniors don’t listen, the staff doesn’t develop. Considering why this is so, I believe listening to subordinates causes them to think for themselves and that provides an opportunity to grow. If seniors don’t listen well, their subordinates perform their jobs out of force of habit without devoting much thought, and their development will be inhibited. Therefore it’s essential for seniors to be ready to listen attentively to subordinates at all times.

By Konosuke Matsushita, founder of Panasonic