I am Yoshida, president of Yamada Shusei Ltd., a professional apparel garment repair group in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture.
On January 20, Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States. With the possibility of a major policy shift in the future, we are entering a phase of global affairs that is becoming increasingly difficult to predict. How should we, Japanese small and medium-sized business owners, respond to this situation?
Specifically, the following actions may be taken
(1) Strengthen information collection and analysis
It is important to constantly collect and analyze the latest information. Regularly checking domestic and international news, economic indicators, industry trends, etc., and being sensitive to changes will enable prompt decision-making.
(2) Establish flexible management strategies
Management strategies should not be fixed, but flexible and changeable according to circumstances. They should review the way products and services are offered and seek new business models in response to changes in the market.
(3) Strengthen risk management
It is important to identify risks in advance and take countermeasures. By implementing a risk management framework, assessing potential risks, and preparing countermeasures, companies can calmly deal with unpredictable situations.
(4) Expand networking
Strengthening your network with other companies and industry associations allows you to exchange information and build cooperative relationships. In particular, collaboration with other companies in the same industry or different industries can create new business opportunities.
(5) Human Resource Development and Team Enhancement
Human resources are essential for corporate growth. Improving the skills of employees and strengthening teamwork can enhance the adaptability of the entire organization. Motivate your employees through regular training and team building activities.
(6) Understand customer needs
Customer needs are constantly changing. Regularly listening to customers and reflecting their feedback can improve customer satisfaction. It is important to communicate with customers and build a relationship of trust.
Some of you may feel that what I have listed here is just a generalization, and that I am just laying out a bunch of neat and tidy ideas. The reality is that we, small and medium-sized enterprises, have limited resources, and we are faced with situations every day that do not turn out as we would like. However, the question is, do we give up or not? Are we going to challenge change or not? To set priorities and develop a concrete action plan or not? Regardless of the size of the company or the type of business, all managers will need to face their current situation and update their decision-making process.
You can't choose your luck, but you can choose your happiness or unhappiness.
This is something one of my mentors taught me. Regardless of the surrounding environment and circumstances, everyone, not just managers, have the freedom and responsibility to choose which path they will ultimately take.
Under the slogan “One Team, One Goal!”, Yamada Shusei intends to concentrate on “human resource development and team strengthening” and “understanding customer needs”. Returning to the essence of Shusei, “to make the most of it,” we aim to “enrich ourselves both materially and spiritually” while being grateful for the “connections” that we already have. We will do our utmost to make Yamada Shusei's existence and services valuable not only to our own company, but also to our customers, society, our employees, and future generations, so that the circle of smiles will expand!
