Currently, at Katachie, a co-creation consulting company, I work to maximize the potential of human resources and organizations by utilizing people's strengths using tools such as StrengthsFinder® (a tool developed by the American company Gallup to find the source of a person's strengths, or talents) and Mind Map® (a note-taking method that reflects thought processes, invented by British educator Tony Buzan).

What got me involved in human resource development was when I moved from a major home appliance manufacturer to a copier manufacturer. As a sales assistant, I had the opportunity to give direct demonstrations to customers, and I found it very enjoyable to be able to help the people in front of me. After that, I recruited and trained engineers at an IT venture, but there were times when the same engineers were performing very well at Company A but not at all at Company B. I wondered why this was, and started studying industrial counseling and career consulting. As I learned about Strengths Finder and Mind Maps, I met Matsuoka (Katsumasa), the CEO of Katachie.

What we at Katachie support is to help our clients' organizations move forward and produce results. From now on, I think it will be necessary to create new organizational structures that fit the new normal. Furthermore, since we are now in an era where the subject is "the self" rather than "the company," companies need a system that can support individuals as they customize their workstyles. It is often said that "psychological safety is important," but what makes a safe and secure place is different for each organization, so I think it is necessary for everyone to think about it together.

It is also necessary to develop each individual's ability to notice and learn. Until now, this has been naturally cultivated by observing the behavior and actions of those around us in the office, but I think this is an important theme as we spend less time together during the COVID-19 pandemic. It would be good if there was a system that could issue an alert and let us know if something was noticed, even when working remotely (laughs).

First of all, as work remotely progresses, there will be more opportunities to connect with people outside the company. As a member of "Katachie," I am involved in projects with various companies, and I also have other projects planned privately. As individuals have multiple teams in this way, managers will need to understand and gather information on how many teams a person belongs to, where they are performing, and how they are making use of their strengths, rather than just looking at the company's work.

And as mentioned above, from now on, "I" will be the subject. The term "work-life integration" has also been proposed, and I think that a style in which work and life are integrated and the focus is changed from time to time will improve the performance of workers. This will lead to more collaboration with various teams, and workers will be able to broaden their horizons even further.

As this way of working becomes mainstream, it is essential for organizations to have employees feel that they want to perform well and contribute to the organization. If the organization's purpose is not communicated to its members in a consistent manner, everyone will lose interest. In order for everyone to move in the same direction, it is necessary to clarify what the organization's purpose is.

It can be said that remote screen dialogue makes it easier to break down barriers and communicate with everyone using easy-to-understand language. In that case, it is important to communicate not only the good things about the organization but also the issues properly and increase the transparency of information. Normally, when everyone is gathered in the office, organizational issues are naturally shared as rumors and chatter, which can become the source of ideas. However, when working remotely, such information does not come in at all. It would be good to take advantage of the characteristics of remote communication and communicate the necessary information in both directions correctly and at the right time.

We live in an age where you can do anything with just a smartphone. I would be happy if technology were developed that would allow you to carry your own office with you, so that wherever you go, it becomes your office. I think it would be good if your own office were a space where you could remember your successes and increase your productivity.

That's because if you can clearly identify your own success patterns, you can avoid repeating the same mistakes. For example, some people prefer to discuss ideas with others, while others prefer to introspect while taking a walk. If you can analyze such behavioral patterns and visualize the environment in which you can best demonstrate your abilities, your work efficiency will improve. For example, when planning, do you first gather information, or just try drawing a picture? There are different approaches to results. AI can analyze such behavior and support you in your weaknesses. I think that if humans and machines can work together, we can achieve greater creativity.

In 2017, the CEO of Gallup, the developer of StrengthsFinder®, visited Japan and spoke about the changing needs of workers.

The words that describe their needs have changed from "salary" and "satisfaction" to "purpose" and "growth." Young people, especially millennials and older, place importance on why they are working and why they are with their team members. As we enter the "Covid-19" era, these points will be questioned even more.