Here is an introduction to the compass that puts us back on track when we are worried or have doubts. Note that in the following lists, the numbering is just for distinguishing each entry and does not represent the order of importance.
Compass 11 (Eleven-Point Action Plan for Employees)
- On one hand, society is rapidly evolving, but on the other hand, it is merely going though a repetitive cycle in which nothing really changes. Perceive patterns with your own sensibilities and focus steadily on their true nature without being swept away by or blindly believing in superficial information.
- Do not elevate others or belittle yourself. Realize that everyone is the same, judge for yourself what is good/bad, and use such knowledge to nourish self-growth.
- Whether you look at matters subjectively or objectively, you'll arrive at the same conclusion as long as you devote yourself to your task. Do not be obsessed with form. Do not doubt. Being devoted is the shortest path to your goal.
- Knowledge is important, but do not overdo it; form your own opinions. Opinions are important, but do not overdo it; exercise good judgment. Good judgment is important, but do not overdo it; show courage. Courage is the ability to perceive, judge, and carry out what is truthful.
- Opinions (Perceiving the gap between knowledge and reality)
- Good judgment (Judging based on opinions)
- Perceive your own truth to establish balance. Balancing what you want to do, what you can do, and what you have to do is a cardinal rule for members of any organization.
- Opportunity and predicament are two sides of the same coin. Whether a person can perform or not when required is the fork in the road of life.
- Do not be too eager for success. Embrace failure. Success can be found beyond failure.
- There is no way a client will be satisfied with something that you are not even satisfied with. Ideas are not something you simply think up. Rather, they gush forth like a spring after extreme tribulation. Do not give up until you are satisfied.
- See the truth behind clients. Hear the voices of users (the final client). Identify the gap with the competition. These things will cause ideas to gush forth naturally.
- Mitsue-Links is one of the top organizations worldwide complying with international standards for process management. Adhere to processes. Processes serve as a guide for protecting yourself and your clients. Observing processes is not only a condition for our staff. It is a prerequisite.
- Internalize the cyclical system of continual improvement (PDCA:Plan-Do-Check-Act) in your body. Embed the breakthrough of the problem solving process (DMAIC: Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control) in your mind.
Leader's Compass 11(Eleven-Point Action Plan for Leaders)
- Listen to and seriously consider what customers really have to say. Use such information to continually reform the company's services.
- Establish priorities. Priorities are the first step toward increased efficiency. Make judgments. A good sense of judgment is power. Act. Acting is the source of results.
- Do not be satisfied with the status quo. No matter where you go, emphasize today over yesterday and tomorrow over today. A leader that gives no thought to continual improvement is not a leader.
- Perceive the ideal as well as the current situation and then find the gap between them. An improvement plan will naturally result.
- Subordinates should be evaluated based on their processes (actions) and leaders should be evaluated based on their results.
- Leaders are not superior to others. Your authority only lies in the weight of your duties. Build relationships that are personal rather than hierarchical.
- The more a leader dwells on the difficulty of his/her work, the harder it becomes. But when such difficulty is accepted as as a matter of course, work becomes much easier.
- Do not think of yourself as unfortunate and never feel that your superiors and subordinate will never understand you. Once you learn the truth, start from the bottom and build up to a high ideal one step at a time. That is the shortest path.
- Do not question the personality of subordinates. Question their actions. Do not question their character. Question their thinking. That is the basis of a leader.
- Speak from the shoulders not the mouth. Subordinates are always watching your shoulders and growing through their own power.
- People do not change through instructions and commands. People are inspired by stimulation, and values change through inspiration. Thinking is changed by values, and thinking determines actions. If you want to change someone, start by finding out what stimulates them.
Meaning of Compass 11 (Eleven Points)
The number eleven refers to the number of players on the field for each team in a game of soccer. The structure of individual activities within an organization resembles soccer formations integrating individual play, team play, and coached play. Flexibility within a sphere of action is characteristic of such a structure, even when on the defensive during a mission. The 11-point action plans includes the meaning of accomplishing each task while never forgetting that they resemble soccer formations.
