"Escape! Management is a Punishment Game." Bringing Joy Back to Management

Our company endorses April Dream, a project that aims to make April 1st a day for companies to announce their dreams.

This press release represents the dream of "FeelWorks Inc."

FeelWorks Inc. (Representative Director: Takao Maekawa, Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, hereinafter FeelWorks), which operates talent development/training and publishing businesses for corporations and organizations, supports busy Japanese managers in improving their management skills through training, lectures, books, and media outreach. We aim to help managers feel pride and joy in their work, restoring management as an an attractive career path that everyone aspires to.

Why is management called a "punishment game" or "impossible game"?

The phrases "management is a punishment game" or "management is an impossible game" have rapidly spread, becoming hot topics in books and magazines. This reflects the increasing difficulty and burden of management for frontline supervisors. They are busy with workplace work-style reforms, careful about communication with subordinates to prevent harassment and turnover, and are heavily burdened with responsibilities such as 1-on-1 meetings, promoting diversity management, emphasizing compliance, and improving engagement. All these tasks weigh heavily on frontline managers.

Low Promotion Intent in Japan

Indeed, data shows that Japan has the lowest promotion intent among 18 countries worldwide (Source: Global Employment Status and Growth Awareness Survey, Persol Research and Institute, 2022). While most other countries exceed 50%, Japan stands at a mere 19.8%. The reason is likely that various burdens are concentrated on middle managers, while their compensation is perceived as inadequate. Despite significant increases in starting salaries for new graduates due to recruitment difficulties, salaries for middle and intermediate managers have stagnated. With soaring taxes and social insurance premiums, net income continues to decrease. The lack of promotion intent can be considered a structural issue in modern corporate organizations.

Let's Redefine the Role of Managers

To fundamentally resolve these structural issues, we must redefine the role of managers and delegate authority and discretion. Some forward-thinking companies have already begun these efforts. They are supporting managers to focus and excel in their managerial duties by removing player tasks from "playing managers" to allow them to concentrate solely on management, or by centralizing subordinate performance evaluations under the section chief's assessment, thereby expanding their discretionary authority.

Exhibit Leadership and Find Joy in Management

Leadership does not automatically come with a managerial position. It involves having an overwhelming sense of ownership that transcends one's given discretion and taking on challenges beyond current responsibilities. Through this process, one becomes recognized as a manager who exhibits true leadership. Let's overturn the current situation where "management is a punishment game" and restore pride and joy to supervisors and management.

Supporting Managers in Improving Their Management Skills

～FeelWorks supports managers in improving their management skills in various ways～

■Training centered on "Joushiki® Training"

The definitive management training program, introduced by over 500 major companies!

Learn the roles and stances of supervisors and develop a management mindset.

　　"Organizational Vision Training to Foster Team Unity"

　　"Frontline Joushiki Training to Nurture and Empower Young Employees"

　　"Listening and Interview Training to Empower Diverse Subordinates"　and others

　

Click here for details →https://www.feelworks.jp/service/training/

■Books (Authored by Takao Maekawa, Representative of FeelWorks)

Numerous books for improving management skills (※partial listing)

Other books here →https://www.feelworks.jp/booklist/

■Web Media

Disseminating information on frontline supervisor management in many media outlets (partial listing)

"ITmedia Executive"

Part 1: The One Secret to Building a Strong Team with a Deeply Ingrained Purpose

https://mag.executive.itmedia.co.jp/executive/articles/2509/24/news032.html

"ENRICH" Leader's Mindset for Success

Rely on what you have, don't beg for what you don't

https://www.enrich.jp/business/mmgmt/60466

"Comtri"

Overturning "Management is a Punishment Game." The "Work-Life Balance Reform" Revolution Advocated by the Foremost Authority on "Joushiki"

https://comtri.jp/10_interview/feelworks/

■Podcast

LISTEN "Takao Maekawa's Radio for Energizing Supervisors"

https://listen.style/u/voicefeelworks

About FeelWorks Inc.

＜Representative＞

Takao Maekawa

Representative Director of FeelWorks Inc. / Part-time Lecturer at Aoyama Gakuin University

Founder of FeelWorks Group, a collective of human resource development specialists, and advocate of "Joushiki®" (Supervisor Power) for nurturing subordinates and empowering organizations. Born in Akashi City, Hyogo Prefecture. Graduated from Osaka Prefecture University and Waseda University Business School. After serving as editor-in-chief for "Keiko to Manabu," "Shushoku Journal," and "Rikunabi" at Recruit, he founded FeelWorks in 2008 with the aspiration to "contribute to creating a society that values, nurtures, and empowers people," operating training and publishing businesses. He has supported over 500 companies with his uniquely developed training programs, including "Joushiki® Training," "Joushiki® Discipline Seminar," "Work Style Training for People in their 50s," "Business Mindset for Professionals through Drama," "New Employee Training," and "Professional Mindset Training." Since 2011, he has been a part-time lecturer at Aoyama Gakuin University. In 2017, he established the Work Engagement Creation Institute Inc. He also serves as a supporter for the Japan Research Institute, among other positions. Known for his approachable personality, he has many fans and is knowledgeable in promoting diversity management, leadership development, and career support. He has authored approximately 40 books, including "New Common Sense in Management that Empowers People" (FeelWorks), "New Rules for Management that Empowers Subordinates" (Romu Gyosei), "How to Create a Team Full of Work Engagement" (Bestsellers), "True 'Joushiki'" (Daiwa Shuppan), and "Reverse Career Strategy from Age 50" (PHP Institute). He has also written textbooks on leadership, career, and diversity management for institutions like Sanno University.

※"Joushiki" is a registered trademark of FeelWorks Inc.

Contact for this matter

FeelWorks Inc. Public Relations: Nakamura

Mail：pr@feelworks.jp

URL：https://www.feelworks.jp/

"April Dream" is a project by PR TIMES where companies announce their dreams they wish to achieve on April 1st. We are seriously committed to realizing this dream.