Inamori Kazuo on Courage in Management: Why Leaders Must Avoid Overprotecting Themselves

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Correct judgment requires courage

Running a business is no easy task, but it should not be over-complicated either. It is said that great men are good at simplifying difficult things, so learning to simplify business thinking is crucial. Meanwhile, having courage in the face of matters and refraining from cowardly behaviors may seem unrelated to business, but in fact, they are of great significance in enterprise management.

In the early days of his business, Inamori Kazuo struggled alone, but as the business grew, it became difficult to sustain it with his own strength. Therefore, he sincerely hoped that his colleagues around him could grow into excellent managers and repeatedly emphasized the importance of "having courage in the face of matters." In his view, managers must possess the burning fighting spirit and courage comparable to athletes in intense competitive sports such as boxing and rugby.

Having courage requires certain physical conditions. Those who are physically strong and have exceptional boldness are often more likely to possess courage. However, Inamori Kazuo believed that even if one is physically weak, they can strengthen their physique through practicing karate and other methods, thereby cultivating courage at the physical level. He once used karate as an example to explain to company executives that confidence in one's own body can make the spirit stronger. Even if one is physically small, if the spirit is strong enough, they can also have courage.

Courage to Overcome Negative Factors

Why is courage necessary for management? Because courage is an indispensable factor in judging things. If a business is managed based on principles and consistently asks "what is the right thing to do," it can proceed smoothly. However, in reality, various constraints often make it difficult to adhere to this standard. For example, when acquiring land to build a factory, there will always be suggestions like "we need to adapt to local customs, prepare gifts, and take others' face into account." As a result, people often stop judging based on principles and instead choose the expedient approach of satisfying the other party's conditions to avoid trouble, mistakenly believing this is the right path for management. But in fact, business judgments must be based on principles, making choices that one deems correct.

Even with a clear standard, judgment is not easy, as many unexpected situations arise in the process. At such times, courage is needed to uphold what is right. For instance, adhering to "not doing unreasonable things and not bullying the weak," and making calm judgments based on principles. Such persistence may invite adversity, threats, accusations, hostility, contempt, or ridicule, and even lead to exclusion within the organization. But those who can endure all this possess true courage.

Making correct judgments with such courage often allows things to proceed simply and smoothly. Conversely, being caught up in negative factors will only complicate matters and lead to unsolvable predicaments, which is often due to a leader's lack of courage. Therefore, courage is essential to make "excellent judgments that uphold principles." It is worth remembering that those who harbor fear cannot make correct judgments.

No Cowardly Conduct

Another reason courage is needed is that, in moments of decision, if a leader lacks courage, evades problems, or hesitates, their cowardice will be immediately seen through by subordinates. This leads to a loss of trust, with subordinates thinking, "So this is all they’re capable of." In such cases, subordinates will not strive wholeheartedly nor feel ashamed of cowardice. When the leader asks, "Why didn’t you persist?" subordinates will retort, "Persisting would be foolish; there’s no need to bring trouble upon oneself," taking compromise as a matter of course.

Leaders ought to teach subordinates that "compromise should only be a last resort, never a casual choice." However, if subordinates treat compromise as the norm in dealing with people and situations, it is closely related to the leader’s failure to properly convey this idea. Especially when a leader shows cowardice, subordinates will acutely notice it, lose respect for their superior, and think, "This is how problems get solved," after which they will only resort to opportunism. They will reason: "If even the boss or president lacks courage, there’s no need for me to show off or bring trouble upon myself." As a business operator, Inamori Kazuo sincerely hopes that everyone will refrain from cowardly conduct.

Knowledge, Insight, Courage

Inamori Kazuo often tells others: "For business operators to expand their undertakings, they need not only abundant knowledge but also insight." Insight refers to elevating knowledge to the level of conviction, rather than merely staying at the stage of "knowing." However, insight alone is insufficient; business operators, as leaders, must also possess courage, which specifically refers to the combination of boldness and insight.

Those who "talk eloquently but never take action" are merely empty talkers; those who can elevate principles to the level of conviction are insightful; and those who "firmly believe things should be this way and can put their ideas into practice" possess courage. When knowledge is sublimated into conviction, it can play a role in analyzing and judging the merits of things. But to put those judgments into action, boldness is required, and the essence of boldness is courage.

People lose courage because they overprotect themselves. Fears like "Will I be criticized, mocked, or disliked?" all stem from an overprotective mindset. Conversely, not excessively focusing on oneself and being able to "ignore others’ mockery and contempt" means having courage, which is equivalent to having boldness.

In essence, Inamori Kazuo’s insights into courage are not merely principles for business management but a compass for navigating the complexities of leadership and human behavior. From recognizing that over-protection erodes courage to emphasizing that true courage, which is rooted in principles, free from cowardice, and fused with knowledge and insight, is the bedrock of sound judgment and organizational trust, his teachings underscore a timeless truth: courage is not just a virtue but a vital force that simplifies challenges, unites teams, and drives meaningful progress. For those striving to lead with integrity, embracing courage as both a mindset and a practice remains the ultimate key to turning vision into reality, even in the face of adversity.