Episode #83: Georg Loeer, NRW.Global Business Japan Representative (President & Representative Director at NRW Japan K.K., Tokyo)
Japan's Top Business Interviews
Born in Tokyo while his father was serving as a German diplomat, Georg Loeer spent his first five years in Japan before his family returned to their homeland. However, that was long enough for a keen interest in Japan to be sparked in Mr. Loeer, as he would study Japanese languages, history, and economics at universities in both Japan and Germany, eventually attaining an MA in from Freie Universität Berlin. In a rich career in the financial sector, after his initial training in Frankfurt, Mr. Loeer worked in leadership positions for a number of banks in Japan, Indonesia, and China. He also started his own company, now run by his wife, before accepting his current role as the President of NRW.Global Business’ Japanese division.
When discussing his experiences with leadership in Japan, Mr. Loeer explains that there are times when leaders must explain the local situation and cultural nuances to corporate headquarters who don’t understand why things are, or aren’t, a certain way. This can also include defending excellent performing staff who don’t fit headquarters definition of an ideal staff. He also believes in the importance of giving staff challenges and clearly explaining what the opportunities and rewards are for the intended challenge.
In working with Japanese teams Mr. Loeer is full of praise, highlighting that the Japanese he has worked with are well educated, hardworking and honest. He does acknowledge the cultural inclination for Japanese not to speak up and that this can make getting feedback difficult. However, Mr. Loeer believes this can be worked around by developing strategies to get direct feedback rather than relying on open or passive feedback.
On building a culture within an organisation, Mr. Loeer believes communicating openly with teammates and showing empathy are important to developing a positive company culture. He also states that successfully managing the relationship with headquarters is vitally important and if you can do this, you will go a long way to earning the trust of your colleagues and employees. It is this trust which Mr. Loeer believes is a key word for doing business in Japan. It will mean standing behind your employees, supporting them, and sometimes taking the blame for them. However, trust can also be earned by showing that you have good ideas that work.
Finally, Mr. Loeer defines leadership as being able to stand in front of a team and engage them about the path that will be taken together as one (a team). He also believes a leader needs to be mindful of the values they and the organisation embody and have influence on, like climate change and aging demographics.
When discussing his experiences with leadership in Japan, Mr. Loeer explains that there are times when leaders must explain the local situation and cultural nuances to corporate headquarters who don’t understand why things are, or aren’t, a certain way. This can also include defending excellent performing staff who don’t fit headquarters mould of what staff should be like. He also believes in the importance of giving staff challenges and clearly explaining what the opportunities and rewards are for the intended challenge.
In working with Japanese teams Mr. Loeer is full of praise highlighting that the Japanese he has worked with are well educated, hardworking and honest. He does acknowledge the cultural inclination for Japanese not to speak up and that this can make getting feedback difficult. However, Mr. Loeer believes this can be worked around by developing strategies to get direct feedback rather than relying on open or passive feedback.
On building a culture within an organisation, Mr. Loeer believes communicating openly with teammates and showing empathy are important to developing a positive company culture. He also states that successfully managing the relationship with headquarters is vitally important and if you can do this, you will go a long way to earning the trust of your colleagues and employees. It is this trust which Mr. Loeer believes is a key word for doing business in Japan. It will mean standing behind your employees, supporting them, and sometimes taking the blame for them. However, trust can also be earned by showing that you have good ideas that work.
Finally, Mr. Loeer defines leadership as being able to stand in front of a team and engage them about the path that will be taken together as one (a team). He also believes a leader needs to be mindful of the values they and the organisation embody and have influence on, like climate change and aging demographics.