Every Company Needs a Good Map

Tokyo-based Hime & Company, which also gives staff paid time off to hit the shops during sales season, says heartache leave allows staff to cry themselves out and return to work refreshed. "Not everyone needs to take maternity leave but with heartbreak, everyone needs time off, just like when you get sick," CEO Miki Hiradate, whose company of six women markets cosmetics and other goods targeted for women, told Reuters by telephone.

It reminded me of a time when I was in Tokyo on business and my Grandfather died. He and I were close. I was in Japan for 5 days to work with CosmoBio and on the morning of the 5th day I received an email letting me know that he had died. It was a terrible blow to me and people around me could see that I had received bad news. When I told the person working with me she expressed her sympathy and then immediately walked away. I thought that was strange but I had more important things on my mind.

One by one, the top management of the company, from the CEO on down, stopped by the room where I was working to express their sympathy. I was very touched by their visits and kind words. Many did not speak English well and my Japanese is not great but I knew what they intended. This went on for about 30 minutes.

I was scheduled to fly home that afternoon and I wondered how I would get any work done between my feelings and the many sympathetic visits I was receiving. When the operating manager came in, I expressed my gratitude for the visits and my concern about what still needed to be done before I flew home. He told me that there was nothing more important right now than for me to leave the office and spend some time in a quiet place.

If you have casually visited Tokyo you might think, as I did, that there are no quiet places in Tokyo. I was wrong. I was directed to a park, I do not remember its name, but it is right near the Tokyo Dome. It was built centuries ago in memory of a ruler's fiancée that had passed away. It was so quiet and beautiful. It was just what I needed at that moment.

I may have forgotten the name of the park but I have never forgotten the lesson I learned that day. I will never forget the friends who reminded me about what is most important. Their attitude and expressions have always left me with a great feeling for Japan and for the manner in which they conduct themselves.

This post could also categorized under WAYS - What Are You Saying. When you provide time for people to deal with the realities of life you are saying that you care. If you treat your friends, staff, and associates in this same manner it will not only show that you have compassion, but it will also build a bond between you and them. In Lewis Green's book, Lead With Your Heart, he talks a lot about putting people first. I believe that the management and staff of CosmoBio showed me that putting people first does help build a better business and a better world. It is often easy to put off grieving because we have so much to do. In the end I think we miss a part of being human that is very important. I hope as you work with people every day that you remember that we are all people and we do need time to feel our feelings.