Leaders in Japan accept visible responsibility when failures occur under their authority. This is not about finding who personally made the error—it is about demonstrating that those in charge bear the weight of outcomes. The executive who bows deeply to apologize for corporate failures, the manager who does not deflect blame to team members, the captain who accepts the loss—these demonstrate that authority and accountability cannot be separated. You cannot enjoy the benefits of position while escaping its costs.
When your area fails, you acknowledge it publicly. You accept consequences. You do not hide behind subordinates or circumstances. This visible bearing of responsibility is what makes holding authority legitimate.
Comments