Leadership discussions often emphasise quarterly goals, annual targets, and weekly deliverables because measuring what is tangible feels safer than addressing what is vulnerable.
I remember early in my career, sitting in weekly KPI meetings with our Managing Director and Sales Director. These sessions were meant to track progress, but they often turned into a grilling – an atmosphere filled with huffs, puffs, and a palpable desire to be anywhere else. The focus was always on the numbers, never on the people delivering them.
Yet behind every target is a person navigating complexity, doubt, and hope. Leading well requires the courage to see and support them, not just their outputs.
Enduring success does not lie solely in relentless pursuit, but in the depth and quality of individual interactions. Ichigo Ichie, a Japanese proverb meaning “one time, one meeting,” originating from traditional tea ceremonies, calls us to treat each encounter as unique, precious, and inherently irreplaceable. Far from poetic idealism, this principle can transform leadership effectiveness.
Today’s global workplaces are hyper-connected but often superficially engaged. According to Gartner’s 2025 Future of Work Trends, only 28% of employees feel comfortable being vulnerable with their colleagues, and this lack of cohesion is directly harming collaboration and performance. Gartner further identifies loneliness as an emerging business risk, noting that organisations addressing loneliness through more human-centred collaboration norms meet their profit goals 10% more often than those that do not. Authentic leadership is therefore not just a cultural ideal but a commercial imperative.
Social psychologist and author Amy Cuddy, formerly on the faculty at Harvard Business School, conducted groundbreaking research uncovering the neuroscience behind genuine presence. Her findings show that authentic interactions activate mirror neurons, cells triggered when observing others’ actions or emotions, facilitating deep neurological connections. This mechanism creates psychological safety, an essential condition for high-performing teams. Dr Cuddy’s influential TED Talk on presence remains a foundational resource for leaders seeking transformative communication.
Complementing these findings, Japanese social psychologist Dr Shigehiro Oishi’s extensive research highlights that authentic interpersonal connections significantly enhance workplace satisfaction, productivity, and resilience against burnout. Oishi’s studies demonstrate tangible benefits when organisations prioritise meaningful interactions, underscoring the critical role of intentional presence.
In our exclusive interview with ASICS’ Global Head of Marketing and Executive Member of the Board, Gary Raucher, he said that integrating Japanese cultural principles such as deliberate presence shapes leadership effectiveness and organisational culture. Raucher noted how these practices enable leaders to build trust-based environments that empower people to perform at their best.
Senior leaders can strategically adopt Ichigo Ichie through a structured three-step framework measurable over one month:
Step 1: Conduct Fully Present Meetings
Dedicate meetings to undivided attention—no phones, emails, or parallel tasks. Focus entirely on understanding your team’s perspectives. Afterward, briefly journal:
- What fresh insights emerged from complete engagement?
- Did your team’s openness and candour noticeably improve?
Track these observations weekly to capture the evolving impact of genuine presence on communication dynamics.
Step 2: Employ Reflective Close-Outs
End each meeting by succinctly summarising key personal insights gained, signalling attentive listening. Conclude by inviting further reflection:
“Is there anything else important to you right now?”
Measure shifts in responsiveness and willingness to disclose critical insights, marking the development of deeper trust.
Step 3: Perform a Daily Interaction Audit
Maintain a daily log evaluating significant interactions, asking:
- Did I value this interaction authentically?
- Was empathy genuinely communicated?
This practice reveals communication patterns and facilitates a systematic shift from transactional exchanges to authentic connections.
Embedding Empathy as Strategic Imperative
Intentional empathy and deliberate presence are not merely ethical virtues but strategic imperatives. Embedding Ichigo Ichie into leadership cultivates courageous, high-performing teams, driving organisational alignment, innovation, and resilience.
Empathy in leadership transcends softness. It embodies strategic clarity, meaningful engagement, and lasting impact. Each interaction is an unparalleled opportunity to build loyalty, trust, and exceptional collaboration.
As you prepare for your next meeting, pause to ask:
What is the one insight only this person, only in this moment, can teach me?
Approaching each interaction with this mindset shifts leadership from managing agendas to shaping enduring human impact.
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