After being assigned to Entetsu Vietnam, a basic question suddenly popped into my head
“As a CEO, what time should I actually arrive at the office?”
Looking back, I realize I used to think and act based on my own personal standards—wondering things like, “Should I arrive earlier than my boss?” or “Should I strike a balance and arrive neither too early nor too late?”
Now that I’ve become a company leader myself, I suppose it goes without saying that “it’s only natural to make appropriate judgments and take action as a business leader”… (laughs). Through trial and error, something has unconsciously become a habit and is now an important part of my morning routine.
That is, taking my seat before the staff arrives and greeting them with a smile as they come in.
To my colleagues who ride 20 km on their motorcycles to work
At our company, we exchange morning and end-of-day greetings in Japanese. All the staff cheerfully call out “Good morning!!” to me before heading to their desks. Before I knew it, I’d come to call this my “Morning Greeting Campaign,” and I make it a point to greet the staff every morning.
This is because commuting conditions in Hanoi are very different from those in Japan. All our staff commute by motorcycle, and some even ride about 20 km every day. Hanoi’s weather can change suddenly, and they make their way to work through sudden downpours and the fierce traffic jams that are a daily occurrence.
Knowing this context, a morning greeting becomes more than just a matter of etiquette. It’s “gratitude that they made it to work safely today” and “the relief of seeing their cheerful faces.” These sentiments are condensed into that single exchange, and for me, it serves as a major source of energy to start the workday.
Basic communication, above all, should be handled with care
To be honest, when I was working in Japan, I realize now that the true meaning of “greetings” had become a mere formality without me even noticing, and I may have neglected the basics of communication… I can’t help but reflect on that.
Of course, if I can improve my Vietnamese, the scope of our conversations will surely expand even further. But for now, I’ll start with “what I can do right now.” I want to steadily make cheerful morning greetings a habit and build trust with my colleagues.
It’s another bustling morning here in Hanoi. Well then, let’s get the day started.
