Transforming Managerial Perspectives: A New Era of Leadership Training in Yamanashi

On February 24, 2026, the third and final session of the "Next Leader Training Course" and the "Advanced Management Training Course" were successfully concluded at the Yamanashi Career Up University (CUU) in Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture. Organized by Imaginna, a branding consultancy based in Chiyoda, Tokyo, this program aimed to revolutionize the perception of management roles within companies. The project garnered immense support from regional business leaders and aligned with the Yamanashi Prefectural initiative called "Three-Up" (Skill Up, Revenue Up, Wage Up), committed to a positive cycle in human capital management.

The Need for Change in Managerial Perception

In contemporary Japanese companies, management positions often lead to overwhelming workloads, which are seen as burdensome responsibilities by younger employees. This creates a negative perception where management roles feel akin to "punishing games." However, for sustainable corporate growth, it is crucial for managers to evolve from mere overseers to inspirational brand ambassadors. This transformation allows them to design corporate culture and maximize the potential of their subordinates.

Partnering with Yamanashi CUU, Imaginna facilitated three immersive sessions. The final session focused on developing a decisive mindset necessary for inspiring action within teams, centered on the themes of "GRIT" and "Transforming Self-Awareness."

Insights from the Third Session: Two Keys to Create a Self-Driving Organization

1. Next Leader Training: The Science of GRIT as a Tool for Success

The next generation of leaders was introduced to the essence of "GRIT"—a term coined by Angela Duckworth of the University of Pennsylvania. This program highlighted four key traits: Guts, Resilience, Initiative, and Tenacity, which are more critical than intelligence or talent in achieving success. A particularly impactful concept presented was based on James Clear's theory of the "cumulative effect of effort."

The results were startling: when improving daily by just 1%, one could see a staggering growth of 37 times after a year, represented mathematically as 1.01^365 = 37.8. Conversely, neglecting this effort, represented by 0.99^365, leads to almost a total decline to -0.03. Participants discovered that while they cannot alter past decisions, they can redefine their significance to foster future achievements by sharing this "effort equation."

2. Advanced Management Training: Recognizing Cognitive Illusions and Building Morality as the Backbone of Organizations

For senior management, the session began with a visual psychology exercise involving a simple red Coca-Cola can. Participants learned about a theory that illustrates how the brain processes information based on its biases towards memory, expectations, and context. This session challenged leaders to confront how these biases influence their perspectives.

Furthermore, participants examined human weaknesses through concepts like “cognitive dissonance” and “the law of least effort.” This led to a redefinition of morality—not just as compliance or etiquette but as the intrinsic ethical consciousness necessary for building a brand’s true foundation of trust.

Conclusion: Gratitude as the Catalyst for Growth

To conclude the series, Imaginna emphasized the importance of a gratitude mindset. By shifting from a sense of entitlement to appreciating valuable opportunities, participants learned how this mental shift enables the brain to embrace new stimuli. The energy generated throughout this program at Yamanashi CUU is expected to be carried back to participating companies, fostering the implementation of human capital management at the ground level. This signifies Imaginna’s aspiration to revitalize not only Yamanashi but all of Japan through empowered leadership.

About Imaginna

Imaginna boasts a track record of branding success with over 3,000 companies. Their focus is on connecting the internal aspects (organization, talent) with external elements (market, society) of businesses through comprehensive branding consulting.

Website: Imaginna