#Japan #Tokyo #Insurance Training #Oyashiru #hearing skills

Oyashiru's Transformative Training Experience

Oyashiru has recently achieved remarkable success with its hearing skills training program for a major domestic life insurance company. Not only was this the company's first corporate training initiative, but it also garnered impressive satisfaction scores, with participants rating their experience at an average of 9.0 out of 10 over a two-month duration.

The need for effective hearing skills became evident in the context of life insurance sales, where sales interactions often involve clients who lack specialized knowledge. As the products offered are frequently complex and varied, it becomes crucial for sales professionals to identify and address customer needs by employing listening techniques.

Background of the Initiative

While training in proposal-making skills and product knowledge exists abundantly within the insurance sales industry, there has historically been a lack of structured training focused on extracting the true feelings and concerns of clients. This gap presented a unique opportunity for Oyashiru to contribute its expertise.

Following a discussion with a department head and managers from the insurance company, it became clear that they were eager to develop effective listening skills to engage better with their elderly clients. Thus, a tailored training program was conceived and developed, diverging from the typical seminar model to a more personalized 1-on-1 approach.

The Training Structure

This innovative training was executed in two key phases:

Phase 1: Group Seminar (Online)

• - Participants: All members of the implementing department (approximately 90 individuals)
• - Purpose: To understand the importance and key points of hearing skills in insurance sales.
• - Structure: Conducted via an online seminar by the CEO, Takeda, lasting roughly one hour.
• - Content Highlights:

1. The significance of hearing in sales
2. Core components of hearing: ‘listening’ and ‘asking’
3. Strategies for improving these skills.

This initial group seminar took place in November 2025.

Phase 2: Individual Coaching Sessions

• - Participants: Selected customer-facing personnel (15 individuals) on a voluntary basis after Phase 1.
• - Purpose: To enhance and apply hearing skills actively.
• - Structure: Four individual sessions, each lasting 45 minutes, held bi-weekly.
• - Content Flow:

1. Role-playing exercises with mentorship assessments
2. Feedback focused on individual sales topics
3. Continued feedback and role-playing for further refinement.

This phase ran from December 2025 through February 2026.

Program Outcomes

The assessment of participant progress was based on evaluations conducted at the beginning and end of the training, examining eight key indicators related to hearing skills. Impressively, 7 out of 8 indicators saw marked improvement.

Notably, the ability to utilize open-ended questions improved significantly, with the average score rising from 2.1 to 3.1 points.

Participant Feedback

In a post-training survey, 14 out of 15 participants reported feeling more proficient, validating the program's impact on their professional development. The average satisfaction rating stood at an impressive 9.0 out of 10.

Comments from participants reflected their appreciation for practical application and immediate feedback, emphasizing the program's value in their daily tasks.

One participant noted, “After years of merely proposing and explaining, I am now able to draw out the essence of my customer's concerns and put the listening skills I've learned into practice.”

Future Directions of Corporate Training

As Oyashiru moves forward, it aims to cultivate a deeper understanding of listening and questioning among its participants, emphasizing the importance of these skills within the context of crucial discussions like estate planning and financial decisions.

Oyashiru envisions a society where meaningful conversations can flourish, particularly concerning significant life events like aging, family discussions, and legacy planning. By developing skilled listeners, the company plays a pivotal role in shaping an environment where families can engage in these challenging conversations without regret.

For corporations interested in implementing similar frameworks or learning more about Oyashiru's offerings, feel free to reach out via our company website.