#Japan #Leadership #Tokyo #Employee Engagement #NEWONE

The Power of Emotional Engagement in Leadership

In today’s fast-paced work environment, understanding what motivates individuals is crucial for effective leadership. NEWONE, a consulting firm based in Tokyo, has released a groundbreaking book titled ‘What Leaders Do to Move Their Subordinates’ Hearts’ by CEO Shuhei Kanbayashi, slated for release on January 5, 2026. This book delves into the reasons behind emotional engagement and aims to redefine modern leadership through the lens of empathy and relationships.

The Challenge of Motivation

Many business professionals experience a perplexing disparity in motivation; they feel driven to excel for friends, family, or even their favorite entertainers, yet struggle to find the same zeal in the workplace. This book challenges the prevailing notion that these discrepancies arise merely from a lack of engagement or generational changes among younger employees. Instead, it posits that the roots of personal motivation lie in the interpersonal relationships that are often overlooked in traditional management models.

Understanding Emotional Engagement

Kanbayashi argues that the concept of empathy extends beyond mere kindness. It involves connecting with employees on a deeper level—understanding their feelings, values, and motivations to transform those emotional responses into actionable results. The book draws upon extensive experience from NEWONE’s client collaborations, sharing practical insights and examples of effective communication strategies that resonate with team members.

Key Insights from the Book

The book comprises several essential chapters, including:
1. Empathy as the Ultimate Management Skill: Examining why emotional understanding is vital for a leader.
2. Why People Are Drawn to Their Favorites: Analyzing the connection between engagement and workplace culture.
3. Creating Empathetic Workplace: Strategies for leaders to foster a culture that encourages enthusiasm and connection.
4. Mindset of Influential Leaders: How to approach leadership with an emphasis on emotional intelligence.
5. Deepening Understanding among Team Members: Building stronger relationships for better collaboration.
6. Stimulating Employee Motivation: Techniques for boosting enthusiasm among subordinates.
7. Cultivating a Culture of Engagement: How to make engagement a fundamental aspect of workplace culture.
8. Empathetic Organizations as Life Lines: The importance of empathy in ensuring organizational vitality.

Upcoming Online Seminar

To celebrate the launch of this insightful book, NEWONE will host an online seminar on January 16, 2026, featuring a special discussion between Shuhei Kanbayashi and Professor Kensuke Tanaka of Hosei University. The dialogue will focus on how empathy-driven management can drive individuals to act and will explore when and why people are moved to change their behavior. This unique opportunity combines theoretical perspectives with practical implementations, offering valuable takeaways for all leaders.

Author’s Reflections

Shuhei Kanbayashi, who has an extensive background in management consulting, emphasizes that as artificial intelligence increasingly permeates work environments, the role of understanding human emotions in leadership is more crucial than ever. He believes that harnessing empathy as a technique will enable leaders to build engaging workplaces where individuals are motivated to contribute. The goal of the book is to equip every leader with these necessary skills to inspire their teams and create ‘push-worthy workplaces’—spaces where employees are genuinely engaged and committed.

About NEWONE

Founded on September 1, 2017, NEWONE operates in Minato, Tokyo, offering consulting services that focus on engagement development, organizational change, and talent cultivation. The company is committed to fostering environments where employees feel driven and connected, supporting a broad range of clients from major corporations like SoftBank and Mitsubishi Estate Home. As the landscape of employee engagement evolves, the insights presented in ‘What Leaders Do to Move Their Subordinates’ Hearts’ aims to influence the next generation of management practices in Japanese workplaces and beyond.

For more information, visit NEWONE's official website.