All Hands

Ever since a restructuring that I had to enact last year, I have been a defacto representative of my company’s Tokyo office. When guests come I go to greet them, I saw a few words before drinks and to end the night, and I lead “All Hands Meetings”.

I try to do all this carefully not as a leader, but as a person filling in for a leader. I don’t want anyone to say “Who does this guy think he is? He’s just HR!”

Since this restructure I mentioned, today was our fifth all hands meeting.

These are meetings were are entire office comes together and I present on a variety of topics and volunteers present on what they’re currently working on.

I think it goes back to my English teaching days, but I love leading things like this. I love my not so thought out words become something objective and tangible for an atmosphere. Other people may not like these meetings (I have no idea), but they are a part of them and they bring us together.

So today I announced who was entering the company and who was leaving. I asked people to separate their trash and respect IT security rules. I gathered opinions on a renovation project I’m doing. And I very actively listened to two presentations when many others were staring at their phones or computer screens, and thanked the people profusely for doing such things.

I reminded people I want more presenters and confirmed them for June. (I canceled the May meeting because it’s a busy month.)

I thanked the person who organized the company lunch after the meeting and reminded people that even with no meeting in May, we’re still having a company lunch.

During the company lunch I listened a person complain about how others in other offices can’t do their job and they need to step up. I philosophized about letting someone fail versus stepping in constantly. I listened to people talk about anxiety for those who resigned and then I talked about the beauty of people progressing in their life.

Then we were done, and people cleaned up and went back to work a the all hands experience was over.

Anyways, I had something deep to say about this, but I’ve forgotten. Maybe that I enjoy creating and steering mood, and that I don’t think I’m bad at it.