ecision making process with our Global One and Zen-in Keiei management principles,” Yamada told Inside Retail. The Global One principle encourages staff to think and work with a global approach, as it is an international company with teams from different backgrounds and cultures. The Zen-in Keiei management principle means teaching staff to have the mindset of a manager. “We attribute our success to our Zen-in Keiei philosophy, where every employee is empowered to be part of the decision-making process and manage the company in the best way possible as a team,” Yamada said. “The transparency of information sharing and open communication encourages an environment that allows staff to feel more involved and engaged with the business, thus considering the best actions for the company.” These guidelines are translated into various languages and shared with employees globally to ensure Uniqlo’s teams embody these standards in their work. “Having been based in five different countries over the course of my career has helped me learn about working with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds,” Yamada said. “Uniqlo is a global business, but it respects the culture and the traditions of each community and neighbourhood in which it operates.” Think global, act local At Uniqlo, a one-day convention is held every six months with staff from their global headquarters and stores where they can learn from case studies from other countries, participate in discussions and align on their business strategy. “We also have a staff engagement survey to understand employees’ sentiments and hear from them on areas of improvement,” Yamada said. “We have also been able to continue carrying out these sessions online to ensure that we continue engaging with our staff despite these challenging times.” Each month, company chairman Tadashi Yanai also runs a monthly assembly, where he shares his observations and insights with staff. Local CEOs will update the team with how their businesses are going in each region. Yamada added that it’s also an opportunity for them to celebrate the best service staff of the month. Meanwhile, management and key department members are encouraged to visit local stores every week to understand each stores’ needs and stay in touch with their teams.