[UnleashU]
16 people gathered! UnleashU launches 4-month practical program “Playful Journey” for leaders of each Olympia Co., Ltd. store *UnleashU*
Press release: September 5, 2024
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16 people gathered! UnleashU launches 4-month practical program “Playful Journey” for leaders of each Olympia Co., Ltd. store UnleashU Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Ota-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Akiyama Shino (hereinafter referred to as “UnleashU”) is Olympia Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Naka-ku, Nagoya, Representative Director: Kato), which produces the variety shop “Olympia” that gives customers dreams and excitement.
Michihiro (hereinafter referred to as “Olympia”) has launched “Playful Journey,” a practical program for store managers.
A four-month project (June to October 2024) to gain experience in essential “customer creation (creating excitement) and system creation (human resources development)” while confronting the real issues faced by each store. Masu.
We will hone our leadership and problem-solving skills in order to continue to be Olympia, a brand that our customers expect from us, which brightens up children, families, and local communities through cuteness.
For the first time, 16 leaders and potential leaders from the Kanto, Chubu, and Kansai regions gathered in Ota Ward, Tokyo.
Participating members
Olympia Versa Walk Nishio store
* ■What is Playful Journey?*
“Project-based leadership development” provided by UnleashU. The goal is to hone leadership and problem-solving skills through the process of working as a team to solve real-world issues facing an
organization. Improve your organization and yourself while sweating your mind and heart.
Specifically, there are the following three initiatives.
* ・Achieving both business results and growth*
The aim is to achieve both results and growth by learning through the process of problem solving based on the themes of real issues that organizations face, such as declining sales, failure to launch new businesses, and turnover rates. We solve the management dilemma of wanting to invest in people but not being able to start unless the results are guaranteed.
* ・Any person can become a leader*
You become aware of your strengths and want to take initiative. By viewing the organization’s problems as their own, everyone develops a desire to demonstrate leadership and learns to enjoy work.
* ・Hub strengthens the organization*
Since we work seriously across the organization, many hubs with strong relationships of trust are created. Even in a remote or rapidly changing environment, you can make friends with whom you can discuss anything.
* ■Program received by 16 Olympia store managers*
On the first day, the focus was on “building systems (developing people)”. The 16 people were divided into four teams and a discussion began on the determined talk theme.
“If you could add one thing to Olympia’s behavioral guidelines, what would it be? ” “Sales are sluggish at a store like this. What kind of store? ” “Staff members don’t stay in stores like this.” What kind of shop? ” “When did you “grow up” so far? We have prepared various themes such as “.
After the presentations were completed, teams shared scores from 1 to 5 to determine the best three.
Some members of the team were meeting for the first time, so we emphasized getting to know each other, expressing our own opinions, and listening to the opinions of others.
* ■Announcement of final assignment*
“Playful
The final challenge of “Journey” is to “propose a concrete plan to double the store’s sales in one year, while balancing the enjoyment of our customers with our enjoyment.”
On the first day, our goal was to discuss the best possible solution as a team, gather our opinions, and present it in front of everyone. 1. Model store analysis
2. Challenges of our store
3. What is the “lever” to reach double the amount?
We held discussions from a specific perspective, presented numerical values, and finally provided feedback.
The purpose of taking on a difficult task on the first day was to “get them to understand that this is a project of a level and workload that no one person could possibly handle alone.”
No matter how high your level as a staff member is, in order to become a leader who leads your subordinates and brings about change in the organization, you need a major change of mind. Rather than tackling this project on my own, I need to update my common sense by
collaborating with other store managers from various backgrounds and experiencing conflicts.
* ■Future plans and expectations*
“Playful Journey” features *Action mode* and *Reflection mode*.
In action mode, the team discusses a concrete plan to “double sales in one year,” and then actually implements the measures at the store and goes through the PDCA cycle.
In reflection mode, you will look back on your own actions and the way your team should be in action mode, and gain insights that will lead to growth.
Most of my day-to-day work is carried out in action mode, and I don’t have many opportunities for reflection that leads to growth. “Playful At “Jorney,” you will work with a diverse group of people with different values to experience conflicts through the experience of not being able to reach your goal in a simple way, and by looking back on those experiences in reflection mode, you will train your own way of thinking and leadership.
The four-month project will consist of repeated lessons and practice. Each lesson provides useful input for either action mode or reflection mode.
For example, in the second class, Kunii, the representative director and president of the competitor “Partirico”
A talk session was held with Mr. Misa, and we learned through dialogue about the mindset of a leader.
* ■Voices from participating members*
*Celeo Kokubunji store manager Ayami Oshima*
“I was recommended to participate by my area manager.When I was approached, I was worried whether I would be able to take up the role, but he encouraged me and said, “We want that kind of person to participate.” So, I decided to participate so that I could do my best and absorb as much as I could.
Most of the members of the same team were speaking one-on-one as a team for the first time. It all started with self-introductions, and I shared my challenges and worries with managers from other stores, and then I realized, “I wasn’t the only one!” I was surprised at how many times I noticed this. I think it’s a great opportunity to hear various opinions about store operations and member management.”
*LaLaport Toyosu employee Ayano Niikura*
“I think it was a good meeting because we were able to share a lot of things that we didn’t know or that we wouldn’t have thought of on our own.
I usually only get to talk a little with members from other stores when I get help or at events, but this time at Playful.
At Jorney, I was able to communicate thoroughly through work.
Regarding sales, etc., when I go to a store, I can give advice and exchange opinions on the spot while looking at the sales floor, but this time I was able to collect various opinions more abstractly, summarize them, and discuss medium- to long-term initiatives. It was an experience. The future of Playful
I’m also looking forward to Journey.”
*LaLaport Kadoma Manager Ayano Nishida*
“I’m not very good at expressing my opinions, and I felt that this was a negative aspect of me, but a member of my group led the meeting very proactively, and we had a great time talking. .
The final theme was “to double sales,” which I thought was very difficult at first glance, but as we discussed it, we came up with many concrete ideas, and we quickly started implementing them in our own stores. I found a lot of things I could incorporate.
I am currently in the position of a sub-employee, but I would like to eventually become a store manager. To that end, I felt that there were a lot of things that I couldn’t get just by being in my own store, so I wanted to get more ideas and ideas, so I decided to visit Playful. I decided to join Journey. In that sense, it was a very meaningful time.”
*LaLaport Nagoya Minato AQULS Manager Natsuki Shibata*
“The area manager in the Tokai region where I work said to me, “You like this kind of thing, right?” and I said, “I like it!” and immediately decided to participate. I like interacting with people, so I It seems like a good match.
When I participated, I found that there were many people I knew in other groups, but there was no one in my team, so I had a lot of fun communicating with new people. There was a good atmosphere among the team, so I wasn’t nervous.
Usually I just talk whatever I want, the other person talks too, I get excited, and sometimes I end up losing track of what’s going on, but Playful
At Jorney, I was conscious of listening carefully to what the other person was saying. I think we were able to have a calm and
constructive discussion.
I believe that the more people I know, the easier it will be to work, so I would like to talk to various people within the company and utilize them in the management of the store.”
*Michihiro Kato, Representative Director of Olympia Co., Ltd.* 『Playful
I have high expectations for Jorney. Olympia has grown by leveraging the unique characteristics of each store, with the store manager taking responsibility for purchasing, store creation, and operation as the manager. However, in recent years, with the rise of online shopping and an increase in purchases from SNS, the difficulty of managing retail stores has become increasingly difficult.
Playful
The store managers who gathered at Jorney used their own experiences, ideas, and tastes to have lively discussions, honestly exchanged opinions, and worked together to think about what Olympia was aiming for. I believe that this too can create a world of “Zettai Kawai!”. Everyone, please do your best for the next 4 months. ”
* ■* Playful Journey introduction movie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAxEcOELdyc
■Olympia Co., Ltd. Company Profile
Company name: Olympia Co., Ltd.
Representative: Representative Director Michihiro Kato
Establishment date: November 4, 1962
Location: 1-6-1 Heiwa, Naka-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture
Official website: https://www.olympiashop.co.jp/
Official YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@user-mo6li7wl6x
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olympia_official/?hl=ja
■UnleashU Co., Ltd. Company Profile
Company name: UnleashU Co., Ltd.
Representative: Representative Director and CEO Shino Akiyama Establishment date: April 2023
Address: 6-17-17 Omori Nishi, Ota-ku, Tokyo KOCA C2
Official website: https://unleashu.co.jp/company
UnleashU’s mission is “Learn to live freely.” We provide services that allow you to “Learn while you work, and work while you learn.”
[Service provided]
・*Project-based leadership development*: https://x.gd/qcZZX
Practical training program to develop leadership and problem-solving skills through projects
* ・Human Resources Edusulting*
We combine consulting and education to address various issues facing people and organizations, and simultaneously solve issues and develop human resources personnel.
* ・Elephant Career*: https://ele-careers.com/
Comprehensive media related to graduate schools for working adults. Contains interviews with current students and alumni as well as useful tips for taking entrance exams. We plan events once every three months.