Blogs and Articles from Third Way Forum Membrs
Jun 2, 2022
Discussion#2 on Japan's infamous "Reading the Air" concept.
Blogs from The Third Way Working Group
- These are the pros of the practice of “reading the air”.
・ Empathy and considerations
・ Respect and smoothening the relationships and the process of meetings.
・ Service mindset: proactively providing customer service etc
・ Especially in 1 on 1 meetings, reading the air is easier and it helps to have effective communications.
- These are the cons of the practice of “reading the air”.
・ Could be used as peer pressure on someone.
・ Could be based on a bias or discrimination toward minorities
・ Unclear accuracy and effectiveness in group meetings. Does everyone feel/understand the same air?
・ Difficult to search the truth or facts once clouded by the air
- The definition of “the air”: Collective consensus or expectation that exists but not explained and invisible.
- “Reading the air” is synonymous with “High Context Communication” or “Group Think” as known in the West.
- Collective expectations assumed are the air. But once someone asks a question and confirms those expectations, they are no longer the air. They are the facts or knowledge.
- The Western people are quick to change the air to the knowledge by asking questions. But the Japanese tend to emphasize the air as the air without asking any questions or for confirmation.
- When there is a communication gap, different people could respond differently.
・ You should have told me! /I should have told you! (A typical Western person’s response based on the expectation of articulation and accountability.)
・ You should have noticed! I should have noticed! (A typical Japanese person’s response based on the expectation of “reading the air”.)
・ I should have asked! (A necessary attitude in the global business world. If you don’t know something, you should ask!”)
- However, sometimes asking could be difficult in Japan due to the lack of psychological safety and hierarchy. Also, due to the expectation of reading the air in Japan, you are afraid that asking may make you look dumb. So you don’t ask and keep assuming without confirming, just reading and keeping the air as the air.
- The expectation for “reading the air” could be stronger in a homogeneous environment. In a very diverse environment with people from different backgrounds, people don’t expect so much collective consensus to exist and to be understood from the beginning without word. The expectation for “reading the air” could be so strong in Japan due to its still homogeneous society.
- Although the initial temptation of international business people is to say “cut the crap with this “reading the air” BS and always have a clear, logical and fact-based communication, the practice of “reading the air” could be sometimes relevant depending on TPO (time, place and occasion).
- If you can read the air, you could tell if it is the right or wrong TPO (time or place or occasion) to ask questions or talk about a certain topic etc.
- Constantly keeping the air as the air without confirmation is very bad for business. However, to know when is the best time to ask questions for confirmation and elevate the air to the fact layer is important for effective stakeholder management. And for that end, reading the air could be an essential skill to have.
・ Empathy and considerations
・ Respect and smoothening the relationships and the process of meetings.
・ Service mindset: proactively providing customer service etc
・ Especially in 1 on 1 meetings, reading the air is easier and it helps to have effective communications.
- These are the cons of the practice of “reading the air”.
・ Could be used as peer pressure on someone.
・ Could be based on a bias or discrimination toward minorities
・ Unclear accuracy and effectiveness in group meetings. Does everyone feel/understand the same air?
・ Difficult to search the truth or facts once clouded by the air
- The definition of “the air”: Collective consensus or expectation that exists but not explained and invisible.
- “Reading the air” is synonymous with “High Context Communication” or “Group Think” as known in the West.
- Collective expectations assumed are the air. But once someone asks a question and confirms those expectations, they are no longer the air. They are the facts or knowledge.
- The Western people are quick to change the air to the knowledge by asking questions. But the Japanese tend to emphasize the air as the air without asking any questions or for confirmation.
- When there is a communication gap, different people could respond differently.
・ You should have told me! /I should have told you! (A typical Western person’s response based on the expectation of articulation and accountability.)
・ You should have noticed! I should have noticed! (A typical Japanese person’s response based on the expectation of “reading the air”.)
・ I should have asked! (A necessary attitude in the global business world. If you don’t know something, you should ask!”)
- However, sometimes asking could be difficult in Japan due to the lack of psychological safety and hierarchy. Also, due to the expectation of reading the air in Japan, you are afraid that asking may make you look dumb. So you don’t ask and keep assuming without confirming, just reading and keeping the air as the air.
- The expectation for “reading the air” could be stronger in a homogeneous environment. In a very diverse environment with people from different backgrounds, people don’t expect so much collective consensus to exist and to be understood from the beginning without word. The expectation for “reading the air” could be so strong in Japan due to its still homogeneous society.
- Although the initial temptation of international business people is to say “cut the crap with this “reading the air” BS and always have a clear, logical and fact-based communication, the practice of “reading the air” could be sometimes relevant depending on TPO (time, place and occasion).
- If you can read the air, you could tell if it is the right or wrong TPO (time or place or occasion) to ask questions or talk about a certain topic etc.
- Constantly keeping the air as the air without confirmation is very bad for business. However, to know when is the best time to ask questions for confirmation and elevate the air to the fact layer is important for effective stakeholder management. And for that end, reading the air could be an essential skill to have.
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