A story about how listening to my juniors' complaints night after night taught me something

The other day, I held a dinner party with two of my juniors and we had a great time.

After the meal, we talked about the current state of the company while enjoying the fresh air outside.

It wasn't exactly an emotional conversation, but mostly it was about work
complaintsguchi, grumbling, Guti...

They just kept coming!
One after another, they wouldn't stop.

Before I knew it, two hours had passed
since we started talking outside (;^_^A

As a senior, I listened to
what the two juniors had to say
fairly and empathized with them.

In the first place, I think many people would say that
complainingguchi
doesn't leave a very good impression.

However, before listening to my juniors, I had read
"a certain article", so
I didn't feel uncomfortable about the complaintsguchi.

"A certain article" is...

"Hiroaki Takahashi"'s

It's okay to complain!.

Mr.

"Hiroaki Takahashi" whom I also introduced this past Monday (5/16).

I'm going to introduce him again,
without learning my lesson (*ﾉωﾉ)

✔Complaining is important!

In the article, Mr. Hiroaki Takahashi explains that
complaintsguchi
can leave a very different impression depending on how you perceive them.

The difference in perspective is
the difference between the future and the past.

For more details, please read the article by Hiroaki Takahashi,
as it explains it
in an easy-to-understand way.

The "complaints" that many people find unpleasant are
content focused on the past.

In other words,
it is a "complaint"
with no fundamental solution,
like saying, "There's nothing we can do 　once you start talking about that." "complaint".

People who make these kinds of complaints
are just people with a high need for approval
who are seeking empathy.

Even the person listening to the "complaint"
can only nod along, thinking,
"Even if I give an answer,
　it won't solve anything..."

Just listening to it builds up frustration, doesn't it? (-_-;)

So, what is a "complaint" aimed at the future?

It is a "complaint" that suggests a solution".

"There are other ways to do this"
"There are plenty of other ways to handle it"
"I want you to try a different method"

A "complaint" that suggests a solution
to "change the future"
makes the discussion very meaningful.

✔ Which one is
　the junior's "complaint"?

So, did the junior's "complaint"
that I mentioned at the beginning fall into the past or the future category?

The answer is "a complaint aimed at the future".

It was a productive exchange of complaints
that kept asking, "What can we do to make it better?"

While we empathized with each other, we also thought about solutions together, so I personally feel that

it was time well spent.

Admittedly, some of the complaints I heard
were about things that couldn't be helped.

In those moments, I would ask my junior,
"What should we do?" and
direct their attention toward the future.

Then, my junior would also
express their own thoughts, saying,
"I want you to do more of this."

I was able to steer the conversation in this direction
thanks to having read an article by
Hiroaki Takahashi.

✔ Complaints
　contain hidden hints

"Oh no, here we go again... (￣～￣)＞"

I think many people tend to
openly avoid someone the moment they start complaining.

It's easy to assume that listening to complaints
won't lead to any solutions.

Perhaps many men
hold the view that "there's no point in listening."

I am one of them.

However...

This time, thanks to gaining the perspective from Hiroaki Takahashi's article that
"complaints contain solutions for the future,"
my way of thinking has completely changed.

I've gone from seeing it as painful and boring
to having a wonderful image of it as
"a clue for growth."

* * * * *

"Complaints that look toward the future are necessary, so
feel free to complain more"

I learned that this is a truly important way of thinking.

Mr. Hiroaki Takahashi,
I am always grateful
for the wonderful articles you create.

I hope that all of you
will also find this helpful.

Well then, until next time.
Goodbye.