Giving Answers, Giving Ways to Engage

Back when I worked in editing,
I would often have juniors ask me,

"What should I do about this?"
when adjusting catchphrases,
refining how to present products or angles,
or when creating short columns.

When the deadline was approaching,
I would sometimes say, "If it were me, I'd do it this way,"
and show them something
in a form they could use right away.

But when I had a little more time,
I would intentionally avoid giving them the answer.

"Was there anything in the materials you could pull content from?"
"It might be good to show the differences from before the renewal."
"It might be worth asking the manufacturer again
how they want to promote it."

In that way,
I tried to pass on several 'perspectives'.

Before long,
the junior started communicating
directly with the manufacturers themselves.

By the time I realized it,
they weren't coming to ask for the answer,
saying, "I thought of this other way to present it, what do you think?"
but were instead coming to consult with me more frequently.

It felt like we were creating something together
as 'members of the editorial team,' regardless of our positions.

Whether this way of engaging
can be called 'coaching' or not,
honestly, I'm not sure.

But one thing I do think is

'Giving an answer' and
'looking at how to handle things together'
are different in quality.

Of course, there are times when it is important
to reach the correct answer quickly.

However,
how to think about it,
what perspectives exist,
and how much the possibilities can expand.

I believe that just by having those 'options',
when they are lost in the same way again,
they can return to the criteria they themselves chose.

I myself, until now,

"Because everyone is saying so"
"Because everyone has it"
"Because everyone is doing it"

I have felt a sense of hesitation
about choosing things for those reasons.

I understand that there is a sense of security
in "everyone."

It was once used as a joke, but
"If we all cross on a red light, we won't be afraid"
it's like that mentality... honestly, I'm not really a fan... (bitter laugh)

That said,
there was a time when I enjoyed trying new things,
and I don't want to deny
the act of engaging with trends itself.

However, at one point,
I realized that "everyone" and "trends"
have no end.

If you jump on a trend,
you are chased by the next one,
a trend created by someone else.

If you choose something new,
soon enough,
the next new thing arrives.

Rather than that,
"How do I feel about this?"
"Do I really want to choose this?"

Being able to return to that
seemed to feel more right to me.

While reflecting on such things,
I began to think that coaching
might be a little similar.

"If you do this, it will go well"
"This is the correct answer"

Having answers handed to you in that way
can sometimes lead to a sense of security.

However, on the other hand,
I feel that there are times when we end up
giving up the 'sense of choosing for oneself' without even realizing it.

To be in a state where you can choose
both to change and not to change.

Building on that,
even while feeling lost,
to touch, think, and choose for yourself.

Coaching is
very effective when you want to change something,
but

that is not the only situation where it can be utilized.

I think it might also be a time
to gradually change how we engage with one another.

Even without finding an immediate answer,
even while remaining in limbo.

Without forcing that state to be resolved,
it is like looking at how we can handle it.

I hope to be able to engage in a way
that cherishes such a process of change.

Thank you
for reading this article
to the very end.

See you later.

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