Craftsman Spirit

"30 Tips for Craftsmen" condenses etiquette, gratitude, respect, care, modesty... These are the most important things in life and the basis of education, which are consistent with the "benevolence and righteousness" of traditional Chinese culture. Courtesy, wisdom, trust, gentleness, courtesy, frugality and concessions" are in the same line and have far-reaching influence.

1. Before entering the workplace, you must first learn to say hello.

The quality of the first impression left is related to the greeting at the moment of meeting. A person who can greet people enthusiastically will also be able to communicate with others enthusiastically, thereby gaining the favor of customers. Therefore, the first step to becoming a first-class craftsman is to greet people loudly and energetically to win the favor of customers. It doesn't matter if you don't do it well at first. Practice it with all your strength for a month until you can greet customers enthusiastically and confidently.

2. Before entering the contact place, you must first learn to contact, report, and negotiate

"Contact, report, and negotiate" are the basic behavioral requirements that a craftsman should have, which helps You clarify responsibilities, identify problems, and find solutions.

When you are not sure about a problem, you can ask your senior brother or master for advice. This is called liaison; tell the master the problem you encountered, and then ask the master "What do you think we should do about this matter?" , this is called a report; discussing with customers how to solve the problem is called negotiation. Liaison, reporting, and negotiation can help you clarify responsibilities, identify problems, and find solutions. This is not simply training yourself, but clarifying how to work in a team.

3. Before entering the workplace, you must be a cheerful person

The workplace experience cannot be smooth sailing. You may be scolded and criticized. If you cannot control your emotions, your work will be difficult. Efficiency will inevitably be affected. Therefore, keep your mind simple and cheerful, don't look forward and backward, try to let go of your self-esteem and reserve, let yourself "become stupid" for once, listen to others speak, watch others do things, cultivate your own insensitivity and become less sensitive, so that we can Respond to others with a grateful heart and a smile.

4. Before entering the workplace, you must become a person who will not make the people around you anxious

Akiyama Toshiki said: "Those who make the people around them anxious, Most people are self-centered and do not consider other people’s feelings. People who always prioritize their own interests and never consider other people’s perspectives are unlikely to care about customers. ”

Craftsmen make products for customers. Only by considering issues from the customer's perspective and taking action can they improve their skills and character. Thinking of others may be tiring, but as long as we get used to it, this inner joy will be contagious to ourselves.

5. Before entering the workplace, you must be able to understand others correctly.

If a craftsman does not understand the customer's requirements and acts rashly, he will inevitably get twice the result with half the effort. Some people like to interrupt others and make self-righteous conclusions. They say "I know" before the other person has finished speaking, often misinterpreting the customer's intentions. If a craftsman clearly understands the customer's needs and knows how to surprise them, the result will definitely be completely different.

It is the responsibility of first-class craftsmen to provide customers with high-quality products that exceed expectations. To achieve this goal, you must develop the habit of listening to others correctly.

6. Before entering the workplace, you must first be an amiable and easy-to-get-together person

?If you were given a choice, would you rather be served by someone with a friendly attitude or someone with a bad attitude? ? If you were your boss, would you rather bring an affable person or a tense-looking person to various occasions? The answer is self-evident!

Face customers with a cordial attitude. If they are satisfied, they will naturally be willing to continue your service. Similarly, if you treat your work partners with a cordial attitude, everyone's cohesion will be improved and great results can be achieved in a short period of time. In this way, work can naturally be continuously improved.

7. Before entering the workplace, you must become a responsible person

?A responsible person is not only responsible for himself, his parents, his peers, and his customers, but also It will also be socially responsible. This sense of responsibility allows us to concentrate on our work and improve our skills. Be persistent in the face of difficulties and take the initiative to face problems when encountering them.

Responsible behavior means that if a problem occurs, you will try to shoulder your responsibilities, but you will not be too pushy. If everyone can work out of social responsibility, no matter what kind of work you do, you will enjoy it extraordinarily.

8. Before entering the workplace, you must become a person who can respond easily

When talking to others, you need to respond clearly, such as "yes" and "ok" . You know, people in Japan answer "yes" very decisively, and they rarely say "almost" or "let's make do." A good response can also make the other party more willing to communicate with you further and clearly state his needs, so as to avoid mistakes.

9. Before entering the workplace, you must become a person who can consider others.

Without caring for others, you cannot become a good craftsman. The so-called "first-class craftsman" is one who can put himself in the other person's shoes no matter what the occasion. A kind-hearted person who can put himself in others' shoes and consider others at all times will surely be able to touch people's hearts with his work.

10. Before entering the workplace, you must become a "nosy" person

"Nosy" here is not a derogatory term, it means being good for the other person, Even if you offend someone, say what you need to say. Everyone has abilities, but some people can’t develop their abilities without someone repeatedly being “nosy” and reprimanding them. It takes much more effort and courage to mind other people's "business" than it does to the person being managed. If you don't keep an eye on the other person, it will be difficult to ensure that "nosy" is managed appropriately, so it takes time. If you can look at other people's "nosy" with gratitude, such people can grow.

Akiyama Toshiki himself is a rather "nosy" person. He has to take care of his apprentice's sitting posture; he also has to take care of his apprentice's bad eating habits. He believes that being "nosy" is not a bad thing, but "everyone sweeps the snow in front of their own door and doesn't care about the frost on other people's tiles" is terrible. Have you ever heard the saying "This matter is not my business, you go find ***"? There must be. If a customer is perfunctory, he will definitely be furious and think that the other party is taking advantage of the situation. If he wants to recover, it will be even more difficult.

There are always some gray areas in the company with unclear boundaries. If someone can "mind their own business", do more or ask more questions, the work will immediately go much smoother, and there may even be unexpected gains.

People who are "nosy" have a heart of "doing things better", and will naturally grow faster and gain more.

Let me share a little nosy story: A friend is an excellent insurance salesman, and his performance ranks first in the province, which is quite impressive. She once saw a customer cursing in the lobby when she got off work: "You insurance companies are all liars..." This actually had nothing to do with her, but she still took the initiative to ask: "Sir, are you dissatisfied with anything? You can Tell me." The customer said angrily: "What do you do?" She said: "I am from the company you are scolding. I am not the leader, but I want you to know that we are not liars, so take a look. Can you help me solve the problem?" Upon hearing this, the customer's athlete's foot eased. Then, she helped the client resolve the claim issue. Unexpectedly, a few days later, the customer found her and actually purchased an insurance policy worth 1 million yuan.

11. Before entering the workplace, you must become a persistent person

The so-called "persistence" means "not giving up" on things, trying again and again, and striving to be "better". Until it's ready. If we want to achieve first-class work standards, we need to persevere in learning from our bosses or seniors. If people are not satisfied with the status quo and continue to pursue higher realms, they can explore their infinite potential and achieve "first-class" status.

?Case: During the Bon Festival, Akiyama Toshiki’s disciples all go home.

Akiyama Toshiki was the only one left in the huge factory. He collected the wood and began to use his creativity. Once he built a table that no one had ever seen before. When the apprentices came back, they were very surprised. Everyone was guessing what kind of craftsmanship was used. It was so strange. Therefore, persistence means continuous improvement and finding ways to do things better.

12. Before entering the workplace, you must become a person with a sense of time.

A person who is late at will or makes various excuses to be late will definitely not become an excellent craftsman. People with a sense of time will keep their promises, arrange their time reasonably, and achieve requirements within the agreed time. This is also respect for others. Those who always care about time must also be those who walk ahead. If a person learns twice as fast, he or she can gain two years of growth in one year.

If we want to "learn from work", we must go all out in everything and persist to the end, so that we can become first-class talents. And those who value time are always ready to work.

13. Before entering the workplace, you must be a person who has tools ready at all times.

If the tools are neatly and perfectly equipped, you can start working immediately, thereby improving work efficiency. In addition, tools are good partners who help us live and work, and tidying up is a way to express gratitude to them and your sincerity. Chinese Neo-Confucianism of the Song and Ming Dynasties emphasized the word "sincerity", which means are you sincere with a chisel or hammer? When you can treat these tools like friends, you have achieved "knowledge through investigation" and also show your work attitude.

14. Before entering the workplace, you must become a person who is good at cleaning.

Cleaning up is the last step of the work, which directly affects the next work, so it is very important. . This is not just for the convenience of finding things, it also represents an attitude. For example, a barber's tool kit, a doctor's surgical instruments, and a repairman's tool box. Customers will use this to evaluate whether you are professional.

If we do our work with gratitude, it can also cultivate our serious and responsible attitude towards life and work without arrogance or impatience.

15. Before entering the workplace, you must become a person who understands your own position

"Understanding your own position" means having an accurate positioning of yourself at work, and singing whatever role you play. What a play. The master's position is like that of a general on the battlefield, giving orders and coordinating the overall situation. The position of the craftsman is to carry out the instructions of his superiors quickly and correctly. There are many people's positions. Only by constantly thinking about your own position can you understand the other party's wishes, understand what you should do, and then take action.

"The Analects of Confucius" records that Zilu said: "If the king of Wei waits for his son to take charge of the government, the son will be the first to ridicule him?" Confucius said: "The name must be corrected!" Zilu said: "That's right, the son of Zizhi Confucius said, "If a gentleman doesn't know what he is doing, if his words are not correct, his words will not go well; if his words are not right, his actions will not be successful..." Confucius is going to When Wei Guo was in charge, Zilu asked him what he should do first. Confucius said that the name must be rectified first, but Zilu felt that this was not necessary. Confucius said that if the name is not correct, the words will not be obeyed; if the words are not obeyed, it will be difficult to implement the decree. So we first need to figure out where we stand, understand our responsibilities, and then fulfill them with due diligence.

16. Before entering the workplace, you must become a person who can think positively

When Akiyama Toshiki was a child, he was poor in studies and sports, and was good at almost nothing. He started working as an apprentice at the age of 16. The reason why he became one of the most famous craftsmen in Japan is because he believed that "I am born with talents that will be useful", persisted in learning, and never devalued himself.

We will encounter various difficulties in the journey of life. No matter what happens, we should think of how difficult it is to be born into this world. Each person going back 10 generations to about 300 years ago will have 1024 ancestors. If any of them were missing, they would not be who they are now. So we are born with such lucky genes and what a unique existence we are. We must move forward with the ability to think positively.

We must believe that those difficulties arise as challenges to improve our personal abilities.

In other words, everyone living today carries genes that determine luck and talent. Therefore, if you want to maximize your potential, you must maintain a cheerful, cheerful and forward-looking attitude at all times, so that you can continue to grow.

17. Before entering the workplace, you must become a grateful person

Being grateful is the foundation of a craftsman. Gratitude can help us become humble even when we encounter setbacks. No matter whether the final development is good or bad, a person who can be grateful for everything must be a person who can continue to grow.

Thank others and say it loudly, otherwise the other person will not know. Thank your parents, thank your children, thank your colleagues, thank your partners... If you say thank you, the people around you will feel warm. Only by knowing how to be grateful can your personality grow.

18. Before entering the workplace, you must become a person who pays attention to appearance

Everyone among the craftsmen and students of "Akiyama Woodworking" Wearing uniform work clothes, with the name of his workshop and name embroidered on the chest. Every time they visit a client, they must prepare a pair of white socks and put them on when entering the door. White socks are rarely worn in business situations because they are not easy to match with clothes, but why do they choose white socks? Because of safety. White socks are eye-catching and can help you distinguish where your feet are standing and avoid injuries caused by stepping on foreign objects. In addition, white also represents cleanliness and confidence. White is also used on tabletops in high-end restaurants and bed sheets in high-end hotels.

Paying attention to appearance and appearance is the most basic etiquette for people in society. As a craftsman, it is very important to make yourself clean and tidy from beginning to end before going to the workplace. This not only represents respect for others, but also essentially respect for yourself.

19. Before entering the workplace, you must be a helpful person

The so-called "helping others" means taking action in advance to provide what the other person needs after seeing what the other person needs. help. Taking action when others ask you to do so is the worst policy; doing what others do is the middle policy; being able to realize and take action before others ask you to do so is the best policy.

"Helping others" is to make the work go smoothly. And we have to get ahead of customers, promptly and quickly.

20. Before entering the workplace, you must become a person who is proficient in using tools

If you can use tools proficiently to the point where you can use your fingers like an arm, then excellent works will be just around the corner. But to achieve the state of good use of tools, you need to keep training and constantly break through your comfort zone.

21. Before entering the workplace, you must be someone who can introduce yourself well

The so-called self-introduction means that you can state your goals and vision at the same time when introducing yourself. Even values.

22. Before entering the workplace, you must become a person who can be "proud"

For a craftsman, it is important to work with a sense of honor. Make your customers feel your joy and pride though by using simple and understandable language. For example, when delivering goods to customers, you can brag about the furniture you made. For example: the furniture we make is made of XX wood produced in XX local area. In order to coordinate the furniture with the display space, we spend a lot of thought. When you share your pride with everyone, your work will gain the respect of others.

23. Before entering the workplace, you must be a person who can express your opinions well

Akiyama Toshiki’s factory has an open atmosphere. Everyone often discusses work and everyone will share their own opinions. Dunfa: "If it were me, I would..." Regarding the problems encountered, everyone discussed and solved them together.

It should be noted that "expressing opinions well" does not mean "pointing fingers", but putting forward constructive opinions.

What is constructive advice? When you turn on the GPS navigation, you can feel that they are all constructive suggestions: "Please turn right ahead", "Please turn around ahead", "You have deviated, re-plan the route, please turn around 200 meters ahead"... It will always help you. Make your next important decision.

Alibaba’s Human Resources Director once said this in a speech: “My most important job at Alibaba is that when Jack Ma makes any decision, I ensure that the decision is more correct. "The CEO's decision-making is not always right. Discussions and suggestions are all work before the decision is made. Once a decision is made, she does not object or question it, but strives to make the matter develop in a more correct direction. This is constructive work. At work, only by speaking out your opinions candidly and sharing your thoughts with others can you continue to grow.

24. Before entering the workplace, you must become a diligent letter writer

Akiyama Toki will write a letter to each customer after serving him, and often communicates with him. Write letters to old customers to maintain communication. Writing letters is a way to make people feel good.

Words of gratitude can make the other person feel better and gain their favor. We only need to write with a serious attitude, without the need for gorgeous words or red tape formats. Write what you want to say and let the words carry your true emotions. This is more touching than the same greetings.

25. Before entering the workplace, you must be someone who is willing to clean the toilet

This rule sounds confusing. Toshiki Akiyama explains it this way: "The toilet and the mind are The things we use every day will definitely lead to trouble if they are not kept clean. "People in the world only know that cleanliness comes from dirty toilets, but they don't know that cleanliness can come from filthy smells, and can also be achieved by cleaning the dirtiest places. Train your mind. Only with a beautiful mind can you make beautiful things.

26. Before entering the workplace, you must become a good phone caller

An excellent salesperson in the United States once said: "Whether you smile on the other end of the phone will determine whether the other person is smiling." You can hear it. "Human hearing is very sensitive. Even if you only listen to the sound, you can know whether the other person is serious or smiling. In addition, it needs to be concise, easy to understand, polite and thoughtful, avoid using vague words, and answers must be specific.

27. Before entering the workplace, you must be a fast eater

Sony once had a strange recruiting trick, which was to gather the newcomers who came to apply for a meal in the lobby, and the boss was on the second floor. Lou secretly observed that anyone who eats slowly will be eliminated directly and will not be allowed to enter the next round of testing. This is simply unbelievable, because from a health perspective, you should chew your meals slowly. However, the work of Japanese craftsmen often requires collective cooperation, so they must work and eat together. As long as one person is slow to eat, it will affect the work of everyone. Therefore, the spirit of craftsmanship advocates "you must be a fast eater", which is also a respect for others.

28. Before entering the workplace, you must be a prudent person with money.

Have you ever discovered that the places with the most active innovation are often the places with the poorest resources? For example, Japan, which we call a "small land", is not rich in land resources and mineral resources. Poor people want to change, and they spend a lot of energy on cloud improvement, so they are also one of the most active countries in innovation in the world.

Spending too much money means that resources are too abundant, which makes you forget to improve your craftsmanship. Therefore, craftsmen must be prudent in spending money.

Toshiki Akiyama said: "What you learn through sweating while you are young will become a lifetime wealth." In other words, acquiring a skill is like having a lot of money. If you understand this truth, you will understand How to spend money to grow yourself. If you want to become a first-class craftsman, you must go all out for training, and no matter how hard it is, you must persist to the end. You must know that your current efforts can help you acquire skills that you will use throughout your life, so this is also an investment in your future.

29. Before entering the workplace, you must become someone who “knows how to plan”

This is a requirement with industry characteristics, because Akiyama Toshiki believes that first-class craftsmen It is necessary to quickly calculate the materials, time, labor, etc. required for the product. In addition, "knowing how to take an abacus" means being able to not give up when faced with difficulties, having nimble fingers, strong concentration, and being able to keep both the body and brain operating at full speed, etc. In other words, this person also masters the correctness, patience, meticulousness and other abilities necessary for a first-class craftsman, so he can become an excellent craftsman who can make correct judgments in an instant and has strong understanding.

30. Before entering the workplace, you must be someone who can write a brief work report

Each apprentice of "Akiyama Woodworking" will be given a large sketchbook, and they will write it after every day's training. Need to write a day's work report. Reports need to record successes as well as failures. Learn why you failed by having your seniors interrogate and write comments. It takes about a month or two to save up a notebook and send it back to my parents, asking them to write words of encouragement. Can you imagine how parents feel when they see a whole book of thick notes written by a child who turned out to be not so obedient? Words of encouragement are expected, and the apprentices are expected to read them aloud during morning meetings. A child cannot go home to see his parents for more than half a year. They almost cry and read at the same time. They shoulder the expectations of their parents and are grateful to their parents. How can they not be diligent! "Craftsman spirit" applies to practitioners in various industries. No matter which industry you are in, if you want to become a first-class talent, you need to unleash your potential, lay a solid foundation in both mental and physical aspects, accumulate knowledge, and make continuous progress. Learn the spirit of craftsman and move forward courageously in your own workplace.