倉重英樹氏に学ぶ「未来への向き合い方」

先日、半年ぶりに株式会社シグマクシスの創業者であり会長の倉重さんとお会いする機会がございました。

倉重英樹と言えば、コンサル業界で知らない人はいない凄い方なのですが、縁あって知り合うことが出来、度々お会いしては様々な教えを受けています。

倉重さんの経歴を調べれば、その凄さは誰でも知ることが出来、とても近寄れない雲の上の存在なのですが、私が知る倉重さんは、いつも少年のように夢を語り、常に挑戦し続けようとする意欲に満ちて輝いています。

インタビュー時の写真

今回も、親友の齋藤政久と三人で食事しながらお話をさせて頂いた、というか学ばせて頂いたのですが、今の日本について国際関係における歴史から未来のあり方までを熱く語ってくださって、もう刺激受けまくりの時間を過ごさせて頂きました。

その中で、特に心に響いたのが、倉重さんが持つ「人の可能性」や「世の中（ビジネスを含む）に及ぼす影響力」についての考え方でした。とりわけ若い人たちの持つ可能性、未来を拓いていく新しい視点や考え方の重要性とその価値の大きさを強調されていました。シグマクシスの従業員の平均年齢は３５歳ということで、新たな時代に向けた若い力への信頼と期待の大きさを感じました。

これからの未来の社会を創っていく若い方々には、その可能性をめいいっぱい輝かせて欲しいですね。そして、縁あってシグマクシスに出会えた皆さんには、倉重さんが身近にいらっしゃるうちに、積極的に学び、さらに自らの視座を高め新たな風を世界中に吹かせていって欲しいと思います。

私自身は、倉重さんの会社に勤めたことはないので、まるっきりの部外者です。それでも、親友の齋藤政久や西村明子という、まさに愛弟子倉重チルドレンを通じて倉重さんとお知り合いになってからは、私自身も弟子の一人だと勝手に思いながらいつも学ばせてもらっています。

最初の関わりは、20年以上前に倉重さんが社長をされていた某ﾃﾚｺﾑ社の頃にコヴィー博士の有名な研修を担当させて頂いたことに始まりますが、実際にお会いして親しくお話し出来るようになったのは、某社で、プロジェクトマネジメントのリーダーシップ研修を担当していた頃からになります。20年前くらいになりますでしょうか。その頃、研修用のビデオを作成するために倉重さんへのインタビュー（上記写真）を担当したのがきっかけでメンターのように色々と教えていただくことになりました。

それ以来、たくさんの励ましと学びをいただいて今日まで歩んで来ました。本当に感謝しかありません。

倉重さんからの今年の年賀のメッセージには、

新年おめでとうございます。

過去には「思い出」と「悔恨」

現在には「喜び」と「悲しみ」

未来には「夢」と「不安」がある。

「想い出・喜び・夢」で過ごせる毎日でありたいものです。

未来（夢）を語り合いましょう。

混沌とする昨今の世界情勢の中で、先の見えない不安から未来への希望を失いそうになったり、如何ともし難い怒りや諦め感に苛まれている方もいらっしゃるのではないでしょうか。

繰り返される乱暴な世界のあり方に、私自身「何をやらかしてるんだ」という苛立ちと呆れで、ネガティブ思考の沼にはまりそうになることがあります。世界のトップリーダーの役割を担う方々の横暴が、様々なところで行われている結果、世界中の人々が普通の暮らしすら出来ないような状況に追い込まれる。

30年近くリーダー育成と研究に携わってきた人間として、世の中が選ぶリーダーの姿と自分自身が描いてきたリーダー像のあまりの乖離に、自分自身が間違っているのだろうかと何度も何度も自問自答しながら、苦悩する日々を過ごしています。

そんな中でも、常にプラスの未来、光ある未来に向けて何をどうすれば良いのかを考え熱く語る倉重さんは、現状の混乱に飲み込まれず、高い視座から俯瞰的に全体を把握する能力に長けたリーダーだなと思います。そこには社会や人々に対する愛情があるし、良い方向に向かって世界が動いて欲しいという思いがいつもあるように感じます。

夢ある未来、愛ある未来が訪れるよう、私自身何が出来るのか前向きに考えて行動していきたいと思います。そして、世界中が平和であるように、また影響力あるリーダーの皆様がより良い判断をし愛ある行動が出来るよう、心から祈りたいと思います。

こんな時こそ下を向かず、元気を出して生きていきましょうね。

• “Embrace the Future” Learned from Hideki Kurashige

  
  

  Recently, I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Hideki Kurashige, the founder and chairman of Sigmaxyz Inc., again after six months.

  
  

  Hideki Kurashige is someone whose name is known by virtually everyone in the consulting industry. Through a fortunate connection, I came to know him, and since then, I have had the privilege of meeting him from time to time and learning from his wisdom.

  
  

  Anyone who looks into his career can easily recognize how extraordinary he is—someone who might seem far beyond reach. Yet, the Kurashige-san I know is someone who speaks about his dreams with the excitement of a young boy and shines with an unwavering desire to keep challenging himself.

  
  

  (Photo from the interview)

  
  

  This time as well, I had the opportunity—together with my close friend Masahisa Saito—to share a meal and conversation with him, or rather, to learn from him. He spoke passionately about Japan today, from the historical context of international relations to perspectives on the future. It was an incredibly stimulating and inspiring experience.

  
  

  What resonated most deeply with me was his perspective on the “potential of people” and the “impact individuals can have on the world, including in business.” In particular, he emphasized the immense value and importance of the younger generation—their potential, their fresh perspectives, and their role in shaping the future.

  At Sigmaxyz, the average age of employees is 35. This reflects a strong sense of trust in and expectation for the younger generation as drivers of a new era. 

  
  

  I sincerely hope that young people, who will shape the future of our society, will fully embrace and let their potential shine.  And for those who have, by chance or destiny, joined Sigmaxyz, I hope they will actively learn while Kurashige-san is still close at hand—elevating their perspectives and spreading new winds of change across the world.

  
  

  As for myself, I have never worked at his company and am, in every sense, an outsider. However, through my close friends Masahisa Saito and Akiko Nishimura—true “Kurashige disciples”—I came to know him. Since then, I have come to think of myself, in my own way, as one of his students, always learning from him with gratitude.

  
  

  My first connection with Mr. Kurashige goes back about more than twenty years, when I had the opportunity to deliver Dr. Covey’s well-known training program at a company where Mr. Kurashige was serving as president. However, it was later, at another company where I was conducting leadership training in project management, that we were actually able to meet in person and begin speaking more closely and personally.

  
  

  That was probably around twenty years ago. At that time, I had the opportunity to interview Mr. Kurashige for a training video we were producing (as shown in the photo above), and that became the starting point of a relationship in which he has taught and guided me in many ways, almost like a mentor.

  
  

  Since then, I have continued my journey with his encouragement and wisdom. I feel nothing but deep gratitude.

  
  

  In his New Year’s message this year, he shared the following words:

  
  

  Happy New Year.

  
  

  In the past, there are memories and regrets.
  In the present, there are joy and sorrow.
  In the future, there are dreams and uncertainties.

  
  

  Let us strive to spend our days filled with
  memories, joy, and dreams.

  
  

  Let us talk about the future—about our dreams.

  
  

  In today’s increasingly chaotic global situation, some people may find themselves losing hope for the future due to uncertainty or feeling trapped in frustration and helplessness.

  
  

  As I witness the repeated disorder and aggression in the world, I sometimes feel irritation and disbelief—thinking, “What are we doing?”—and find myself on the verge of falling into a spiral of negative thoughts.

  When those who hold positions of global leadership act recklessly or selfishly, people around the world are pushed into situations where even ordinary life becomes difficult.

  
  

  Having spent nearly 30 years in leadership development and research, I often struggle with the stark gap between the leaders society chooses and the kind of leadership I have envisioned. I repeatedly question myself, wondering if I have been wrong, and spend days in deep reflection.

  
  

  Even in such circumstances, Kurashige-san continues to think deeply and speak passionately about what we can do to move toward a positive and hopeful future. He is a leader who is not consumed by the chaos of the present but instead has the ability to grasp the whole picture from a higher perspective.

  At the core of his leadership, I feel a deep love for people and society, along with a sincere desire to see the world move in a better direction.

  
  

  As for myself, I want to continue thinking positively about what I can do to help create a future filled with dreams and compassion—and to take action. I also sincerely pray for peace throughout the world, and for leaders with great influence to make better decisions and act with love.

  
  

  Especially in times like these, let us not look down, but lift our heads, stay strong, and move forward with energy and hope.

  
  

  Satoshi Shinzato