The secret of Moriyasu Japan's strength: Teachings of follower-type leadership

The Japanese national soccer team is currently in a fierce battle at the North and Central America World Cup, preparing for a decisive battle against the mighty Brazil.

The strength of Moriyasu Japan, which continues to compete toughly against the world, lies in the often-overlooked lessons that are common to modern organizational and leadership theories.

How should managers lead their subordinates who are better than themselves? The hint lies in director Hajime Moriyasu's strategic "follower-type leadership."

“Supporting power” seen from over 20 years of experience

During his playing days, Moriyasu played the role of supporting the team in the shadow of players hailed as geniuses such as Ruy Ramos.

After turning into a coach, he spent a total of eight years as a coach in the training and top teams in Hiroshima and Niigata, and continued to support the team from behind the scenes as coach Akira Nishino's right-hand man at the Russia World Cup.

If you compare Moriyasu with other great generals of the past, such as Takeshi Okada, who made it to the World Cup finals for the first time in history, and Akira Nishino, who won a total of 270 games as a manager in the J1 League, Moriyasu's time as an "adjutant" is by far the longest. Coach Moriyasu's experience may be rooted in his ``follower-style leadership,'' which involves being close to the players while drawing out their independence.