What do you imagine when you think of a "morning assembly"?
When we think of childhood, we might stand on the playground and listen to the principal speak, or as adults, we might listen to a speech from our boss...most people probably imagine something a bit formal and stiff, right?
Monosus has been holding daily morning meetings for over six and a half years now.
After doing it for a long time, you no longer have to wonder why we hold morning assemblies or why we have them in this style, but this morning assembly didn't start off smoothly either.
This time, we will introduce Monosus' morning assembly, which began after many twists and turns, including an interview with the company's president, Hayashi.
"I'd like to hold a morning meeting." "I'm not really into that sort of thing..."
"I want to hold a morning meeting."
The first person to say it was our CEO, Hayashi. It was a proposal made at a leaders' meeting where important decisions were being made at the time.
The reason given was that they wanted to create "loose rules."
At first, it was just a group of adults with work experience, so there was no need to manage them with rules, but gradually people with little work experience started to join, and things started to bother them. If things continued like this, they would just become a group with poor management...
"There were a lot of things I wanted to say, but I thought that saying them verbally wouldn't do any good. That being said, I didn't want to make strict company rules. I wanted to create a rhythm, although it was relatively relaxed, like having to come to work at 10 o'clock."
With this in mind, the leaders all agreed that
"That's something I don't really want to do..."
So I decided to find out thoroughly why he didn't want to do it.
The answers that came out were, "I don't like military style," "I don't like shouting," "I don't like being forced to be hyper," "I don't want to do things like radio exercises," "I don't like anything ritualistic," "It doesn't seem like Monosus," and so on.
Hayashi says it was like a "residential opposition movement."
"A laundry list of reasons why I didn't want to do it was made, and I promised myself I wouldn't do any of them.
At that time, one of the leaders suggested, "By the way, I've heard that there is a company that expresses gratitude at morning meetings. Does that sound like a good idea?"
There were no particular objections from the other leaders, so we decided to go ahead with it. From there, things just got more and more decided."
Monosus' morning assembly format
After carefully avoiding anything that "doesn't sit well with us," Monosus' morning assembly finally begins.
The process is as follows:
~Monosus morning assembly (about 10 minutes)~
1. Starts at exactly 10:00. *If you are even 1 second late, you will not be allowed in.
The event started with a "Good morning" from the host (everyone takes turns being the host each day).
2. Close your eyes and visualize your success and work plan for the day for 30 seconds. (30 seconds)
3. Those who have previous day's delivery results or order reports should raise their hands and make a presentation. (1-2 minutes)
4. "Thank you report" from the moderator. Choose one person you want to thank and express your feelings. (3 minutes)
5. Kobanashi by executives or leaders (3 minutes)
6. Other contact matters (attendance contact, company cafeteria menu announcements, contact regarding submissions, etc.)
--
The highlight, of course, was the "Thank You Message" from the host of the day.
For example, there is this episode.
"I was really grateful that you helped me out when I was having trouble with a delivery."
"Y-Y's words really put me at ease."
"This is the first time I've worked with you, and I'm finding you very stimulating."
"You're working so hard, it's encouraging."
Although it may be a little embarrassing, the staff member feels a special joy when they receive thanks. We, the listeners, also feel a warmth in our hearts as we listen to the stories of "thank you." This time could be considered a morning supplement for the company.
Also, since thanking someone is like introducing yourself to someone else, it provides an opportunity to get to know the personalities of staff members you don't work with and to discover new charms in them.
The "Is this morning meeting okay?" movement
Morning assemblies were started with the utmost importance placed on "Monosus-ness." After six and a half years of implementation, they have become second nature and there are hardly any opportunities to debate whether morning assemblies are good or bad.
Lin seems to feel a little uneasy about this situation.
"For example, events and company trips have become part of the company's 'culture.' I think culture has producers and consumers, but the boundary between the two is quite subtle.
I'm currently in the process of planning a company trip with the organizers, which is on the production side.
So who is opposed to the event? If someone says, "I don't want to do it because I don't like this," the organizer will fight. They will come up with creative solutions and rack their brains. In that sense, the people who say, "I don't want to do it," are actually producers. There should be both pros and cons.
But now, I think some of the reactions to that kind of "culture" are fading, and the number of consumers (across Monosus) is increasing.
In that sense, morning assemblies these days have felt a bit strange.
I feel like many of the people who attend morning assemblies and listen to talks are not even consuming, or rather, are indifferent. The overall number of people has increased, and the number of times I have to be the moderator has decreased, so it seems like we are in a transitional period somehow.
"I think a community is created when three or more people gather together, but when there are 70 to 80 people (the number of members of Monosus), it's already a great community. There's a movement there that says 'change is inevitable.'
I think it's very important to sense that movement and take action.
I feel like there is a movement in the company right now that is like, "Is this morning meeting really okay?" (laughs)
But there aren't that many people who feel that way.
Or even if they do, they don't say it or take any action.
People who give critical opinions are actually very important.
In a sense, I think there is a part of people who are sensing this movement and saying, "The way things are now is no good."
Well, I feel like I need to tell them to do something instead of just complaining.
That's why I feel uncomfortable with the current situation where nothing is being confirmed or denied.
It feels like nobody is producing it and nobody is consuming it..."
What are morning assemblies like in the future?
When we first started holding morning assemblies, we had around 20 staff members, but now we have over 70. The role of MC rotated monthly, but now it happens about once every three months. Opportunities to be the "producer" (host) of morning assemblies are also decreasing.
It is undeniable that there is a lack of consistency in the quality of morning assemblies, with small rules no longer being followed and the level of precision in presentations varying from person to person.
Just the other day, the topic of "work style" came up on the agenda at a meeting of the design department I belong to.
It started with, "Even though the start time of work is clearly set, the end time is a bit vague. Isn't it important to work while being conscious of the finish time?" and the conversation unintentionally extended to morning meetings.
"With more people attending morning assemblies, it seems like they've become less meaningful. Maybe it would be better to hold them on a departmental level."
"The 'Thank You Report' has a narrow scope of expression. It would be better to have a leader's 'Quote of the Day', where they can freely express their daily observations, thoughts, and things they want everyone to hear, as a place to promote themselves."
"Let's change the name to 'morning assembly'"
Opinions were flying around, such as:
It's only a 10-minute morning meeting, but if there are 70 people, that's 10 minutes x 70 people = 700 minutes. When you think about it that way, it's actually a very precious time. It can also be said to be a "common" time where the time of the Monosus community and the time of each participant intersect.
"Common" time does not belong to any particular person, but to everyone.
Whether it will be a good time for you or not will depend on each person's involvement, creativity, and enjoyment.
What kind of morning assembly can we hold that is suited to the ever-changing shape of Monosus today?
Perhaps it is time to reconsider the time we spend together.
NAKANIWA Keiko