The Sasuga! Podcast

Helen Iwata
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How do you communicate with confidence in global business? What does it take to lead effectively across cultures? Hosted by Helen Iwata — UK-born bilingual leadership and communication coach based in Tokyo — the Sasuga! Podcast helps business professionals strengthen their English communication and leadership skills in international settings. With 35 years of experience in Japan, including Manager of Client Communications at McKinsey & Company, Helen brings you real stories and practical techniques you can apply immediately. Designed for internationally-minded professionals, especially busy Japanese women, working in a global business environment. If you want to communicate more effectively, lead with confidence, and grow your impact, this podcast is for you.

  1. Jun 29

    Workplace Conflict: Why Your Natural Response May Be Causing Unnecessary Stress

    Do you ever have disagreements at work? Different ideas about a project, competing priorities, or a personality clash? Workplace conflict is everywhere—sometimes obvious, sometimes hidden. Either way, it can lead to a buildup of frustration and stress if it's not addressed. In this episode, Helen Iwata—bilingual Brit, leadership and communication coach, and author of 英語の仕事術—shares five practical strategies for handling workplace conflict, inspired by the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument. This is some of the most popular content she delivers in corporate workshops in Japan. In this episode, you'll discover ➜ The 3 reasons workplace conflict is increasing and needs to be addressed ➜ How to recognize your "default" response to conflict and whether it's the best approach ➜ The conflict strategy many people overuse (and why it can lead to burnout) ➜ When to compromise (and when not to) Episode 224 is the fifth and final episode in a special 5-part series celebrating the 10th anniversary of Helen's book 英語の仕事術 on essential communication skills for global business, published with Shogakukan.   🇬🇧 READ ON THE SASUGA! BLOG sasugacommunications.com/workplace-conflict-why-your-natural-response-may-be-causing-unnecessary-stress   🇯🇵 さすが！ブログで読む sasugacommunications.com/ja/workplace-conflict-why-your-natural-response-may-be-causing-unnecessary-stress   📩 Get your twice-monthly burst of inspiration and insights to help you lead and communicate with confidence in global business—the SASUGA! TIPS FOR YOU newsletter: sasugacommunications.com/subscribe   FOLLOW HELEN ON LINKEDIN heleniwata   FOLLOW HELEN ON INSTAGRAM heleniwata

  2. Jun 15

    Wasting Time In Meetings? Here's Exactly How You Can Change That

    What do you find most frustrating about meetings? Too many of them? They go off topic? It's difficult to reach decisions? Some people talk too much? Others never say a word? Did you know that in 2024, research by Asana found that workers in Japan lose an average of 8.3 hours a week to unproductive meetings? That's more than a full working day, every single week. In this episode, Helen Iwata—bilingual Brit, leadership and communication coach, and author of 英語の仕事術—delivers a mini masterclass of facilitation techniques to help you solve whatever problems you face in your meetings. In this episode, you'll discover:  ➜ What most people get wrong when they make an agenda—and why it wastes time ➜ The 6 roles you need for effective meetings, no matter how many are in the room ➜ How to make it safe (and encouraged) to have a different opinion in Japan ➜ The single mistake that makes it hard to reach a group decision (and how to avoid it) This is Episode 223 and the third in a special 5-part series celebrating the 10th anniversary of Helen's book 英語の仕事術, published with Shogakukan.   🇬🇧 READ ON THE SASUGA! BLOG sasugacommunications.com/wasting-time-in-meetings-heres-exactly-how-you-can-change-that   🇯🇵 さすが！ブログで読む sasugacommunications.com/ja/wasting-time-in-meetings-heres-exactly-how-you-can-change-that   🎁 Free resource mentioned in this episode:  25 QUESTIONS FOR MORE PRODUCTIVE MEETINGS sasugacommunications.com/25questions 📩 Get your twice-monthly burst of inspiration and insights to help you lead and communicate with confidence in global business—the SASUGA! TIPS FOR YOU newsletter: sasugacommunications.com/subscribe   FOLLOW HELEN ON LINKEDIN heleniwata   FOLLOW HELEN ON INSTAGRAM heleniwata

  3. May 18

    Four Online Meeting Mistakes That Damage Your Credibility

    "Have you ever been in an online meeting and noticed someone's forehead is all you can see? Or they seem to be looking at something in the corner of the room? Or their face is so close, you can practically count their pores? Here's the thing—many business professionals want to make a good impression to colleagues, clients, or other key stakeholders, but they completely forget about how they come across on screen. Just because you're not in the same room as the others... doesn't mean they can't see you." In this episode, Helen Iwata—bilingual Brit, leadership and communication coach, and author of 英語の仕事術—shares four "mottainai" moments that happen in online meetings and presentations every single day—moments that could be costing you your credibility, your confidence, and the trust of the people you most want to impress. In this episode, you'll discover ➜ How one tweak to your camera angle immediately changes how confident you look   ➜ Why the most powerful thing you can do on a video call has nothing to do with what you say  ➜ The built-in tool that's so easy to use when you're presenting slides — but is actually so bad for your audience  ➜ What to do with your hands when speaking online This is Episode 222 and the third in a special 5-part series celebrating the 10th anniversary of Helen's book 英語の仕事術, published with Shogakukan.   Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8gl_FMJmhhI   🇬🇧 READ ON THE SASUGA! BLOG sasugacommunications.com/four-online-meeting-mistakes-that-damage-trust 🇯🇵 さすが！ブログで読む sasugacommunications.com/ja/four-online-meeting-mistakes-that-damage-trust   🎁 Free resource mentioned in this episode: 25 QUESTIONS FOR MORE PRODUCTIVE MEETINGS sasugacommunications.com/25questions    🔗 Technology mentioned in this episode: TONARI tonari.no/   📩 Get practical techniques and inspiration in English and Japanese: SASUGA! TIPS FOR YOU newsletter sasugacommunications.com/subscribe   FOLLOW HELEN ON LINKEDIN: heleniwata FOLLOW HELEN ON INSTAGRAM: heleniwata

  4. May 5

    Episode 221 - The Presentation Skill That Changes Everything at Work

    "Has your mind ever gone blank in a presentation? Or you felt so nervous that you could hardly speak? You're not alone—and it's not a language problem. In 35 years of working with business professionals in Japan, I've found that the biggest challenge isn't vocabulary or grammar. It's knowing how to start strong." In this episode, Helen Iwata—bilingual Brit, leadership and communication coach, and author of 英語の仕事術—shares what actually happens when nerves hit, and a simple structure you can use to start every presentation with clarity and confidence. In this episode, you'll discover ➜ Why nerves are completely normal—and what's happening in your brain  ➜ Why Japanese professionals often lose their global audience early on—and how to avoid it  ➜ The Sasuga! Introduction Structure: five simple elements to start strong every time ➜ How a clear structure builds confidence and trust—in any language This is Episode 221 and the second in a special 5-part series celebrating the 10th anniversary of Helen's book 英語の仕事術, published with Shogakukan. WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOC5pgKby1k   🇬🇧 READ ON THE SASUGA! BLOG https://sasugacommunications.com/how-to-start-any-presentation-with-confidence-even-when-youre-nervous 🇯🇵  さすが！ブログで読む https://sasugacommunications.com/ja/how-to-start-any-presentation-with-confidence-even-when-youre-nervous 🎁 Free resource mentioned in this episode: 25 QUESTIONS FOR MORE PRODUCTIVE MEETINGS sasugacommunications.com/25questions  🎓 Want to go deeper? SPEAK LIKE AN EXPERT ONLINE sasugacommunications.com/expert   📩 Get your twice-monthly burst of inspiration and insights to help you lead and communicate with confidence in global business—the SASUGA! TIPS FOR YOU newsletter: sasugacommunications.com/subscribe   FOLLOW HELEN ON LINKEDIN: heleniwata FOLLOW HELEN ON INSTAGRAM: heleniwata

  5. Apr 21

    Episode 220 - The Listening Skill That Changes Everything

    "If you've ever worked hard to communicate clearly—in English or Japanese—and still walked away from a meeting unsure whether you were truly understood, you're not alone. Many of my clients assume the problem is their English. But in 35 years of working with business professionals in Japan, I've found that the real issue is almost never vocabulary or grammar." In this episode, Helen Iwata—bilingual Brit, leadership and communication coach, and author of 英語の仕事術—explores one of the biggest sources of stress and wasted time in global workplaces: miscommunication. Through personal stories, a surprising exercise involving a pig and Doraemon, and practical techniques you can use straight away, Helen explains why miscommunication happens even when everyone is doing their best—and what to do about it. In this episode, you'll discover ➜ Why hearing and listening are not the same thing ➜ Why real listening is harder than it sounds—and what gets in the way ➜ Why asking questions can feel uncomfortable, especially in a Japanese work environment—and how to move past that ➜ How to use open and closed questions to close the gap between what was said and what was understood This is Episode 220 and the first in a special 5-part series celebrating the 10th anniversary of Helen's book 英語の仕事術, published with Shogakukan. WATCH ON YOUTUBE: youtube.com/watch?v=qIEdz8D8vVQ 🇬🇧  READ ON THE SASUGA! BLOG sasugacommunications.com/listening-skill-that-changes-everything-at-work 🇯🇵  さすが！ブログで読む sasugacommunications.com/ja/listening-skill-that-changes-everything-at-work 🎁 Free resource mentioned in this episode: 25 QUESTIONS FOR MORE PRODUCTIVE MEETINGS sasugacommunications.com/25questions  📩 Get your twice-monthly burst of inspiration and insights to help you lead and communicate with confidence in global business—the SASUGA! TIPS FOR YOU newsletter: sasugacommunications.com/subscribe FOLLOW HELEN ON LINKEDIN: heleniwata FOLLOW HELEN ON INSTAGRAM: heleniwata

  6. 03/26/2023

    Episode 219 - ちょっと一休み | Taking A Break

    空手を始める前の１０代の頃、私は柔道を習っていました。 ある時、男性の対戦相手がマットの上で私に腕緘（うでがらみ）を仕掛けてきました。 普通はここで、降参の合図として指で２回床をたたきます。 でも私はそうしませんでした。屈服したり諦めたりしたくなかったのです。 その結果、私は腕を骨折。でも、当時はそのことがとても誇らしかったのです。 降参や諦めを拒むこのパターンは、私の人生とキャリアの中で何度も繰り返されました。 このような決意をポジティブに捉える人はたくさんいます。 そして実際にそれが助けになる時もあります。  しかし、その意味や価値に時折疑問を持たないまま何かを続けることは、役に立たないばかりか弊害を生むことさえあります。 これが、私が燃え尽き症候群を何度も経験した大きな要因だったと思います。  それが本当にベストなのかを考えずに、何かを続けようと自分を奮い立たせたことはありませんか？ Sasuga! Podcast Episode 219では、次のことについてお話しします： ポッドキャストを休止する理由 今後の予定 誰よりも早く情報を得る方法 Enjoy!

  7. 03/12/2023

    Episode 218 - 「和」- 忙しいビジネス・プロフェッショナルのためのバランス術 | Wa - The Art of Balance For Busy Professionals

    日本が欧米を賛美し、インスピレーションを求める一方で、欧米も日本を同じように見ているのは興味深いですよね？ 日本のウェルネスライターでありイラストレーターでもあるKaki Okumuraさんはアメリカで育ち、極端な主義や強迫観念にとらわれずに健康へアプローチする方法を見つけることに苦戦していました。そこで彼女は、より長く幸せに生き、充実した人生を送るためのセルフケアの方法を深く理解するために、日本でのバックグラウンドに目を向けたのです。 現在、KakiさんはMediumで67,000人を超えるフォロワーを獲得しており、主に欧米の人々に向けて、日本文化に基づいた健康的な生活を送るための知見と実用的なヒントをシェアしています。 彼女と話す中で、企業に勤める日本の多忙なビジネス・プロフェッショナルにもKakiさんの発信が役立つと感じました。「和」（「調和」または「バランス」）は「日本人」そのものとも言えるほど「和」に重きを置く文化圏に住んでいても、仕事に追われている時は、自分の幸福をないがしろにしがちだからです。 Sasuga! Podcast Episode 218では、Kakiさんｎと次のことについて対談します： 健康的な生活を送るためにKakiさんにとって不可欠な４つのこと 完璧主義の長所と短所 私が「いちご大福」のジレンマに毎日どう向き合っているか Enjoy!

  8. 03/05/2023

    Episode 217 - 比較をインスピレーションに変える３つのステップ | 3 Steps To Turn Comparisonitis Into Inspiration

    自分と他人を比べてしまうことはありませんか？  職場の同僚は、いつも自信にあふれ、明快で、落ち着いている。 インスタグラムを見ると、みんな見事な体型を保ち、素敵な人間関係を築いてキラキラした生活を送っている。 ２０２２年の調査によると、女性は男性よりも他人と比較する傾向が強いという結果が出ています。女性は、自分よりどこか優れているように見える他人と自分を比べてしまうのです。でも、これは自尊心を傷付けることになってしまいます。 特に、男性優位の職場では、女性が男性の同僚と自分を比較することがよくあります。調査によると、ＩＱに性差はないのに、女性は自分の知性を過小評価する傾向があり、男性は過大評価する傾向にあるようです。 Sasuga! Podcast Episode 217では、次のことについてお話しします： なぜ、役に立たないのに、自分と他人を比較してしまうのか 比較癖に悩む女性の２つの共感を呼ぶエピソード 役に立たない比較癖をインスピレーションに変える３つのステップ Enjoy!

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About

How do you communicate with confidence in global business? What does it take to lead effectively across cultures? Hosted by Helen Iwata — UK-born bilingual leadership and communication coach based in Tokyo — the Sasuga! Podcast helps business professionals strengthen their English communication and leadership skills in international settings. With 35 years of experience in Japan, including Manager of Client Communications at McKinsey & Company, Helen brings you real stories and practical techniques you can apply immediately. Designed for internationally-minded professionals, especially busy Japanese women, working in a global business environment. If you want to communicate more effectively, lead with confidence, and grow your impact, this podcast is for you.

Information

  • Creator
    Helen Iwata
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    225
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Sasuga Communications K. K.
  • Show Website
    The Sasuga! Podcast

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