[Saori Kimura x Maki Takada] The secret to leadership and growth: A special conversation for International Women's Day

Being a leader is lonely, but it's still important to move forward

Photography: Rika Matsukawa (Hige Kikaku)

-What did you feel when you had the experience of being captain?

Takada:I served as captain of the Japanese national team for about five years leading up to the Winter Olympics. It was my first time as a captain, and to be honest, it was a tough time.

I was never good at speaking in front of people, and I was not a leader. That's why I was worried at first, wondering if I could do it. But in order to achieve the team's goals, I didn't want to regret it because of my personality. So I decided to "express what I think clearly."

However, being a leader was always filled with conflict. I would often think, "What will people think if I say this?" and would find it hard to take the first step. I didn't look to anyone else as a model, but rather, through trial and error as I spent time as captain, I acquired the ability to communicate what was necessary.

What I especially felt was that "being a leader is lonely." It was a big challenge for me to lead the team. Some players followed me, while others could not. However, it was a difference in personality, and neither was right. That's why I realized that it was important to go along with each player's pace in order to move forward together without leaving anyone behind.

I wasn't a perfect leader right from the start, but as I gained experience, I became more confident that "if I keep doing it, my teammates will follow me."

Leadership is about showing attitude

--Kimura, did you also experience similar hardships when you were captain?

Kimura:I really empathized with what you just said. I was appointed captain for the first time at the 2012 Olympics, but I had no experience as a captain until then, so to be honest, I was very worried.

I've been playing volleyball since I was little, but I've never been good at speaking in front of people, and I've never been the type to lead. In fact, when I was nominated as captain, I thought, "Maybe I can't do it." When I get nervous, my voice shakes, and I felt a lot of pressure to speak in front of everyone.

However, when the coach asked me if I wanted to try being captain, I had already made a decision. That was, "If I have a choice, I will choose to take on the challenge." Female athletes are forced to make many choices in their careers. Marriage, work, athletics... they are all choices that must be made. In that situation, I thought, "I want to choose the option that excites me."

That's why I decided to take on the role of captain. However, when I actually became captain, it was really tough. I keenly felt the weight of being at the forefront as a leader, and I often felt lonely. Until then, I had been pulled along by my seniors, so I thought, "Is it really that tough to be the one taking the lead?"

But I thought it was more important to show my attitude rather than leading with words. My attitude when playing, the time I spend on practice, and how I approach the team. There are things that can't be conveyed in words, but can be conveyed by showing them through actions. In this way, I think I was able to build my own image of a leader little by little.

-How has becoming captain affected your personal life and your playing?

Takada:Through my experience as a leader, I no longer feel uncomfortable speaking in front of others. I learned the importance of saying what I think. Through my experience as a leader, I learned the difficulties and joys of being at the forefront.

The sense of accomplishment I got from serving as captain helped me grow as a player. Of course, there were many moments when I felt lonely, but it was because of those experiences that I can now understand the feelings of the other players who are also captains. I feel that this is one of my roles now.

Kimura:I can really empathize with that. I was appointed captain for the first time at the 2012 Olympics, but I had no experience as a captain before, so to be honest, I was very worried.

The position of a leader is not just about leading the team, but also about overseeing the entire team, sometimes supporting them, and sometimes leading them strictly. However, I have never been the type to take the lead, and I am not good at speaking in front of people, so I felt the weight of the responsibility of being captain.

However, at the time, I had decided that "if I have a choice, I will choose to take on a challenge," so I took the plunge and accepted. At first, I was a little hesitant, but through trial and error, I found my own ideal image of what it means to be a leader.

Learning as a captain and personal growth

-How has your experience as a leader influenced your way of thinking and your career?

Kimura:By serving as captain, I learned the importance of relying on others. Volleyball is a team sport, so one person cannot take on everything. However, when I first became captain, I thought "I have to do everything," and felt more pressure than necessary.

But at some point, I started to think that the team belonged to everyone, and learned to rely on my teammates. Then, I felt more at ease and was able to concentrate on playing. I realized that it wasn't necessary to be perfect as a leader, and that it was important for each person to fulfill their role.

Takada:I feel exactly the same way. At first, I thought, "Because I'm the captain, I have to lead everyone," but I realized that the role of a leader is not to "take on everything by myself," but to "bring the team together." Relying on others and cooperating with others is essential to building a better team.

Learning from athletes: "What is a leader?"

The role of captain is much harder than you might imagine. You may feel lonely or overwhelmed by the pressure. But once you overcome these experiences, you will experience growth and a sense of accomplishment.

The conversation between Takada and Kimura conveys the message that "leaders don't have to be perfect" and "you can lead in your own style." This will be a great hint for those who will take on leadership roles in the future.

*The information in this article is current as of the time of publication.

Photo: Rika Matsukawa