Nemawashi
根回し·nemawashi·"preparing the groundwork, laying the foundation"
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Nemawashi is the Japanese practice of building consensus through informal discussions before formal decisions are made.
Definition
Nemawashi is a Japanese term meaning "going around the roots" (like preparing a tree for transplant) and refers to the informal process of building consensus and support before a formal decision is made. Rather than surprising stakeholders with proposals in meetings, nemawashi involves one-on-one conversations where ideas are shared, concerns are heard, and adjustments are made. By the time a formal decision is requested, all affected parties have already been consulted and concerns addressed. This results in smoother implementation because resistance has been worked through in advance.
Examples
Before proposing a major equipment investment, a plant manager practiced nemawashi by meeting individually with the CFO, operations VP, and maintenance director. Each conversation revealed concerns and priorities: the CFO wanted phased spending, the VP wanted minimal disruption, maintenance wanted vendor support. The formal proposal addressed all these concerns, gaining quick approval.
Key Points
- Nemawashi happens before formal meetings, not during them
- The process surfaces concerns early when they're easier to address
- Proposals evolve through nemawashi to incorporate stakeholder input
- Successful nemawashi means formal decisions are often quick and unanimous
Common Misconceptions
Nemawashi is manipulation or politics. Done well, nemawashi is genuine consultation that improves decisions and builds commitment. It's political only when used to manufacture consent without actually incorporating feedback.
Nemawashi is slow and inefficient. While nemawashi takes time upfront, it dramatically speeds implementation because resistance has been addressed. "Go slow to go fast"—investments in alignment pay off in execution.