Details! Details!

Sitting in the Narita airport and waiting for the flight home after a week of business meetings in Japan, I suddenly experienced what people often said is the best part of a trip - going home! It really is a feeling hard to describe, a mixture of anxiousness, anticipation, and joy. Don't get me wrong, the trip was very productive and Japanese people were so courteous and polite, and I truly enjoyed my visit here. But I tell you, nothing beats going home!

The disciplined and orderly behaviors and attention to details of most Japanese people always impress me, and this trip was no exception. I was on a flight between Haneda and Fukuoka this week and observed a flight attendant at work during the take off and landing processes. She diligently pushed the doors of the overhead compartment bins one at a time to ensure they were closed securely, pulling on handles of all closet doors to make sure they were locked in place, and examined all curtains to check whether they were folded and snapped in place as they should. And after she checked everything, she made some kinds of hand signals that seemed to indicate that she checked and everything was fine. The same routine was repeated precisely during the landing process, even though no one even touched the overhead bins, the closets or the curtains during the short one hour flight.

By watching her worked, somehow I was reminded of the importance of attention to details and following procedures precisely in doing a task. A lot of time, we skipped over steps, took shortcuts, or just went through motions because we assumed we know how to do the tasks, things are as usual, and nothing will change. Because we “know” what we are doing, certainly we don't really have to go though all the steps, pay attention to the details, and follow the procedures as required. Wow, that is when things go wrong and we end up regretting on our neglect and ignorance. Well, I am glad she didn't take it easy and skim the steps, and no passengers was hit by any loose objects during the take off or landing processes, a job well done!

It is time to catch my flight home now, and I look forward to an enjoyable journey home because I expect another job well done in details and precision by another fine crew. Hummm… people do expect us to do our jobs with precision and dedication, and we shouldn’t disappoint them.

See you back in the U. S.