Letting Go of “I Have to Do It Myself”: The Power of Delegation Discovered Through Reduced Working Hours, Aoyama Trading Deputy General Manager

Hoshikawa Naomi (星川直美), who is responsible for strengthening the women's business centered on businesswear at 青山商事, has worked to build an organization that can function “even when I am not there” after marrying and having a child. She initially aspired to a sales career, and as she advanced to become an acting store manager, she began focusing not only on figures but also on how the organization functions as a whole.

One of the turning points in her career was the opportunity to be assigned to the company's highest-revenue store. At the direction of President Endo Taizo (遠藤泰三), she was told, “We are assigning you to the highest-revenue store, so give it your best shot,” and transferred to Ikebukuro East Exit Main Store. She initially had the bitter experience of finishing third, which became the driving force behind her pursuit of the next goal.

While carrying out her duties as acting store manager (deputy store manager), she was also involved in launching large stores such as Ginza Main Store and Shibuya Station Front Main Store. As she was required to meet sales targets, she shifted her focus to increasing customer traffic and average spend per customer. While regaining her enjoyment of serving customers, she explored ways to create systems that would keep the organization as a whole functioning smoothly.

She currently helps build an organization in which 17 women's area managers nationwide can excel as Deputy General Manager of Retail Division 1. Drawing on her own experience, she is exploring how to operate an organization in which subordinates can act independently through management practices that foster the ability to delegate.