A guidepost for when you don't know the answer

My name is Kitai and I am mainly in charge of workplace projects at our company.
Where do you look when you don't know the "right answer"?
"Even if you tell me to make it look a little better, this is my first time doing this...!?"
Have you ever found yourself saying something unreasonable to yourself in response to such an unreasonable request?
This time, we'll be talking about the anxiety of not knowing the right answer.
There were no specifications or manuals, but for some reason I was chosen to be in charge, and before I knew it, I was in a position to gather opinions from each department.
What is needed in such situations is not "someone else's correct answer," but rather reconsidering and exchanging perspectives.
As we continue to have conversations, something becomes clear.

When you don't know the answer, where should you look?

For example, when a project is not progressing as expected, many people become anxious and wonder if their judgment is wrong.
However, this is not something special. As with any job, there are many situations where instructions and evaluation criteria are unclear, and everyone is similarly confused as they proceed.

Indecision is not just stagnation, but a sign that you need to reconsider your direction.
By reexamining your own position, you will gradually begin to see the team's purpose and the true meaning of the project.
The "right answer" is not something that someone has, but something that is created together with the people involved.
This is what serves as a ``guidepost when you don't know the correct answer.''

When we exchange perspectives, the right answer begins to emerge

When you try to find the answer on your own, your perspective tends to narrow.
If you feel like you're not making much progress, sometimes just sharing your perspective with someone can change the way you see the problem.

By talking with people from different positions and with different expertise, you can uncover issues that you hadn't noticed before and find new solutions.
That is the moment when the correct answer itself begins to move.
At NOMURA Co.,Ltd., members with different specialties and backgrounds, such as planning, concept design, construction, and operation, communicate with each other to map out a common goal.
By sharing perspectives that transcend differences in position, the project moves forward in a clear direction.
People who are good at internal coordination tend to find common ground rather than just getting their opinions across.

"Trust" shapes the right answer

Project evaluation is not determined solely by results.
When the criteria for judgment are unclear, carefully sharing the process and explaining the background will foster trust.
Trust is not something that can be built all at once, but rather it takes shape little by little through repeated dialogue and trial and error.
We value the success that comes from that trust.
Building trust rather than chasing ratings will strengthen the project and help it continue for a long time.

Because there is no correct answer, small guideposts emerge as we continue to have dialogue and move forward day by day.
This is one idea we discovered through our work in design, layout, and we hope it will be of use to you.