The Wisdom of Japanese Proverbs: Leading by Example in Parenting and the Workplace:
There is
a Japanese quote, “Ko wa oya no senaka wo mite sodatsu,” which can be literally
translated into English as “Children grow as they look at the back of their parents.”
This suggests that parents should lead by example, both in their words and
actions, when raising their children at home. In this context, reflecting on my
experiences at work from the perspective of my personal growth, I believe I
have learned much more from observing my bosses' actions and attitudes than
from their verbal advice. Returning to the Japanese quote, from my own
interpretation, the reason it uses “the back of their parents” rather than
simply “their parents” is to emphasize the importance of actions over words. In
this sense, I am now pondering whether I can serve as a good role model to my
younger colleagues by setting an example through my own actions.