Formal to Superior
Workplace · Reporting
You
お忙しいところ恐れ入りますが、私の仕事の進め方について、ご意見をいただけますでしょうか。
おいそがしいところおそれいりますが、わたしのしごとのすすめかたについて、ごいけんをいただけますでしょうか。
I apologize for the interruption when you are busy, but could I ask for your feedback on how I am approaching my work?
Romaji: Oisogashii tokoro osoreirimasu ga, watashi no shigoto no susurmekata ni tsuite, goiken wo itadakemasu deshou ka. / Reply Romaji: Ii yo. Doko ga ki ni natte iru no?
Reply
いいよ。どこが気になっているの？
いいよ。どこがきになっているの？
Sure. What specifically are you wondering about?
Gesture & etiquette
Ask when your superior is clearly not in the middle of a critical task — perhaps after a meeting or during a quieter part of the day. Have a notepad ready. When they give feedback, listen without interruption and write down key points. Say 'naruhodou desu' (I see / that makes sense) throughout to show you are genuinely absorbing the input.
Proactively seeking feedback demonstrates growth orientation and initiative — both highly valued traits in Japanese workplaces. Framing the request as 'shigoto no susumerkata' (how I approach my work) rather than 'am I doing well?' invites specific, actionable feedback. In Japan, superiors rarely give unsolicited performance feedback; actively requesting it is the only way to grow quickly.