08.28.2019

Earning the Next Offer! Interpreting Coordinator Motoki Suzuki’s Determination and Tips

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This is the second of our series about JCS experts, and their professionalism and pursuit of excellence. This time we are speaking with interpreting coordinator Motoki Suzuki. Initially, he was a director in the Healthcare Business Department, with its many medical association clients, and he managed a great many academic conferences. Using the experience he gained creating exceptional events there, he is currently delighting clients as an interpreting coordinator, and he told us about his determination and tips.

To be an Intermediary, Look at the Client’s Future.

Motoki　As an interpreting coordinator, you are the bridge that links clients and interpreters. In order for interpreters to do their job as well as possible, I, and my fellow coordinators, have to understand and put together both parties’ opinions, and ways of thinking, and ensure that both sides understand each other. This then creates a win-win situation for both the client and interpreters, and makes me feel great about having done my job well.

Initially, I worked in the Healthcare Business Department for 6 years and I had to put everything together – I needed to understand the organizer, attendees, the staff being sent to the venue, and everyone else associated with the project. By helping everyone understand the vision for the event, I could then help ensure the event was a success, which resulted in clients saying how they wanted me to handle their events in the future too. Although I’m now an interpreting coordinator, this past experience isn’t simply something I utilize but it actually motivates me to aim higher and keep impressing clients.

Of course my goal is to have clients be pleased with the quality of our interpreting services, but I also think about the success, and development of future meetings and the people involved with them, and keep this in mind when doing my work.

Understanding the Client’s Image of Interpreters

Motoki　For clients who are requesting, or considering requesting, their first interpreter, meeting with them, listening to their opinions, and fully understanding their needs is vital. For interpreting, a person is actually performing the work, so during this first meeting I have to fully understand what kind of person they need, thereby enabling me to introduce interpreters who are able to delight them.

In order to avoid a situation where a client’s needs for an interpreter aren’t met, I spend the most time on this. After the interpreting is done, I follow up with our client as well to find out how they were pleased and any areas for improvement. This is not just about interpreting, but also about my coordinating as well, and the results of this are shared with my fellow interpreting coordinators, and we use this to further improve.

In addition, as there are many regular meetings and events that require interpreting. This ensures that interpreting coordinators all know about the meeting, and any items to be careful of, thus enabling a higher level of service in the future, and this is one of our specialties.

An Interpreter Overseas With A Client.

Motoki　This is a story about when a client went overseas on a business trip. When arranging the interpreter, I was asked about what could be done so the interpreter’s performance would be as good as possible. Talking to our client, I understood that interpreters are essential for their meetings and the key for their company’s success lies in our interpreting service. I heard this and immediately understood the importance of their task and I started making preparations so I could support them to ensure their meeting was a huge success. I realize how important it is to see things at the client’s level and understand their needs in order for them to request our interpreting service again.

For Me, My Organizer and Hobby are the Key to Better Results.

Motoki　When I was a meeting director, I didn’t really use my personal organizer, but now that I am an interpreting coordinator, I use it all the time – not just for managing my schedule, but also to make sure that I have time to interact with clients. For instance, I write things I really want to do at the bottom, in a memo area, and when I have memorized them I highlight them in orange. That way, I don’t overlook those important items from clients, and I can make even more of a difference.

On my days off, I usually go to a board game club. Playing against friends or even people I don’t know, I always observe and think about what they are thinking and try to estimate their next moves while planning mine, and I always have a great time. As part of this, I can use one of the hints from my job as an interpreting coordinator – that is to consider the other party’s opinion. It seems common sense, but by doing trial and error as part of my hobby, I’ve developed even more as a person.

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