Humble CEO NARRATOR: A private jet is an American CEO's perk. But not the CEO of Japan Airlines. He comes to work on the city bus. Haruka Nishimatsu knocked down his office walls, so anyone can walk in. He buys his suits at a discount store, because a boss who wears Armani puts himself at arm's length from his people. [SPEAKING JAPANESE] ”If management is distant up in the clouds, people just wait for orders," he told us. "I want my people to think for themselves." And meeting his people means hopping into planes, chatting with flight attendants, even sorting the newspapers. HARUKU NISHIMATSU: I like to just find what this is going on-- NARRATOR: What's going on-- HARUKU NISHIMATSU: at the front line. NARRATOR: All CEOs say that service is important, but Nishimatsu goes a step beyond. He says that if you're having a bad experience, don't get angry with the people you're dealing with. Blame the person in charge. The person in charge here walks the walk. Look up, and there's the boss. Got an idea? Catch him at lunch in the company cafeteria. His salary for running the world's 10th largest airline? Not millions, but one year as low as $90,000. When he was forced to cut salaries for everyone else, he also cut his own. [SPEAKING JAPANESE] HARUKU NISHIMATSU: “My wife said, 'what?'" NARRATOR: To him, a leader's share is the economic pain. [SPEAKING JAPANESE] "I feel close to him," says flight attendant Akiko Isobe. "It's encouraging." These days, all airlines are struggling, even at reliably profitable Southwest, it's time to tighten belts. MAN: It will not work if leaders treat themselves one way and their employees another way. NARRATOR: Nishimatsu says a CEO doesn't motivate by how many millions he makes, but by convincing employees you're all together in the same boat; a spirit that could help survive the current economic storm.