What it actually means
I am uncomfortable but I am going to say it in a meeting anyway.
Surface meaning: To share previously confidential information with another party.
If someone just said “Open the Kimono” in a meeting, here is what they probably meant, what to do about it, and how to keep your sanity.
In the wild
VP: Let's open the kimono on the financials.
(Everyone briefly considers HR.)
How to respond
Translate immediately: 'You mean share the numbers? Happy to.' Replace the phrase in your team's vocabulary, one meeting at a time.
Origin
1990s American business jargon, loosely attributed to Japanese boardroom culture in ways that don't hold up. Avoid.
FAQ
What does "Open the Kimono" actually mean?
I am uncomfortable but I am going to say it in a meeting anyway.
Where did the phrase "Open the Kimono" come from?
1990s American business jargon, loosely attributed to Japanese boardroom culture in ways that don't hold up. Avoid.
How should I respond when someone says "Open the Kimono"?
Translate immediately: 'You mean share the numbers? Happy to.' Replace the phrase in your team's vocabulary, one meeting at a time.
Related corporate vocabulary
This was, of course, a meeting that should have been an email.
Run the fake meeting simulator. Generate a bingo card. Be busy without being there.
Open the simulator →