Lecture 6 Review (Lecture 1-5，產業篇之回顧)

96/11/05

I’ve learned a lot and got some inspirations from Professional Liang’s well-organized overview of the “Management”. In order to make “Financial Management”, “Human Resource Management”, “Operations Management”, “Marketing Management” as well as “Information and Technology Management” functional and effective, planning, organizing, directing, controlling and decision making are the five critical elements of the management.  

I agree that proficiency means the combination of knowledge, skills, abilities, attitude as well as the peaceful state of mind. Moreover, the skillful and excellent management puts an emphasis on inspiring the employees to play the best roles and discover their potentials. Besides, from my perspective, “True leadership = inspiration.” Real leaders have a passion for what they do. They are able to transfer enthusiasm to their employees. People want to follow someone they respect and admire. Moreover, the true leaders are those who are balanced in their personal as well as professional life and walk their talk.

I’ve got inspired by the quotes for the management and learned that the ways the managers or supervisors speak or express might convey the inner thoughts of theirs. As a result, we should be careful of our own words and try our best to speak something positive all the time.

Besides, being a leader has the responsibility to walk the talk instead of talking the walk only. Moreover, being a leader should bear in mind that it is more important to walk the walk than talk the talk. I think the following quotes, “If...you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning." by Catherine Aird, and “A good example is the best sermon.” by Anon, can well explain the reason of the importance of “Walk the talk and walk the walk”.

Well-planned planning will reduce the risk as well as a clear goal for the promising future. However, the wrong information, the changes of the environment, the inefficiency financial management, lack of the common sense among the leadership and the led, poor time management will result in a failure. A wise leader knows how to assign the jobs and share the responsibility by mutual trust. There is a Chinese quote “用人不疑，疑人不用” which can well explain the whole concept. Therefore, if we learn to appreciate others’ differences, take advantages of one and another’s specialties, and accept them with trust instead of doubts, every member in the team can learn and grow together and create a promising future together.

 The following story “A Peacock in the Land of Penguins” adapted from a book by BJ Gallagher Hateley & Warren H. Schmidt, is the best example to show “Birds of different feathers can work together in harmony.”

There once was a time, in the not so distant past, when penguins ruled many lands in the Sea of Organizations. These penguins were not always wise, they were not always popular, but they were always in charge. The top management wore the same outlook in their distinctive black and white suits. They believed that uniformity is the way to do things; Uniformity is Unity.

On the other hand, worker birds wore colors and outfits that reflected their work and lifestyles. Birds who aspired to move up the corporate ladder were encouraged to adopt the penguins’ code of conduct and wear the penguin suits. They learn the penguin stride and follow the example of their leaders.

One day, Perry the peacock joined the Land of Penguins. He was loud, colorful and full of new ideas. Although he was different, the penguins were impressed by his new ideas. They felt that he has real Penguin Potential.

Initially, everyone was happy. The penguins were pleased with their new recruit. Perry was creative and he brought in good results. However, as time went by, the penguins began to murmur against Perry. He was too loud, too colorful and had too many new ideas that intruded the penguins’ comfort zone.

Perry was also unhappy. The penguins tried to turn him into a penguin. He was told to “try to be like the rest of us, wear a penguin suit”. Both parties were unhappy. Be like us! Wear a penguin suit! Leave me alone...We see this story unfolds in many organizations today. Creativity and innovation are seen to be “a breath of fresh air” in many organizations.

Many “Perrys” are recruited for their creativity. Yet, along the way, their creativity is stifled by the need to conform to the norm. Other than penguins and peacocks, there are also pigeons who are peacemakers in the office, Sparrows who try to be neutral so as to keep a low profile or Ostriches who choose to bury their heads in the sand.

There will always be Penguins and Peacocks in any organizations. Peacocks bring in varieties and new ideas, but, the stability provided by the penguins must not be ignored.

Penguins, being the backbone of the organization, need to recognize that diversity can exist in an organization if there is acceptance and trust. When we learn to appreciate one and another’s differences, we become more willing to listen, more open to new ideas and more eager to grow.