What is management? I rethought this question after starting my own business.

This article explores the relationship between managers and employees based on the author's personal experience. It inspires us to reflect on how to establish a more harmonious working relationship. It is recommended for students who are interested in management.

When we first started our business, in order to save costs, we shared the workstation of an old friend. In other words, we worked together.

These days, an old friend has been criticizing a subordinate of his. To what extent?

Every time this subordinate said something or wrote something in a document, his old friends would find many faults with him, criticize him, and even make some personal attacks.

This reminds me of when I first started working and my boss scolded me in the same way.

During lunch, I told my assistant Han Dai that I was also scolded by my boss in the same way when I had my first job.

Basically, the boss would scold me for every word I said. He would even scold me as soon as I opened my mouth and before I could finish a complete sentence.

As a result, I became very cautious with every word I spoke, requiring myself to be logically clear and get to the point.

Over time, this skill is developed.

What about the 30-second elevator theory? I can handle it completely. I can also give a rough idea in 15 seconds without rushing. This is the 10,000-hour genius theory, which is to constantly challenge yourself under pressure, and to challenge yourself out of helplessness.

Looking back now, these experiences are unavoidable.

After all, I graduated from a third-year university and it was difficult for me to find a sales job when I first arrived in Beijing. Moreover, I am very shy and not very suitable for sales. My boss must want to scold me more and scold me out.

So I am quite grateful to him. Of course, it would be better if he didn't always tell me to die.

Now that I have started my own business and am also a boss, will I scold my employees and tell them to "go to hell"?

Let me tell you about my working philosophy.

First of all, we can rely on each other in professional skills.

We work together to get this done. Everyone has their own unique value and can help with the business. This is the most basic requirement to be a member of the team.

A friend asked me if he could join without any salary.

Although I always talk about controlling costs, it is not just about money, but whether your joining is valuable. If not, one more person will become a burden.

Secondly, everyone is equal.

The equality here is, of course, conditional. We are all equal in that we are all human beings.

For example, although I am the boss, I must respect everyone's professional ability, attitude, feelings, personal space, etc. When there are still few people here, I must give everyone enough opportunities to express their opinions, and I must listen carefully and give feedback.

This is what I understand as equality.

So even if two people have different opinions and cannot reach a consensus in the end, we can still have a normal discussion.

Also, there must be gains, not just financial ones.

If you set up a company and fail to make money for everyone, you are just being a hooligan. This is necessary, but not everything.

Friends who are willing to work with me all have higher pursuits at the level of self-realization.

In other words, on the road to making money, one must also realize one's spiritual value. This is actually a pursuit at a higher level: not only the result, but also the path.

Let’s get back to the issue of “criticism”.

Criticism has two functions.

1) As for the way of doing things, the boss has to tell the employees so that they can improve in the future;

2) Regarding the attitude towards work, just give them a small whip.

Many bosses don’t understand the purpose of criticism and fail to achieve these two effects.

1) If there is a problem with the way employees do things, you have to tell them where the problem lies and what the correct thing to do is.

When I was working in a large company, I saw many team managers who would foolishly criticize their colleagues, saying how could this be, it must not be like this, how could you... these are all nonsense.

Because managers themselves cannot clearly explain what is the right thing to do.

2) If employees have problems with their work attitude, it is normal to remind them and give them some motivation.

After all, people are lazy. One of the values ​​of a team is to supervise each other, and managers can provide some encouragement.

But be careful about how you speak. Don't judge the other person, and don't make personal attacks. For example, you might say that people like you are not good enough, or you might make judgments based on gender, region, or personality type.

So I think the valuable criticism is the above approach, which is also my management style.

Han Dai said, you are not the kind of boss who would scold people.

I said, yes. But if I think this person is not good enough, giving him a few chances will not help. I will not cooperate with him and will not waste my time.

This result is actually more direct and efficient.

Don't curse at others, and don't use PUA. A peaceful breakup is good for everyone.

Author: Han Xu

Source: WeChat official account: "Operation Dog Work Diary (ID: yunyingriji)"