If you have fallen due to a certain type of walking, you stand up and consider your technique and style of walking. You’ll start again. This new run can be found by examining how it was possible you fell and innovative on a new style of walking. Occasionally you get a bump or unknown path against, so the innovation and dynamism is continuous.
Study the Past If You Would define the future (Confucius)
In China they watched the Western economic crisis from a distance. When Deng Xiaoping in 1978 opened China's socio-economic doors, a kind of Americanization started. Modern Chinese managers joined U.S. business schools for Anglo-Saxon management studies. Now they ran back to China and took up their old China’s history books. China has started to create its own business ecosystem. China blasts at this time!
Ego management looks cool, but is so 2000
Where the U.S. excels in ego management, as appropriate to the Chinese leader it would be better to speak openly about spirituality, philosophy and morality. This "soft" issues into "tough business" might be the challenge. The Chinese economy is growing incredibly fast and inflation must be curbed at this time with a rate adjustment to 6%. The American management model seems best for quickly gain and provide clarity and objectivity. I am triggered by the new book "China's Management Revolution" by Charles-Edouard Bouee who is employed at Ronald Berger Strategy Consultants. Right now to my opinion it’s a proper moment to (re)consider the management style we start up the new period after the crises and innovative technical developments. Not to forget the Y- and Einstein generation is running up in our society. Here I use this knowledge I have gained from the named book. Although the manager of our world is and acts very different from the leader (sometimes it goes along) I use the terms interchangeably here as part of "the boss is the boss"
Integrating spirituality with business
In China rooted cultural aspects do heavily impact on the management style.
The I Ching, translated "the Book of Changes", is a book of wisdom which plays a major rule in China for over 3000 years. This cosmic oracle has integrated a deep believe to the population. A truth of "What Will Be, Will Be". But the turn is made, to the view that if a change is detected early enough, it can be regulated. Confucius was in favor of a highly hierarchical organization in order to remain social stability. But he also mentioned that the power of the leader depends on his exemplary behavior. The third aspect is that the societal interest outweighs the individual interest. Ego tripping is out of the question.
3 generations of Chinese managers
Chinese entrepreneurs do not differ from Western entrepreneurs for sharing the same goals in business success. Besides this hunger for success however, they possess an additional objective, namely to strengthen their country China. We distinguish three types of Chinese entrepreneurs and companies. The first and second generation companies, the traditional family. The second type of companies are managed by the so-called 'sea turtles' who themselves have mastered the Western management style. The third type is still growing and learning in the rapidly developing Chinese economy. They know and act upon the Western style, but also sees the deficiencies, especially in the Chinese environment. Human Resources, for example the Chinese do not adapt as we in the West are doing. They see it in a reversed perspective. They see the employees as staff and not only as human power. The principle for the Chinese is not the employee himself. Employees are members of the "corporate family" that help them be successful. If the success is there, that automatically means success for the employee. A somewhat different perspective versus the rights of the employee towards the employer we are used to as a basis!
9 qualities of the new Chinese management model
1. Dynamics: The turbulence provides the Chinese an excuse for not write a specific plan. For a plan goes against the faith and if the plan fails, the reputation of the Chinese is damaged. So rather not record in annual plans, preferrable continuously and adjust indentation.
2. Adapt: However, the Chinese manager certainly focuses and obtains goals. The Chinese manager acts on base of his feelings and views. He knows when the fruit is ready for picking. The Chinese work better based on rhythm, seasons and cycles as on daily measurements in excel. Mind you I'm talking about the organization-level goals. The staff, however, will be assessed on short-cycle base!
3. Flexibility: The conviction of the dynamics has to effect in flexibility. Again, not captured in written plans because the world and market are continuously changing. Do you recognize the problem of us always struggling when the objectives and annual plans cannot be achieved due to not expected issues during the year?
4. Synthetic: The appropriate management style consists both Western thoughts and experience and traditional Chinese values and culture.
5. Reciprocity: As I mentioned before in the context of HR, there can be found a strong reciprocity. These are known as the three L's. Legacy (to realize the company's vision reflects your own personal success), Learning (Learning in the company is worthfull for your own growth), Life / Love (pursuit of a family culture in which you help each other and even care).
6. Consensus: The leader leads in a strongly hierarchical environment, as this appears in Western perspective. We tend to explain this rather negative. Yet the Chinese belief in a rigid and hierarchical organizations and is content with this kind of leadership. Confucius also has been been raised this cultural belief and the Chinese have absolutely no qualms. However, there are specific requirements for the leader to establish, as a prominent example of good behavior. The "boss" always decide, but only after a lot of discussion with advisers.
7. Spiritual: China is a very spiritual based country. The manager does not distinguish between matter and spirituality because these issues are part of the same world. In our Western training sessions we try to change our managers ratio based acting and thinking to migrate to "their feelings" level. This appeared to feel better and even ends up in better management results. Well the Chinese does that in their new style as well!
8. Discipline: the spiritual aspects may indeed have a somewhat relaxed image, but discipline is paramount in China. The Chinese employee works from inherent system in favor of the corporate family. Spirit, land and energy are the drivers. Trainings for example, are harsh and give no space for weakening.
9. Natural: this for me characteristics; authenticity. Earlier when China adapted Western management styles, nowadays only aspects of it are adapted. A new style develops with containing more appropriate Chinese cultural aspects. Authentic Chinese style grows into the values Spirit, Land & Energy.
Conclusion
The new Chinese management style is based on its environment. It better matches than a simple trick and imitate it somewhere in another world. Now the Chinese have noticed that our Western economies have seen somersault, is the time for their own style. This new style will not be based on bonuses (at least I hope so!). Ego management simply does not exist.
What I noticed in China and surrounding countries is that failure in business goes along with personal shame and often even is followed by suicide. This is a remarkable threat now that the economy rapidly picks up. What if failure is growing as a change in case once the economic bubble will burst over there? We’ll see how the Chinese management style will develop in the hot the economy and remain at long-term. In principle the authentic value style should provide a long shelf life. We will notice if spirituality stays when temptation of the material plays a major role in the future of economic wealth. Anyway, for now: Let us in the West consider these 9 well management principles. Not simply copy, but use them as far as it fits into our culture and economy. For me these are the great principles for management and leadership ...!
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