The Enlightened Manager - Introduction

 

Copyright 2008 Michael Lisagor

Remember this also, and be well persuaded of its truth;
the future is not in the hands of Fate, but ours.
-Jules Jusserand

At a banquet in Beijing in 1985, a seasoned Chinese government official told me the story of a tiny village in Hunan Province. Two young explorers had discovered a group of long-lost relatives 100 miles away. The elders ordered the construction of a road that would enable them to trade with the people in that town - a project that might take more than 50 years to complete. An impatient village youth exclaimed, "Why, that will take forever." One of the wise leaders replied, "Then we'd better start today."

 

One definition of enlightenment is hope. Another is the potential for wisdom and compassion that exists in each human being. Most people have some level of religious conviction or moral compass, whether organized or not. So, why do so many managers leave this most important aspect of life at the door when they enter the workplace.

 

Many of the problems I encounter as a consultant stem from the inability of managers to perceive the world from an enlightened perspective. We can't always control what happens, but we often can control how we react. Do we choose to respond to the daily challenges of management with anger and fear? Or can we learn to be compassionate and confident about the future?

An organization's growth depends on the vision of its leader and his or her willingness to change. Can we afford to neglect taking actions now that will ensure our organization's long-term success? Will our personality and good luck continue to drive our organization's growth? When do sound and humane business practices cease to be a luxury and become a necessity?

Do you grimace when someone mentions the word plan? Do you have one? If so, is it a living document that drives meaningful actions, or is it gathering dust on your office shelf? Are your subordinates comfortable telling you what they think, or are you as clueless as the emperor with no clothes? Will you always be a general of foot soldiers, or are you willing to become a general of generals? And perhaps most important, are you so consumed with achieving your objective that you've lost sight of your values? The answers to those questions will determine your organization's future.

In some ways, this book is a duality. On the one hand, it is the result of more than 400 interviews I have conducted with technology and government executives and managers. It reflects the successes and failures of several businesses and government agencies -- some that are now large organizations -- others that have diminished in size and stature or disappeared altogether. It also incorporates many lessons learned from failed technology programs. However, these hard-earned lessons apply to most business entities in almost all vertical markets.

What compelled me to write this book more than anything was my belief that many of our business practices lack an underlying philosophical foundation. What is a manager's real purpose in life? Is it to amass as much wealth and recognition as possible? When did who we are become more important than how we behave?

I greatly appreciate Federal Computer Week for allowing me to develop the main messages of this book in my monthly Enlightened Manager column. Hopefully, what I've learned will stimulate your thinking, cause you to question a few of your sacred beliefs, and encourage you to listen to your employees and to seek out the guidance of others.

Why bother? Because, while what you know will probably continue to contribute to your success -- what you ignore will most likely cause your failure and future unhappiness.

 

To purchase the entire book for free!

 

About the author:

Michael Lisagor founded Celerity Works in 1999 to help industry executives accelerate and better manage business growth. He also provides reality based risk management training to government agencies and writes a regular management column for Federal Computer Week. Mike has an MS in management and has taught undergraduate marketing courses for managers and project management workshops. He lives with his wife, Trude, on Bainbridge Island, Wash., and can be reached at lisagor@celerityworks.com or 206-780-4202 (PST).

 

Other books by the author:

 

" Romancing the Buddha (Middleway Press - available at most retail and online booksellers including amazon.com)

" Business Development Guide for Selling to the Government (www.celerityworks.com/business-books.html)

 

Lisagor has been taking nature photographs of British Columbia and the U.S. since 1999. His photos can be viewed at www.romancingthebuddha.com and are also available at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts.