Mao and Chinese CEOs
I came across an interesting article by Sox on Mao and Chinese CEOs. The researcher and the writer of the post makes connections between the way companies are run in China and the way Mao ran China.
The researcher noticed “the manner in which Mao wielded power: by keeping the country in a state of chaotic flux, often playing one group against another”. It was almost like a lightbulb lit within me as I tried to understand how Chinese companies here function. Now I understand why some board meetings are like seeing the Romance of the Three Kingdoms in action. When everybody else is unstable, you can hold on more easily to your power base.
Other tactics used by company CEOs: “They cement their authority by keeping even senior managers in a constant state of uncertainty, sometimes mobilizing lower-level employees to criticize and pressure mid- and upper-level executives”. Again, another light-bulb within me lighted (this one is energy saving).
Obviously, not all companies work like this, and the ideas attributed to Mao could easily be attributed to Machiavelli as well. It gave me plenty of food for thought – the first temporary ayi I hired to clean my new home in China gave the same comment as one of my Chinese colleagues. They both suggested that the reason why I failed in my business was that I was too kind to people, and so could not keep the money.
And they were right. I could always refuse to pay back my investors, since they were in the same boat as I was when the investment fund collapsed. But to do that would make me a lesser person than I would want to be. No, I still believe that God has taught me grace for a reason. I would be no different from the other businessmen out there if I were to do the same things they do.
And if I were to be no different, then I have better not be in business.
The researcher noticed “the manner in which Mao wielded power: by keeping the country in a state of chaotic flux, often playing one group against another”. It was almost like a lightbulb lit within me as I tried to understand how Chinese companies here function. Now I understand why some board meetings are like seeing the Romance of the Three Kingdoms in action. When everybody else is unstable, you can hold on more easily to your power base.
Other tactics used by company CEOs: “They cement their authority by keeping even senior managers in a constant state of uncertainty, sometimes mobilizing lower-level employees to criticize and pressure mid- and upper-level executives”. Again, another light-bulb within me lighted (this one is energy saving).
Obviously, not all companies work like this, and the ideas attributed to Mao could easily be attributed to Machiavelli as well. It gave me plenty of food for thought – the first temporary ayi I hired to clean my new home in China gave the same comment as one of my Chinese colleagues. They both suggested that the reason why I failed in my business was that I was too kind to people, and so could not keep the money.
And they were right. I could always refuse to pay back my investors, since they were in the same boat as I was when the investment fund collapsed. But to do that would make me a lesser person than I would want to be. No, I still believe that God has taught me grace for a reason. I would be no different from the other businessmen out there if I were to do the same things they do.
And if I were to be no different, then I have better not be in business.
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