As an extremely important role, professional managers have always occupied a pivotal position in the management field. How to be a good professional manager is an extremely important topic. The Wanbao dispute some time ago brought this topic to everyone's attention once again.
The connotative definition of the role of professional managers is also a place for cultivation. The interpretation of the roles of the excellent managers I observed has given me great help, allowing me to summarize and summarize and draw the following conclusions:
The role transformation of professional managers is reflected in the following four aspects:
1. From setting strategy to clarifying meaning, so that strategy can be turned into action
High-level professional managers often need to work with company board members to formulate the company's strategy and direction, which also leads to the need for high-level managers to take responsibility for implementing the strategy.
I have participated in the formulation of many corporate strategies, and the most common problem is that managers think that after the strategy is formulated, the work is over. In their daily work, they often forget the strategies they once formulated, and it seems that their daily work is not related to the strategy. These phenomena indicate that professional managers have not fulfilled their roles well. The role of a manager is to translate strategy into action plans that can be executed.
2. Embed the ambitions of the enterprise so that members can face the difficulties they encounter
Whether an enterprise can have the ability to face the future, have the ability to respond to changes, and have the ability to accept challenges all depends on the leadership of managers. Therefore, the second role of professional managers is to be able to embed the ambitions of the company and lead members to face all difficulties.
I have always loved the story of Gerstner making the "elephant dance." When IBM faced huge difficulties, Gerstner led everyone to create a way out. I also like the story of Jobs saving Apple. Jobs said that what made Apple successful was that Apple resolutely protected the habits of its customers. I also like the story of Ren Zhengfei leading Huawei to use firm belief and unremitting efforts to target Ericsson and eventually surpass Ericsson. Some of them are professional managers and some are founders, but in taking on the role of professional managers, they have set a benchmark that every professional manager should learn from.
3. Instill organizational values so that members have standards for behavioral choices
I remember during a forum exchange session, I was asked: Why do excellent business leaders seem to become "spiritual leaders" in the end?
This is indeed an issue that needs everyone's attention. The reason why good leaders should become "spiritual leaders" is because in the process of development, enterprises will encounter many challenges and changes, as well as many temptations and impacts. If managers cannot clarify the value principles of the enterprise, people will not know what should be done, what needs to be resisted resolutely, and what is completely unacceptable. If members are confused about value selection, the consequences will be dire.
Therefore, managers need to be able to assume their role and give employees clear guidance on clear value judgments.
4. Give meaning to employees’ work so that members are willing to devote themselves to it
This part is extremely important and needs to be well undertaken by professional managers. How to make every employee feel the achievement, meaning and value in his or her position is very critical.
I particularly like Zhuang Yue from New Hope Liuhe, who is responsible for the company's retail business in Shanghai and opens a butcher shop. He was able to turn the "butchers" responsible for cutting the meat into "swordsmen" and established a "swordsmen's alliance" for these colleagues. Every time I see the swordsmen carrying their own professional tools and wearing professional clothes, performing and working for customers, I am always happy for them from the bottom of my heart, and I feel their own professional joy and pride in their work. Now the "Swordsman Alliance" has become a well-known name in their circle in Shanghai, and when I walked into the "Zi Life" store, I had an experience I had never had before.
