Skip to main content

17 posts tagged with "Leadership"

View all tags

Tailoring the arguments for persuading the decision maker

· 2 min read
  1. People make the mistake of focusing too much on the content of their argument and ==not enough on how they deliver that message==. Certain buzzwords only work for certain executives.
  2. Finding the chief decision maker and then tailoring the arguments can vastly improve the chances of success.
  3. There are five decision-making categories…
    1. Charismatic: exuberant about a new idea initially but make decisions based on balanced information.
    2. Thinker: may be contradictory and need to be cautiously worked through.
    3. Skeptic: make decisions based on ==gut feeling==.
    4. Follower: make decisions based on their trusted executives or their past similar decisions.
    5. Controller: focus on pure facts and analytics because of their fears and uncertainties.
StyleTarget CharacteristicsPursuader's Strategy
Charismaticeasily enthralled but make decisions based on balanced info
Emphasize bottom-line results
Focus on results
be straight-forward
benefits w/ visual aids
keyword: proven, actions, easy, clear
Thinker (Xing Wang)toughest to persuade
needs extensive detail
presents market research, surveys, cost/benefit analysis.
keyword: quality, numbers, expert, proof
Skepticchallenge everything and make decisions based on gut feelingsestablish credibility with endorsements from someone they trust.
keyword: grasp, power, suspect, trust.
Followerrely on past decisions
late adopter
Use testimonials to prove low risks.
present innovative but proven solutions.
keyword: expertise, similar to, innovate, previous.
Controllerunemotional, analytical
only implements own ideas
present highly structured arguments
==make listener own the idea==.
avoid aggressive advocacy.
keyword: facts, reason, power, just do it.

Humility is the road to character

· 2 min read

There are two inner selves in one person - Adam I and Adam II. Adam I pursues resume virtues, while Adam II pursues eulogy virtues.

The shift from a culture of humility to the culture of “big me” encourages people to nurture Adam I.

In the times of humility, elder George Bush, he resisted speaking about himself and crossed out the word “I” instinctively in the speech text. And the speechwriter would beg him: You’re running for president. You’ve got to talk about yourself. Finally, they did cow him into doing so. However, the next day he’d get a call from his mother. “George, you’re talking about yourself again.”

This shift may be caused by the increasingly tremendous benefits brought by fame. (Thanks for the mass media and then the Internet.) Since the culture prefers people who self-promote, people become more narcissistic than ever.

==Pride is the desire to see yourself as superior to everybody else. Humility is the self-confrontation of weakness==. Thus it is painful and takes efforts to build the character with humility. You are not alone. Kant says we are all made from ==crooked timber==.

How to improve my humility? Reflect on errors by asking questions and develop strategies to act differently next time. Did I make mistakes today? Am I putting my loves in disorder? Am I not fully present for people who are asking my advice or revealing some vulnerability? Am I more interested in making a good impression than in listening to other people in depth?

==The author David Brooks believes - only Adam II can experience deep satisfaction in life==. I think that regarding SWOT analysis, in addition to strength-opportunity strategy, this book advises another direction for actions: weaknesses-threats strategy.

The Characteristics of a Good Manager

· 3 min read

Answer: Morality, Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety

  • Dao: Truth is the law of the world and human development. It embodies Mao Zedong's principle of "seeking truth from facts" and Ray Dalio's "Embrace Reality And Deal With It." How can one grasp the truth? By observing more, learning more, asking questions, and solving problems. The truth that is held by a few and can benefit others is called insight, while the ability to predict future outcomes based on truth is called vision. When the truth you discover helps others, they will help you in return, which is the principle of "gaining support through righteousness."

  • Virtue: This means "give people what they want," serving the people, and efficiently creating products and services that the public enjoys. In companies and organizations, virtue is about aligning the goals of subordinates, managers, and the company to create synergy.

  • Benevolence: Empathy, the ability to see things from others' perspectives and understand what they are thinking. It also involves genuinely wishing for others to succeed.

  • Righteousness: Fairness and justice; achieving success requires rewarding good deeds and punishing wrongdoings.

  • Propriety: Adhering to rules, which means predictable professionalism, where actions meet the community's expectations and are subject to peer review. For example, as a software engineer, my goal is not only for users to enjoy my product but also for my peers to recognize my achievements, which is the true success in my profession. In East Asian rice civilization, diligence, waking early and sleeping late, and being earnest align with Eastern propriety. In the Western world, mercantilism emphasizes mutual benefit in business dealings, creating a pleasant atmosphere, which aligns with Western propriety. Eastern people should not expect Westerners to admire their diligence, nor should Westerners expect Easterners to praise their flattering words.

With these characteristics, one can achieve harmony among people. Coupled with seizing the right timing, great accomplishments can be achieved. If one is born at the wrong time, they may simply remain unknown in the world. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Original Text

The First Chapter of the Original Text

The five elements of Dao, Virtue, Benevolence, Righteousness, and Propriety are one body.

Dao is what people follow, allowing all things to be unaware of their origins. Virtue is what people obtain, enabling all things to achieve their desires. Benevolence is what people are close to, possessing compassion and empathy to sustain their existence. Righteousness is what people ought to pursue, rewarding good and punishing evil to establish achievements. Propriety is what people practice, rising early and retiring late to maintain the order of human relationships.

To be the foundation of humanity, one cannot lack any of these.

The wise and virtuous understand the principles of prosperity and decline, comprehend the numbers of success and failure, discern the trends of governance and chaos, and grasp the principles of advancement and retreat. When the time is right, they can reach the heights of ministerial positions; when opportunities arise, they can achieve extraordinary accomplishments. ==If they are not fortunate, they may simply remain unknown==. Therefore, their principles are lofty, and their names are esteemed by future generations.

Simon Sinek: How Great Leaders Inspire Action? Golden Circle

· One min read

People don't buy what you do. They buy why you do it. So Simon Sinek coined a phrase "Golden Circle" which has three tiers, from core to exterior - why, how, and what. Unfortunately, average leaders think from what, how, to why.

For example, Apple Company will say...

  1. Why: Everything we do, we believe in challenging the status quo. We believe in thinking differently.
  2. How: The way we challenge the status quo is by making our products beautifully designed, simple to use, and user-friendly
  3. What: We just happen to make great computers.
  4. Want to buy one?

Simon Sinek: How Great Leaders Inspire Action? The Golden Circle

· One min read

People don't care about what you do; they care about why you do it. Simon Sinek introduced a Golden Circle that starts from the inside out: Why? How? What? Unfortunately, mediocre leaders typically think from the outside in.

For example, Apple would say...

  1. Why? Everything we do is to challenge the status quo, and the belief we pursue is extraordinary.
  2. How? The way we challenge the status quo is by making our products simple and beautiful, and by perfecting the user experience.
  3. What? We just happen to make some really great computers.
  4. Want to buy one?