Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Management is a Controlling Game

Chapter 4 Management is a Controlling Game 1. Chen Deng's theory of good and evil It is said that Tao Qian feels that he is old and weak, and is determined to hand over the management of the company to Liu Bei.He brought Mi Zhu, the director of the office, and Chen Deng, the manager of the planning department, to have a secret talk.Mi Zhu said: "Liu Bei is indeed a talent worthy of important responsibilities. However, he is young and has not been in the company for a long time. How can everyone be convinced when he suddenly turns out?" Tao Qian asked: "Then, what do you think should be done?"

Chen Deng said: "You can conduct a competition within the company, and determine the candidate for the future general manager according to everyone's wishes." Tao Qian said: "Although your method is very good, it is not necessarily fair. As the saying goes, 'Among three people, there must be an accomplice'. There are many people in the company who are more popular than Liu Bei, but they are not The material to be the general manager. If you choose someone who is not human, it will definitely affect the future of the company. At that time, I am under the nine springs, how can I rest in peace!"

Chen Deng said: "You mean that you want to launch Liu Bei through the election, but you are afraid that the result of the election will go against your wishes, right? This is easy to handle—as the boss of the company, it is only natural for you to nominate candidates. You only need to find two people to act as foils for Liu Bei. In this way, the other two candidates will never affect the established results of the election, and it will be a matter of course for Liu Bei to be elected as the general manager. Even if there are some small accidents in the middle, I The manager of the planning department manipulated it, and he will definitely achieve his wish."

Tao Qian asked, "I'm afraid it's not the work of a gentleman to act like this?" Chen Deng said: "In the behavior philosophy of ancient Chinese, there is such a thought: evil people use righteous methods, and right methods are also evil; righteous people use evil methods, and evil methods are also righteous. In other words, it is: for legitimate purposes, You can do whatever it takes." Tao Qian said: "This method of righteousness and evil is indeed very insightful, but in real life it is like playing with fire. If it fails, it will ruin my reputation in Tao Qian's life. Please allow me to think twice."

Who would have thought that the autumn cold would be severe, and within a week, Tao Qian suddenly fell ill.After more than half a month of observation in the hospital, the doctor said that the gastric cancer was at an advanced stage and he was powerless to recover.Before dying, he called Mi Zhu and Chen Deng to the ward and gave three instructions: The first sentence: I can't do it anymore, so I will do it according to your method. The second sentence: Liu Bei is a good young man, you should help him well. The third sentence: You must think about the future of the company, and you must not let me down...

As he spoke, he pointed to his heart, and then closed his eyes peacefully. In the book, the author Luo Guanzhong said that Tao Qian let Xuzhou three times, referring to the fact that "Tao Qian finally handed over the Xuzhou company to Liu Bei after many efforts."It’s just that when the story reaches this point, I suddenly discovered that Tao Qian is not a widowed old man. He has two sons, the eldest son Tao Shang and the second son Tao Ying.It has since become a mystery. After Tao Qian's death, Mi Zhu and Chen Deng arranged an election based on the list of candidates left by him, and Liu Bei became the general manager logically, which can be regarded as fulfilling one of his last wishes.

2. Three fires for new officials When Liu Bei's new official took office, he was both happy and worried.To his delight, he suddenly possessed the right to manage nearly 2 million yuan of corporate assets, reaching the first peak of his career.Those who are worried are that at the beginning of taking office, people's hearts were scattered and there were many mistakes.Chen Deng told him: "Although you passed the election, there are still people who don't believe you, and some people even deliberately want to see your jokes. What you have to do now is to stabilize the morale of the army. In your words, it is to hold the bucket .”

Liu Bei said anxiously: "My 'leaky bucket theory' is a big-picture statement, and it depends on you to solve specific problems! You are a master planner and a veteran of the company, so you have to help me out! I have so much going on right now, I don’t even know where to start!” Chen Deng said: "The so-called stabilizing the morale of the army, the so-called hooping buckets, the first step is to satisfy the employees. How to satisfy the employees, there are usually three ways, which are often called 'three fires for new officials'." Liu Bei hurriedly asked: "Which three fires?"

Chen Deng said: "The first fire is to increase their salaries. You have just taken office, and many places need their support. Using salary increases in exchange for support is one of the common methods for new officials to take office." Liu Bei shook his head and said, "I don't know much about the company's financial situation, so how can I make false claims about a salary increase?" Chen Deng said: "Secondly, improve the company's working environment. For example, the sewer pipe in the toilet on the third floor has been blocked for two months, and several desks in the sales department have been damaged. You can redecorate the company and replace a batch of offices. Furniture, to give the company a new look."

Liu Bei still shook his head and said, "Maintenance is necessary. But decoration is a bottomless pit, and any amount of money can be installed in it. It's better to be cautious." Chen Deng said: "Third, do an employee satisfaction survey..." Liu Bei said: "It is indeed necessary to conduct an employee satisfaction survey. However, if there is an unmanageable situation in the survey, wouldn't it be self-inflicted?" Chen Deng said with a smile: "You can simply ignore the results after completing the employee satisfaction survey." Liu Bei was taken aback: "How can you be so irresponsible?"

Chen Deng still smiled calmly: "Don't you understand? This is called bureaucracy. A new official takes office with three fires, and you can't just burn all of them?" Liu Bei asked: "What's the use of doing this kind of investigation regardless of the result?" "What you need is another outcome," says Chen Deng. "You can use an Employee Survey to divert the attention of employees from what annoys them right now, and to what appears to be their own. What has been done wrong. Once the goal is achieved, it is too late for the employees to blame themselves, so how can they be dissatisfied with you, the new official?" Liu Bei suddenly realized, and said: "When I was studying (going to school), I hated the tricks of politicians the most. Could this be..." Chen Deng smiled and nodded: "That's right. What you are facing now is a kind of office politics. Do you have a better way?" Liu Bei was dumbfounded by the question, and remained silent for five minutes. Then, he sighed: "In this case, please design this "Employee Survey Questionnaire"?" Chen Deng observed his words and knew that he was already moved. After 20 minutes, he walked into Liu Bei's general manager's office again and handed him a design draft of the questionnaire: Employee Questionnaire (A) Please answer the following questions: 1. What problems do you think the company has in management? 2. What do you think are the deficiencies in the ability of the new general manager?What would you like the new general manager to do? 3. Which other colleagues do you think have problems in ability or morality?How should companies deal with them? 4. What improvements do you think the company should make in the working environment? 5. Is your salary enough?If not, what standard do you hope to achieve? Liu Bei looked at it for a long time, and said hesitantly: "If you want to say it, it is indeed necessary to ask such a question. But, for me personally, it seems to be asking for trouble?" Chen Deng said: "Yes, this kind of open-ended questioning is really easy to cause trouble. If you look at the next page, I changed to a closed-ended questioning method, and you will get a completely different effect." As he spoke, he handed him the second questionnaire: Employee Questionnaire (B) Please tick √ behind the answer you choose: 1. A good employee is one who works with the leader, right?right 2. Sometimes you don't understand the good intentions of the leader, do you?right 3. Loyal employees always have confidence in the company's future, don't they?Yes or no 4. In the past year, have you been a competent employee?Yes or no 5. For the future of the company, are you willing to sacrifice your personal interests?Yes or no Liu Bei looked funny, and finally smiled with a sad face: "Isn't it embarrassing for you to ask like this?" Chen Deng replied: "Yes, once this person becomes shy, why would he attack others? Once the employees become shy, they won't bother to gossip about you!" Liu Bei laughed loudly: "That's a great question—Chen Deng, you really are here. As a new official, I will set you on fire first, so that they will be ashamed first!" 3. The importance of authority When the "Employee Survey Questionnaire" was distributed, everyone felt insecure, and then respected the new general manager.The company's situation suddenly changed, as if it was a clear sky after the wind cleared and the clouds cleared.Liu Bei was so happy that he called Chen Deng's office and asked him to find a hotel for a little celebration after get off work. "Why don't you go now?" Chen Deng said, "You are also here for work, why take up your personal time?" "Really?" Liu Bei didn't react for a moment. Chen Deng said: "You have to understand that being a leader is different from being a subordinate. How does a leader work? Usually three times a day, turning around the wheel in the morning, turning around the plate in the afternoon, and turning around the skirt at night .You don’t have a business car yet, so you can’t turn the wheels. At night, you don’t have any hobbies, so you can’t turn your skirts. How about it? Just go around the plate in the afternoon?” Liu Bei was startled when he heard it, pondered for a while, and then laughed loudly: "Chen Deng, your thoughts sound evil! Well, it's up to you. Tell me, where should you go?" When Liu Bei walked into the private room of the hotel, Chen Deng was already waiting there. "Actually, it's not just for eating." Liu Bei looked at him and asked slowly, "Chen Deng, do you think I will become a fatuous manager?" Chen Deng said: "I knew you were a person who focused on work. How do you say a saying? Treating guests to dinner is also for work-people take it as a big joke in the officialdom, but when it comes to you, it is a joke. Tell the truth." He raised his glass as he spoke, and the two drank each other for a while, and then he continued: "You are a man of pursuit, otherwise Tao Qian wouldn't like you so much and choose you as his successor. In two days, the "Three Kingdoms Manager" magazine will come to interview you. Also, I heard that even Cao Cao, who was named a star entrepreneur last year, was very jealous of you. He asked the reporter of "Three Kingdoms Manager": "What is Liu Bei doing?" What kind of person is it? It doesn’t take half an effort to sit in Xuzhou!’.” Liu Bei smiled wryly, "But why do I feel a lack of oxygen now?" Chen Deng spent 70% of his mind on eating Jiwei shrimp, and the other 30% talking to Liu Bei: "Yes, this is called altitude sickness, and you will get used to it soon." Liu Bei's appetite was not as good as that of Chen Deng's. He asked the waiter to pour a glass of boiled water, held it in his hand, and said, "I mean, these employees are really honest, and they are actually made to obey by a questionnaire-like form." In other words, all horses are silent, if things go on like this, will the company still have any vitality in the future?" Chen Deng stopped his mouth and said seriously: "Activity? I think the authority of the administrator is more important than vitality. China's imperial power seems so sacred, but from another perspective, this kind of power is also very unreasonable." .Without authority, there will be no workplace rules that employees abide by. Then where will the vitality be? It will all become water vapor." Liu Bei asked, "Why is authority so important?" Chen Deng said: "Because management is a controlling game, authority is a controlling force." "Management is a controlling game?" Liu Bei suddenly realized something, and that was exactly what he needed. Chen Deng said affirmatively: "Management is a controlling game. What I said to Tao Qian before is a controlling game theory." Liu Bei asked, "Is control and authority necessary?" "Of course." Chen Deng replied in an unquestionable tone, "Mencius, a sage in ancient my country, divided people into two categories. One kind makes rules, and the other follows them; People work hard. He also said that the one who governs the people does not affect the people. The so-called "rules the people" means control. As a laborer, you should have enough control to let those employees learn to abide by the rules, that is: one On the one hand, you have to learn to respect the leader, which is the submissive post you see now; on the other hand, you have to work actively and diligently, which is what you just said is full of vitality." Liu Bei suddenly realized, and said with a sigh: "I used to understand this famous saying of Mencius, but I didn't understand it. Hearing what you said, I finally grasped a life-saving straw." "Huh?" Chen Deng deliberately made a very funny angry look, and reprimanded half-jokingly: "This famous saying is the program of management science. It is as strong and powerful as an iron chain. How can it be compared to straw?" Liu Bei covered his mouth in embarrassment, and said: "Spoken words, slipped words-Chen Deng, you are simply an amazing management expert, please send Buddha to the west, and help me draw up a plan to govern people. How does the author lead to a management plan for people, how?" Chen Deng said: "I'm just thinking about management philosophy, and I don't know much about the practice of management. In other words, I can't see the trees in the forest, and I don't know how to plant trees." 4. How does a ruler treat others Liu Bei thought for a while and said: "Thoughts determine behavior, what I want is your thoughts. As for management practices, I can design them according to your ideas in the future. Please explain clearly to me first. Since management is a controlling The game, then, what kind of mentality should I use to understand the game and participate in the game?" Chen Deng also pondered for a while, and said: "Since Mr. Liu said so, I remembered it. A few days ago, I wrote an essay titled "On the Rules of the Game in Management", which was about those who rule people. How to convey the meaning of people. Maybe it will be of some reference to you." The next day, the first thing Liu Bei did at work was to go to the planning department to find Chen Deng.Chen Deng Said: "How can I work so hard for you? I sent the manuscript to your e-mail last night." Liu Bei said again and again: "Good! Good! Good! I'm not going anywhere today, I'll go and see it right away!" As soon as he returned to the office, he immediately turned on the computer and found the essay by Chen Deng. On the Rules of the Game in Management 1. Management is a game of control, if you are smart you will win, otherwise you will have to leave it to fate. 2. In order to win the game as much as possible, you should first design the rules of the game—a complete set of workplace rules, including job authority, employee behavior norms, and a "carrot + stick" reward and punishment system. 3. In front of the game, you have only two choices: either, you are sure that you can win, so you invest enough energy to win everything; or, you don't play this game. 4. If you only hope and not believe, then it is not in your hands to decide whether you can win the game.A restless mind prevents you from acting on your decision, thereby taking the power to decide whether you win or not. 5. Because everyone in the game is a part of your life, if you can control yourself, you can beat everyone. 6. Many times you can find that in order to win for yourself, the best way is to unite with others for a win-win situation.Oddly, someone always loses in a win-win game.If you are smart, the one who loses is not you. 7. You are everyone's opponent, you are either used or eliminated; everyone is your opponent, some need to be used, and some need to be eliminated. 8. Everyone involved in the game is looking for weaknesses in others and trying to exploit them.To do this, you must be firm and alert. 9. Showing some kind of weakness on purpose (like being confused) because you're smart enough is a smart way to put your opponents on their toes. 10. To win a control game, you should learn to use your emotions.Your emotions can impress others, and can also be used by opponents. 11. The so-called life is actually how to deal with opponents.You are your own worst opponent. 12. In management work, don't be trapped in a certain game rule.All the rules are to win the game smoothly, please make good use of these rules. As Liu Bei watched, he thought to himself: "This Chen Deng is simply too scary. He has said everything. Writing a pen is like swinging a knife, and every sentence can be seen in the flesh. Well, with this theory of game rules, I, Liu Bei, deal with people in the world like a butcher and an ox, with ease. So, why don't you worry about accomplishing something great!" Thinking of this, he unconsciously picked up the phone: "Chen Deng, you are like 'As long as you make a move, you will see real kung fu'! If you are free, let's have lunch together?" Chen Deng said: "Where are you going to eat together? What's the matter?" Liu Bei said, "I want to promote you to assistant general manager." Chen Deng asked: "Why?" Liu Bei said: "Because of your outstanding talent. Without you, Chen Deng, I would not have passed the election so smoothly and became the company's new general manager. Without you, Chen Deng, we would not be able to stabilize the morale of the army. There is a noisy situation. Didn’t you say that management is a game of control? In order for all employees of the company to win this game together, I need your wisdom and strength.” Chen Deng was silent for 5 seconds, and asked: "Aren't you afraid that others will be jealous of me? We still have to pay attention to dealing with the emotional issues in the game!" Liu Bei said, "This little trouble can be solved with the movement of your little finger." Chen Deng said: "Words can't be said that way. In that essay, I forgot a sentence-everyone is managing their own life, so the relationship between people is interactive, and you will also be influenced by others in some form." control." Liu Bei asked, "Have you discovered anything new?" Chen Deng said: "I heard that Director Mi from the office visited your second brother Guan Yu's house last night and asked Second Master Guan to be a matchmaker to introduce her younger sister to you." Liu Bei was taken aback: "You mean Mi Zhu? Why does he care about my life-long affairs?" Chen Deng said: "This is a bit like a political marriage. He wants to control you through his sister to strengthen his position in the company. Fortunately, Director Mi is an honest man and has no other malicious intentions. His sister is also very virtuous. You You can’t just focus on your career and ignore your private life, can you?” Liu Bei laughed easily: "It seems that controlling games are everywhere in life!" "Yes," Chen Deng said emotionally on the phone, "in people's social life, love is a kind of magical control." 5. Author's comments Management is a game of control, and therefore management often runs the risk of deviating from social ethics.Therefore, effective management often abandons secular morality.In ancient China, there was a brilliant statement that "a righteous man uses evil methods, and evil methods are also righteous." Martin Luther, a Westerner, also had an eternal saying that "in order to achieve the highest morality, one can do whatever it takes." Machiavelli (Niccol* Machiavelli) is a representative of effective management. In his famous book "The Prince", he wrote many shocking remarks: ·A competent monarch (leader) must have the majesty of a lion and the cunning of a fox. ·Monarchs (leaders) who only have secular virtues often lose effective control in management because they care too much about secular virtues, which leads to the destruction of the country (organization). • Any "crime" against worldly virtues is permissible as long as the outcome is necessary for the attainment of justice. ·To be a monarch (leader), one must know how to sacrifice others. In an organization, the leader is responsible for the survival and decline of the organization, so his vision must go beyond the shackles of worldly virtues. To do good, he must be able to do "evil" in order to achieve the goal of good. Once you succeed, you may suffer a lot of infamy.However, if you don't even have the courage to endure infamy, what strength can you rely on to ensure the effectiveness of management and the achievement of goals?