San francisco opera box office

Craftsmanship: the Meaning of Life

"Manage more, supervise less."				sports

- Bryce's LawWhen I got into the work force				writers who could never understand why
back in the mid-1970's it seemed				Butkus played as hard as he

everyone dressed in a suit and tie, drank				did year after year for a losing football
black coffee, smoked				team. True, Dick loved the

their brains out, and worked their butts				game, but beyond that, the sports writers
off. Today, golf shirts				didn't understand one thing

have replaced suits, herbal tea and bottled				about the seven time All-Pro linebacker:
water have replaced				Butkus took his job

coffee, nobody is allowed to smoke, and				personally. It was important to him that
rarely does anyone work				his opponents know that

beyond 5:00pm. More importantly, we used to				they had been tackled by the best player; as
care about the work we				he said, "When they

produced; there was a sense of				get up from the ground I want them to say
craftsmanship, regardless of the job.My				'it must have been Butkus
Brother-in-law in Cincinnati conducted me on
a tour of his company's				that got me'." Dick Butkus was a
				craftsman.The craftsman has a burning desire
machine-tool shop years ago and showed me				to produce a superior product/service
how he could take a block of
				because he sees it as a reflection of
aluminum and convert it into a				himself. As such, the lines delineating
high-precision machine tool. It was a
				their personal life and professional life
pleasure to watch him work, as it is to				are blurred. This is a significant
watch anyone who knows
				characteristic that clearly separates a
what they are doing, be it a waitress, a				craftsman from the average worker. The
programmer, a laborer or
				craftsman's work is his life. He does not
a clerk.Quality and service used to be				shirk responsibility, but rather
considered paramount in this
				embraces it with confidence and embosses his
country. If it wasn't just right, you were				name on the finished product.
expected to do it over
				Conversely, making a work related mistake of
again until you got it right. We cared				any kind pains a true craftsman.Job titles
about what we produced				are normally inconsequential to the craftsman
				who is more
because it was a reflection of our personal
character and				interested in delivering a quality product
				service enjoyed by the
integrity. But somewhere along the line we
lost our way and				customer. Instead, the craftsman takes
				pleasure in being touted as
craftsmanship has fallen by the wayside.
Why? Probably because				the best in his craft. He appreciates
				recognition; when someone
we no longer care.In today's litigious
society, employees are acutely aware that it				makes a compliment about a product, the
is				craftsman views it as a

difficult to be fired due to poor				personal compliment. This too runs contrary
performance. They know they will				to today's corporate

still get paid and receive benefits,				world where people desperately seek
regardless of the amount of effort				recognition through simple

they put forth. Consequently, there is				job titles. Want someone with an inflated
little to encourage people				ego? Give them a title.

to perform better. Money isn't a motivating				Want something done right? Call a
factor anymore. People				craftsman.Productivity"Dependable",
				"professional", and "resourceful" are
now expect bonuses, raises and other perks				adjectives that
to be paid out regardless
				aptly describe the craftsman. He is not one
of how well they perform during the				who fabricates excuses but,
year.We've also become a nation content with
doing small things. America				rather, always finds a way to get the job
				done. The craftsman is typically
used to be known as a powerhouse that could
tackle large projects,				your most productive employee. He is
				mindful of the concept of productivity
such as building skyscrapers, designing
innovative bridges and tunnels				that we have touted for years:Productivity =
				Effectiveness X EfficiencyMost people
spanning substantial bodies of water,				fallaciously equate productivity with
engineering transcontinental				efficiency, which simply

railroads and highway systems, conquering				gauges how fast we can perform a given task.
air and space travel, and				Effectiveness, on the other hand,

defending freedom not just once but in two				validates the necessity of the task itself.
world wars. If you really				There is nothing more unproductive

wanted something done, you talked to the				than to do something efficiently that should
Americans and no one else. Now				not have been done at all. An

we get excited over iPods, cell phones, and				industrial robot, for example, can
other electronic trinkets.Many believe				efficiently perform such tasks as welding.
Craftsmanship is in decline due to the				But
general apathy found
				if you are welding the wrong thing, then it
in today's society. Maybe. I tend to				is counterproductive. Going back to
believe it is due to an erosion
				our description of a methodology,
of our moral values. Let me give you an				effectiveness defines "Who/What/When/Where
example. Having a child in college,				Why",

my interest was piqued recently by an				efficiency defines "How." The craftsman is
article describing the pervasiveness of				well aware of the difference

cheating and plagiarism in our schools. It				between the two and knows how to apply both.
is not my intent to make a				As such, the craftsman is in tune

political statement here but many of the				with his work environment and corporate
students mentioned in the article				culture.So how do we make craftsmen?Not
				easily. Because of the human dynamics
rationalized their cheating on the fact that				involved with the craftsman,
one of our past Presidents
				you will need to be a pretty intuitive
cheated and lied under oath, and got away				manager or industrial
with it. They figured if it is
				psychologist to make it happen. Selecting
okay for the Commander-in-Chief to act this				suitable candidates is the
way, it was an acceptable form
				logical first step. Devise an aptitude test
of behavior.Arnold Toynbee, the famed				to determine the candidate's
English historian, observed, "Civilizations
				suitability to become a craftsman. After
die from suicide, not by murder." If the				all, "you cannot make a silk
moral fabric of our society
				purse from a sow's ear." Aside from
dies, our story is told as evidenced by				specific knowledge and experience
other great civilizations that
				in a given field (e.g., programming,
long preceded us. Our perspective needs to				woodworking, construction, accounting,
be realigned: Our personal
				etc.), here are some other important traits
and professional lives must be viewed as				to look for:
one. As Toynbee remarked,
				Fertility of mind - judge his ability to
"The supreme accomplishment is to blur the				learn, to adapt to changing
line between work and play." By
				conditions, and to look beyond his scope of
doing so, we identify more closely with our				work. Evaluate his
work and assume a greater
				professional curiosity.Confidence - judge
pride in workmanship. We do not need to				how well the candidate knows himself,
hear this from our boss, but
				particularly how well he knows his own
rather from within. As strange as it may				limitations. He
sound, I see Craftsmanship as
				should admit his deficiencies and not
being patriotic in nature; doing a good				fabricate excuses.Dedication - judge his
quality job is part of leading				loyalty and determination to

a good and honorable life and builds on the				accomplish something. What is his
individual's esteem, the				attendance record?

company he works for, and the country he				What outside clubs and organizations does he
lives in.The biggest problem though is that				belong
we have forgotten how to manage
				to and how active is he in
people. The manager's primary goal is to				them?Entrepreneurial spirit - judge his
create the proper work				personal initiative.

environment for employees to produce the				Is he driven to succeed (but not to the
desired work products. This				point of reckless

is different than a supervisory capacity				abandon)? Does he have a problem with
that directs how each person				accountability?

performs the various tasks of a job. In				This says a lot about assuming
fact, I encourage managers to				responsibility.Attention to detail - judge
				his ability to focus on a subject.
manage more and supervise less. I cringe
when I see a manager try to				Does he have a problem with discipline or
				organization? A person's
"micromanage" either a Fortune 500 company
or a non-profit organization.Yes, people need				dress, mannerisms, and speech says a lot
to be trained in order to properly				about a person.Reliability - judge his
				ability to assume responsibility and
perform their work but following this,
employees should be mature				carry a task through to
				completion.Resourcefulness - judge his
enough to supervise themselves. In the old				ability to adapt to changing
days, management stressed
				conditions and persevere to see a task
discipline, accountability, and structure;				through to completion.
three ugly words in today's
				The candidate cannot be inflexible; he must
workplace.Understanding CraftsmanshipSome				be able to find
might say craftsmanship is a simple concept
that we should				solutions to solve problems.Socialization
				skills - does he work better alone or as a
intuitively know. Not true; most people				team
today have no comprehension as
				player? His position may depend on his
to what makes up a good craftsman; they have				answer.
either forgotten or it has
				When you have selected suitable candidates,
simply passed them by. Craftsmanship can be				here are three areas to
found in any field of endeavor
				concentrate on:
imaginable, be it in the product sector or
service industry. Craftsmanship,				Develop their skills and knowledge by
				allowing such things as:
therefore, is universally applicable to any
line of work.Craftsmanship is not				participation in trade groups, outside
"workmanship", nor is it synonymous with				certification and on-going
quality,
				training, subscriptions to trade journals,
although the three concepts are closely				continued education,
related. Let's begin by
				etc. Some companies even go as far as to
giving "Craftsmanship" a definition: "The				develop an in-house
production and delivery
				school to teach the company's way of doing
of quality goods or services from highly				things. If the in-house
skilled workmen."Quality relates to the
absence of errors or defects in the finished				school is good, it will promote confidence
				through consistency. Even
product or service. In other words,
finished goods operate				if people leave the company, they will
				recommend your company because
according to their specifications (customers
get precisely what				they know the quality of the work produced.
				Supporting the education
they ordered). Such products are normally
durable and require minimal				needs of our workers is not only smart, it
				is good business.Teach them the need for
maintenance. Craftsmanship produces quality				producing quality work; they should
products. In the absence
				become intimate with all aspects of their
of craftsmen, a rigorous methodology or				work process (5W+H).
assembly line process is
				Further, instill discipline and patience in
required to produce quality goods using				their work effort.Change their attitude
workers without the expertise				towards development so they become more

of craftsmen. Such processes detail "Who"				focused on delivering a quality end-product.
is to perform "What" work,				This is perhaps

"When", "Where", "Why" and "How" (5W+H),				the most difficult element to teach.
thereby assuring a quality				However, it can be realized

product or service is produced. Such is the				by having them become intimate with the
underlying rationale of				needs of the customer

the ISO 9000 certification as used by many				(have them visit or work with a customer for
companies today. The point				awhile - "let them

is, quality is not the exclusive domain of				walk in the customer's shoes"). It may also
the craftsman.Craftsmanship is also a human				be necessary to
trait. Some might argue a computer or
				change their form of remuneration by going
industrial robot can produce quality				to a reward system
products and are, therefore,
				for work produced (as opposed to guaranteed
craftsmen. However, we must remember these				income regardless
devices are programmed by
				of what is produced). Changing the mode of
human beings in accordance with the rules of				financial compensation
the craftsman. As such,
				is highly controversial in today's business
they are an extension or tool of the				world. But, as an
craftsman.Craftsmanship can be found in
either the overall work process or				example, can you imagine the change of
				attitude of today's professional
a section of it. For example, there are
craftsmen who are intimate				athletes if they were paid based on their
				accomplishments (e.g., runs
with all facets of building furniture, such
as a table, a chair or				or points scored, hits, rebounds, etc.)
				rather than having a
desk, and can implement the product from
start to finish. However,				guaranteed income? Their motivation and
				attitude towards
as products grow in complexity, it becomes
difficult to find people				their profession and team would change
				radically.Candidates must learn to respect
suitably qualified to build them from the				their institution, the process
womb to the tomb. Consider
				by which they work, fellow human beings, and
military weapons alone, such as the				themselves. They must
complicated ships, tanks, and
				also learn not to be afraid to TRY; that
airplanes we now use, with thousands or				they must put their best
millions of parts to
				foot forward, win or lose. Bottom-line:
assemble. Such complexity makes it				they must learn that their
impossible for a single person
				work has meaning and worth. If they don't
to have the expertise to build the whole				enjoy their work, they
product. The same is true
				shouldn't be doing it.
in the service sector where different types
of expertise and				"There are two things that I want you to
				make up your minds to: first,
capabilities may be required. In other
words, craftsmen have a				that you are going to have a good time as
				long as you live - I have no
specific scope of work. The scope of work
may relate to other				use for the sour-faced man - and next, that
				you are going to do
types of craftsmen through a chain of work
dependencies, e.g.,				something worthwhile, that you are going to
				work hard and do the
Craftsmen A, B and C concentrate on separate
sub-assemblies which				things you set out to do."

are eventually joined into a single				- President Theodore Roosevelt
product.AttributesSo, what are the attributes
of a craftsman? What makes a craftsman a				Talk to schoolchildren in Oyster Bay,
				Christmas-time 1898CertificationTeaching the
craftsman? There are three basic attributes				elements listed above probably cannot be done
described herein:1. Possesses the necessary				in one
knowledge and skills to perform the work.The
craftsman is an expert in his field of				fell swoop. Further, companies simply don't
endeavor; so much so that				have the time or money to

he could easily serve as an instructor in				wait for the craftsman to be produced.
the subject matter. But the				Instead, they must understand

craftsman is also smart enough to know that				the human spirit needs to be cultivated and
education is not a one				be allowed to grow over

time thing, that his world and field evolve				time. Because of this, it is strongly
as new tools and techniques				recommended that an in-house

are introduced. As such, the craftsman is a				certification program be devised specifying
student of his profession				what the candidate should

and is constantly looking to improve				know and what skills and talents he should
himself. This is exercised through				demonstrate. This should be

such things as continued education, routine				divided into classes of progressive
certification, studying books				expertise; e.g., apprentice, intermediary,

and trade publications, and industrial				and craftsman. The ancient builders in
groups. The craftsman willingly				Egypt, Rome, and Greece understood

participates in trade groups, often at his				this concept and devised such classes of
own expense, in order to network				workmen. Other disciplines and

with his peers.It is Important to note that				schools follow similar tactics (the various
the craftsman does not need to be told				degrees or belts in martial

he needs periodic training to sharpen his				arts for example). Each degree is based on
skills. Instead, he takes the				specific prerequisites to

personal initiative to stay on top of his				master before moving on to the next level.An
game. Further, the craftsman				in-house certification program has the added
				nuance of making
has no problem with a periodic job review;
in fact, he welcomes it for				people feel special which greatly enhances
				their self esteem. If
it might bring out a weakness in a skill he
needs to sharpen.2. Attention to detail.The				they are made to feel like a vital part of
craftsman understands and respects the				the company, regardless if
process of building/delivering
				their work of a large magnitude or trivial,
a product or service and is acutely aware of				they will strive to do
the penalties for cutting
				what is best for the company overall, not
corners. Earlier we discussed the need for				just themselves. Consequently,
a methodology that specifies
				their work adds meaning to their life.There
5W+H. The craftsman is intimate with all				is one pitfall to all of this; today's
details of his scope of work,				"go-go" management

so much so, he could probably write the				style fails to see how craftsmanship adds
methodology himself. Further,				value to the company. In

his intimacy of the work process means he				fact, there were companies back in the
can produce a reliable estimate				1980's that shut down such

of time and costs to perform the				programs simply to reduce costs. As a
work.Although many of the craftsman's tasks				result, quality suffered,
may be repetitive, it doesn't
				repeat business was lost, products were more
mean he easily falls into a rut. Instead,				in need of repair,
he is constantly looking
				absenteeism on the job escalated, etc. Want
for new tools and techniques to improve the				value? How does
work process. As such,
				a loyal customer base who has confidence in
he plays the role of Industrial Engineer who				your products or
is normally charged
				services sound? And what effect would
with such a task.The craftsman's attention				employee harmony have,
to detail also means that he demonstrates
				particularly if they believed in the work
patience in his work effort. Again, wary of				they were producing? It
cutting corners, the
				would be mind-boggling, all because we had
craftsman must possess such patience in				faith in the human
order to produce the product
				spirit to produce superior results.A final
the right way.3. Views professional life as				note: craftsmanship is not a one time thing.
an extension of his personal life.The				After it has
craftsman identifies with the end product
which is where				been instilled in people, it has to be
				cultivated and perpetuated. If
pride in workmanship comes from. In his
mind, the craftsman has				a manager slips even for a moment, it will
				go right out the window and
been charged with the responsibility of
producing something, and				it will take time to bring it back to life.
				As for me, I like to post
wanting to satisfy the customer, puts forth
his best effort to				motivational reminders kind of like the one
				recently spotted in the
produce it. In other words, craftsmen take
their work				Hickey Freeman manufacturing facility in New
				York,
personally. This is a difficult trait to
teach particularly in				"Excellence is Tolerated."Tim Bryce is the
				Managing Director of M. Bryce & Associates
today's society where the focus is more on				(MBA)
financial compensation
				of Palm Harbor, Florida and has 30 years of
than on the work product itself. It may				experience in the field.
sound naive, but the
				He is available for training and consulting
craftsman believes he will be suitably				on an international basis.
compensated for
				He can be contacted at: Copyright Â© 2006
producing superior results.Years ago, Dick				MBA. All rights reserved.
Butkus of the Chicago Bears (NFL) confounded

1 A B C D 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 77 78 79 80 81 82 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110

Your ultimate opera resource

Craftsmanship: the Meaning of Life