| "Manage more, supervise less."
| |
| | Dick Butkus of the Chicago Bears (NFL)
|
| - Bryce's LawWhen I got into the work
| |
| | confounded sports
|
| force back in the mid-1970's it seemed
| |
| | writers who could never understand why
|
| everyone dressed in a suit and tie,
| |
| | Butkus played as hard as he
|
| drank black coffee, smoked
| |
| | did year after year for a losing
|
| their brains out, and worked their butts
| |
| | football team. True, Dick loved the
|
| off. Today, golf shirts
| |
| | game, but beyond that, the sports
|
| have replaced suits, herbal tea and
| |
| | writers didn't understand one thing
|
| bottled water have replaced
| |
| | about the seven time All-Pro linebacker:
|
| coffee, nobody is allowed to smoke, and
| |
| | Butkus took his job
|
| rarely does anyone work
| |
| | personally. It was important to him
|
| beyond 5:00pm. More importantly, we
| |
| | that his opponents know that
|
| used to care about the work we
| |
| | they had been tackled by the best
|
| produced; there was a sense of
| |
| | player; as he said, "When they
|
| craftsmanship, regardless of the job.My
| |
| | get up from the ground I want them to
|
| Brother-in-law in Cincinnati conducted me
| |
| | say 'it must have been Butkus
|
| on a tour of his company's
| |
| | that got me'." Dick Butkus was a
|
| machine-tool shop years ago and showed
| |
| | craftsman.The craftsman has a burning
|
| me how he could take a block of
| |
| | desire to produce a superior product
|
| aluminum and convert it into a
| |
| | service
|
| high-precision machine tool. It was a
| |
| | because he sees it as a reflection of
|
| pleasure to watch him work, as it is to
| |
| | himself. As such, the lines delineating
|
| watch anyone who knows
| |
| | their personal life and professional
|
| what they are doing, be it a waitress, a
| |
| | life are blurred. This is a significant
|
| programmer, a laborer or
| |
| | characteristic that clearly separates a
|
| a clerk.Quality and service used to be
| |
| | craftsman from the average worker. The
|
| considered paramount in this
| |
| | craftsman's work is his life. He does
|
| country. If it wasn't just right, you
| |
| | not shirk responsibility, but rather
|
| were expected to do it over
| |
| | embraces it with confidence and embosses
|
| again until you got it right. We cared
| |
| | his name on the finished product.
|
| about what we produced
| |
| | Conversely, making a work related
|
| because it was a reflection of our
| |
| | mistake of any kind pains a true
|
| personal character and
| |
| | craftsman.Job titles are normally
|
| integrity. But somewhere along the line
| |
| | inconsequential to the craftsman who is
|
| we lost our way and
| |
| | more
|
| craftsmanship has fallen by the wayside.
| |
| | interested in delivering a quality
|
| Why? Probably because
| |
| | product/service enjoyed by the
|
| we no longer care.In today's litigious
| |
| | customer. Instead, the craftsman takes
|
| society, employees are acutely aware that
| |
| | pleasure in being touted as
|
| it is
| |
| | the best in his craft. He appreciates
|
| difficult to be fired due to poor
| |
| | recognition; when someone
|
| performance. They know they will
| |
| | makes a compliment about a product, the
|
| still get paid and receive benefits,
| |
| | craftsman views it as a
|
| regardless of the amount of effort
| |
| | personal compliment. This too runs
|
| they put forth. Consequently, there is
| |
| | contrary to today's corporate
|
| little to encourage people
| |
| | world where people desperately seek
|
| to perform better. Money isn't a
| |
| | recognition through simple
|
| motivating factor anymore. People
| |
| | job titles. Want someone with an
|
| now expect bonuses, raises and other
| |
| | inflated ego? Give them a title.
|
| perks to be paid out regardless
| |
| | Want something done right? Call a
|
| of how well they perform during the
| |
| | craftsman.Productivity"Dependable",
|
| year.We've also become a nation content
| |
| | "professional", and "resourceful" are
|
| with doing small things. America
| |
| | adjectives that
|
| used to be known as a powerhouse that
| |
| | aptly describe the craftsman. He is not
|
| could tackle large projects,
| |
| | one who fabricates excuses but,
|
| such as building skyscrapers, designing
| |
| | rather, always finds a way to get the
|
| innovative bridges and tunnels
| |
| | job done. The craftsman is typically
|
| spanning substantial bodies of water,
| |
| | your most productive employee. He is
|
| engineering transcontinental
| |
| | mindful of the concept of productivity
|
| railroads and highway systems,
| |
| | that we have touted for
|
| conquering air and space travel, and
| |
| | years:Productivity = Effectiveness X
|
| defending freedom not just once but in
| |
| | EfficiencyMost people fallaciously equate
|
| two world wars. If you really
| |
| | productivity with efficiency, which
|
| wanted something done, you talked to the
| |
| | simply
|
| Americans and no one else. Now
| |
| | gauges how fast we can perform a given
|
| we get excited over iPods, cell phones,
| |
| | task. Effectiveness, on the other hand,
|
| and other electronic trinkets.Many
| |
| | validates the necessity of the task
|
| believe Craftsmanship is in decline due
| |
| | itself. There is nothing more
|
| to the general apathy found
| |
| | unproductive
|
| in today's society. Maybe. I tend to
| |
| | than to do something efficiently that
|
| believe it is due to an erosion
| |
| | should not have been done at all. An
|
| of our moral values. Let me give you an
| |
| | industrial robot, for example, can
|
| example. Having a child in college,
| |
| | efficiently perform such tasks as
|
| my interest was piqued recently by an
| |
| | welding. But
|
| article describing the pervasiveness of
| |
| | if you are welding the wrong thing, then
|
| cheating and plagiarism in our schools.
| |
| | it is counterproductive. Going back to
|
| It is not my intent to make a
| |
| | our description of a methodology,
|
| political statement here but many of the
| |
| | effectiveness defines "Who/What/When
|
| students mentioned in the article
| |
| | Where/Why",
|
| rationalized their cheating on the fact
| |
| | efficiency defines "How." The craftsman
|
| that one of our past Presidents
| |
| | is well aware of the difference
|
| cheated and lied under oath, and got
| |
| | between the two and knows how to apply
|
| away with it. They figured if it is
| |
| | both. As such, the craftsman is in tune
|
| okay for the Commander-in-Chief to act
| |
| | with his work environment and corporate
|
| this way, it was an acceptable form
| |
| | culture.So how do we make craftsmen?Not
|
| of behavior.Arnold Toynbee, the famed
| |
| | easily. Because of the human dynamics
|
| English historian, observed,
| |
| | involved with the craftsman,
|
| "Civilizations
| |
| | you will need to be a pretty intuitive
|
| die from suicide, not by murder." If
| |
| | manager or industrial
|
| the moral fabric of our society
| |
| | psychologist to make it happen.
|
| dies, our story is told as evidenced by
| |
| | Selecting suitable candidates is the
|
| other great civilizations that
| |
| | logical first step. Devise an aptitude
|
| long preceded us. Our perspective needs
| |
| | test to determine the candidate's
|
| to be realigned: Our personal
| |
| | suitability to become a craftsman.
|
| and professional lives must be viewed as
| |
| | After all, "you cannot make a silk
|
| one. As Toynbee remarked,
| |
| | purse from a sow's ear." Aside from
|
| "The supreme accomplishment is to blur
| |
| | specific knowledge and experience
|
| the line between work and play." By
| |
| | in a given field (e.g., programming,
|
| doing so, we identify more closely with
| |
| | woodworking, construction, accounting,
|
| our work and assume a greater
| |
| | etc.), here are some other important
|
| pride in workmanship. We do not need to
| |
| | traits to look for:
|
| hear this from our boss, but
| |
| | Fertility of mind - judge his ability to
|
| rather from within. As strange as it
| |
| | learn, to adapt to changing
|
| may sound, I see Craftsmanship as
| |
| | conditions, and to look beyond his scope
|
| being patriotic in nature; doing a good
| |
| | of work. Evaluate his
|
| quality job is part of leading
| |
| | professional curiosity.Confidence -
|
| a good and honorable life and builds on
| |
| | judge how well the candidate knows
|
| the individual's esteem, the
| |
| | himself,
|
| company he works for, and the country he
| |
| | particularly how well he knows his own
|
| lives in.The biggest problem though is
| |
| | limitations. He
|
| that we have forgotten how to manage
| |
| | should admit his deficiencies and not
|
| people. The manager's primary goal is
| |
| | fabricate excuses.Dedication - judge his
|
| to create the proper work
| |
| | loyalty and determination to
|
| environment for employees to produce the
| |
| | accomplish something. What is his
|
| desired work products. This
| |
| | attendance record?
|
| is different than a supervisory capacity
| |
| | What outside clubs and organizations
|
| that directs how each person
| |
| | does he belong
|
| performs the various tasks of a job. In
| |
| | to and how active is he in
|
| fact, I encourage managers to
| |
| | them?Entrepreneurial spirit - judge his
|
| manage more and supervise less. I
| |
| | personal initiative.
|
| cringe when I see a manager try to
| |
| | Is he driven to succeed (but not to the
|
| "micromanage" either a Fortune 500
| |
| | point of reckless
|
| company or a non-profit organization.Yes,
| |
| | abandon)? Does he have a problem with
|
| people need to be trained in order to
| |
| | accountability?
|
| properly
| |
| | This says a lot about assuming
|
| perform their work but following this,
| |
| | responsibility.Attention to detail -
|
| employees should be mature
| |
| | judge his ability to focus on a subject.
|
| enough to supervise themselves. In the
| |
| | Does he have a problem with discipline
|
| old days, management stressed
| |
| | or organization? A person's
|
| discipline, accountability, and
| |
| | dress, mannerisms, and speech says a lot
|
| structure; three ugly words in today's
| |
| | about a person.Reliability - judge his
|
| workplace.Understanding
| |
| | ability to assume responsibility and
|
| CraftsmanshipSome might say craftsmanship
| |
| | carry a task through to
|
| is a simple concept that we should
| |
| | completion.Resourcefulness - judge his
|
| intuitively know. Not true; most people
| |
| | ability to adapt to changing
|
| today have no comprehension as
| |
| | conditions and persevere to see a task
|
| to what makes up a good craftsman; they
| |
| | through to completion.
|
| have either forgotten or it has
| |
| | The candidate cannot be inflexible; he
|
| simply passed them by. Craftsmanship
| |
| | must be able to find
|
| can be found in any field of endeavor
| |
| | solutions to solve
|
| imaginable, be it in the product sector
| |
| | problems.Socialization skills - does he
|
| or service industry. Craftsmanship,
| |
| | work better alone or as a team
|
| therefore, is universally applicable to
| |
| | player? His position may depend on his
|
| any line of work.Craftsmanship is not
| |
| | answer.
|
| "workmanship", nor is it synonymous with
| |
| | When you have selected suitable
|
| quality,
| |
| | candidates, here are three areas to
|
| although the three concepts are closely
| |
| | concentrate on:
|
| related. Let's begin by
| |
| | Develop their skills and knowledge by
|
| giving "Craftsmanship" a definition:
| |
| | allowing such things as:
|
| "The production and delivery
| |
| | participation in trade groups, outside
|
| of quality goods or services from highly
| |
| | certification and on-going
|
| skilled workmen."Quality relates to the
| |
| | training, subscriptions to trade
|
| absence of errors or defects in the
| |
| | journals, continued education,
|
| finished
| |
| | etc. Some companies even go as far as
|
| product or service. In other words,
| |
| | to develop an in-house
|
| finished goods operate
| |
| | school to teach the company's way of
|
| according to their specifications
| |
| | doing things. If the in-house
|
| (customers get precisely what
| |
| | school is good, it will promote
|
| they ordered). Such products are
| |
| | confidence through consistency. Even
|
| normally durable and require minimal
| |
| | if people leave the company, they will
|
| maintenance. Craftsmanship produces
| |
| | recommend your company because
|
| quality products. In the absence
| |
| | they know the quality of the work
|
| of craftsmen, a rigorous methodology or
| |
| | produced. Supporting the education
|
| assembly line process is
| |
| | needs of our workers is not only smart,
|
| required to produce quality goods using
| |
| | it is good business.Teach them the need
|
| workers without the expertise
| |
| | for producing quality work; they should
|
| of craftsmen. Such processes detail
| |
| | become intimate with all aspects of
|
| "Who" is to perform "What" work,
| |
| | their work process (5W+H).
|
| "When", "Where", "Why" and "How" (5W+H),
| |
| | Further, instill discipline and patience
|
| thereby assuring a quality
| |
| | in their work effort.Change their
|
| product or service is produced. Such is
| |
| | attitude towards development so they
|
| the underlying rationale of
| |
| | become more
|
| the ISO 9000 certification as used by
| |
| | focused on delivering a quality
|
| many companies today. The point
| |
| | end-product. This is perhaps
|
| is, quality is not the exclusive domain
| |
| | the most difficult element to teach.
|
| of the craftsman.Craftsmanship is also a
| |
| | However, it can be realized
|
| human trait. Some might argue a computer
| |
| | by having them become intimate with the
|
| or
| |
| | needs of the customer
|
| industrial robot can produce quality
| |
| | (have them visit or work with a customer
|
| products and are, therefore,
| |
| | for awhile - "let them
|
| craftsmen. However, we must remember
| |
| | walk in the customer's shoes"). It may
|
| these devices are programmed by
| |
| | also be necessary to
|
| human beings in accordance with the
| |
| | change their form of remuneration by
|
| rules of the craftsman. As such,
| |
| | going to a reward system
|
| they are an extension or tool of the
| |
| | for work produced (as opposed to
|
| craftsman.Craftsmanship can be found in
| |
| | guaranteed income regardless
|
| either the overall work process or
| |
| | of what is produced). Changing the mode
|
| a section of it. For example, there are
| |
| | of financial compensation
|
| craftsmen who are intimate
| |
| | is highly controversial in today's
|
| with all facets of building furniture,
| |
| | business world. But, as an
|
| such as a table, a chair or
| |
| | example, can you imagine the change of
|
| desk, and can implement the product from
| |
| | attitude of today's professional
|
| start to finish. However,
| |
| | athletes if they were paid based on
|
| as products grow in complexity, it
| |
| | their accomplishments (e.g., runs
|
| becomes difficult to find people
| |
| | or points scored, hits, rebounds, etc.)
|
| suitably qualified to build them from
| |
| | rather than having a
|
| the womb to the tomb. Consider
| |
| | guaranteed income? Their motivation and
|
| military weapons alone, such as the
| |
| | attitude towards
|
| complicated ships, tanks, and
| |
| | their profession and team would change
|
| airplanes we now use, with thousands or
| |
| | radically.Candidates must learn to
|
| millions of parts to
| |
| | respect their institution, the process
|
| assemble. Such complexity makes it
| |
| | by which they work, fellow human beings,
|
| impossible for a single person
| |
| | and themselves. They must
|
| to have the expertise to build the whole
| |
| | also learn not to be afraid to TRY; that
|
| product. The same is true
| |
| | they must put their best
|
| in the service sector where different
| |
| | foot forward, win or lose. Bottom-line:
|
| types of expertise and
| |
| | they must learn that their
|
| capabilities may be required. In other
| |
| | work has meaning and worth. If they
|
| words, craftsmen have a
| |
| | don't enjoy their work, they
|
| specific scope of work. The scope of
| |
| | shouldn't be doing it.
|
| work may relate to other
| |
| | "There are two things that I want you to
|
| types of craftsmen through a chain of
| |
| | make up your minds to: first,
|
| work dependencies, e.g.,
| |
| | that you are going to have a good time
|
| Craftsmen A, B and C concentrate on
| |
| | as long as you live - I have no
|
| separate sub-assemblies which
| |
| | use for the sour-faced man - and next,
|
| are eventually joined into a single
| |
| | that you are going to do
|
| product.AttributesSo, what are the
| |
| | something worthwhile, that you are going
|
| attributes of a craftsman? What makes a
| |
| | to work hard and do the
|
| craftsman a
| |
| | things you set out to do."
|
| craftsman? There are three basic
| |
| | - President Theodore Roosevelt
|
| attributes described herein:1. Possesses
| |
| | Talk to schoolchildren in Oyster Bay,
|
| the necessary knowledge and skills to
| |
| | Christmas-time 1898CertificationTeaching
|
| perform the work.The craftsman is an
| |
| | the elements listed above probably cannot
|
| expert in his field of endeavor; so much
| |
| | be done in one
|
| so that
| |
| | fell swoop. Further, companies simply
|
| he could easily serve as an instructor
| |
| | don't have the time or money to
|
| in the subject matter. But the
| |
| | wait for the craftsman to be produced.
|
| craftsman is also smart enough to know
| |
| | Instead, they must understand
|
| that education is not a one
| |
| | the human spirit needs to be cultivated
|
| time thing, that his world and field
| |
| | and be allowed to grow over
|
| evolve as new tools and techniques
| |
| | time. Because of this, it is strongly
|
| are introduced. As such, the craftsman
| |
| | recommended that an in-house
|
| is a student of his profession
| |
| | certification program be devised
|
| and is constantly looking to improve
| |
| | specifying what the candidate should
|
| himself. This is exercised through
| |
| | know and what skills and talents he
|
| such things as continued education,
| |
| | should demonstrate. This should be
|
| routine certification, studying books
| |
| | divided into classes of progressive
|
| and trade publications, and industrial
| |
| | expertise; e.g., apprentice,
|
| groups. The craftsman willingly
| |
| | intermediary,
|
| participates in trade groups, often at
| |
| | and craftsman. The ancient builders in
|
| his own expense, in order to network
| |
| | Egypt, Rome, and Greece understood
|
| with his peers.It is Important to note
| |
| | this concept and devised such classes of
|
| that the craftsman does not need to be
| |
| | workmen. Other disciplines and
|
| told
| |
| | schools follow similar tactics (the
|
| he needs periodic training to sharpen
| |
| | various degrees or belts in martial
|
| his skills. Instead, he takes the
| |
| | arts for example). Each degree is based
|
| personal initiative to stay on top of
| |
| | on specific prerequisites to
|
| his game. Further, the craftsman
| |
| | master before moving on to the next
|
| has no problem with a periodic job
| |
| | level.An in-house certification program
|
| review; in fact, he welcomes it for
| |
| | has the added nuance of making
|
| it might bring out a weakness in a skill
| |
| | people feel special which greatly
|
| he needs to sharpen.2. Attention to
| |
| | enhances their self esteem. If
|
| detail.The craftsman understands and
| |
| | they are made to feel like a vital part
|
| respects the process of building
| |
| | of the company, regardless if
|
| delivering
| |
| | their work of a large magnitude or
|
| a product or service and is acutely
| |
| | trivial, they will strive to do
|
| aware of the penalties for cutting
| |
| | what is best for the company overall,
|
| corners. Earlier we discussed the need
| |
| | not just themselves. Consequently,
|
| for a methodology that specifies
| |
| | their work adds meaning to their
|
| 5W+H. The craftsman is intimate with
| |
| | life.There is one pitfall to all of this;
|
| all details of his scope of work,
| |
| | today's "go-go" management
|
| so much so, he could probably write the
| |
| | style fails to see how craftsmanship
|
| methodology himself. Further,
| |
| | adds value to the company. In
|
| his intimacy of the work process means
| |
| | fact, there were companies back in the
|
| he 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
| |
| | result, quality suffered,
|
| tasks may be repetitive, it doesn't
| |
| | repeat business was lost, products were
|
| mean he easily falls into a rut.
| |
| | more in need of repair,
|
| Instead, he is constantly looking
| |
| | absenteeism on the job escalated, etc.
|
| for new tools and techniques to improve
| |
| | Want value? How does
|
| the work process. As such,
| |
| | a loyal customer base who has confidence
|
| he plays the role of Industrial Engineer
| |
| | in your products or
|
| who is normally charged
| |
| | services sound? And what effect would
|
| with such a task.The craftsman's
| |
| | employee harmony have,
|
| attention to detail also means that he
| |
| | particularly if they believed in the
|
| demonstrates
| |
| | work they were producing? It
|
| patience in his work effort. Again,
| |
| | would be mind-boggling, all because we
|
| wary of cutting corners, the
| |
| | had faith in the human
|
| craftsman must possess such patience in
| |
| | spirit to produce superior results.A
|
| order to produce the product
| |
| | final note: craftsmanship is not a one
|
| the right way.3. Views professional
| |
| | time thing. After it has
|
| life as an extension of his personal
| |
| | been instilled in people, it has to be
|
| life.The craftsman identifies with the
| |
| | cultivated and perpetuated. If
|
| end product which is where
| |
| | a manager slips even for a moment, it
|
| pride in workmanship comes from. In his
| |
| | will go right out the window and
|
| mind, the craftsman has
| |
| | it will take time to bring it back to
|
| been charged with the responsibility of
| |
| | life. As for me, I like to post
|
| producing something, and
| |
| | motivational reminders kind of like the
|
| wanting to satisfy the customer, puts
| |
| | one recently spotted in the
|
| forth his best effort to
| |
| | Hickey Freeman manufacturing facility in
|
| produce it. In other words, craftsmen
| |
| | New York,
|
| take their work
| |
| | "Excellence is Tolerated."Tim Bryce is
|
| personally. This is a difficult trait
| |
| | the Managing Director of M. Bryce &
|
| to teach particularly in
| |
| | Associates (MBA)
|
| today's society where the focus is more
| |
| | of Palm Harbor, Florida and has 30 years
|
| on financial compensation
| |
| | of experience in the field.
|
| than on the work product itself. It may
| |
| | He is available for training and
|
| sound naive, but the
| |
| | consulting on an international basis.
|
| craftsman believes he will be suitably
| |
| | He can be contacted at: Copyright ©
|
| compensated for
| |
| | 2006 MBA. All rights reserved.
|
| producing superior results.Years ago,
| |
| |
|
