Craftsmanship: the Meaning of Life

"Manage more, supervise less."				than on the work product itself. It may sound naive,
- Bryce's LawWhen I got into the work force back in				but the
the mid-1970's it seemed				craftsman believes he will be suitably compensated
everyone dressed in a suit and tie, drank black coffee,				for
smoked				producing superior results.Years ago, Dick Butkus of
their brains out, and worked their butts off. Today, golf				the Chicago Bears (NFL) confounded sports
shirts				writers who could never understand why Butkus
have replaced suits, herbal tea and bottled water				played as hard as he
have replaced				did year after year for a losing football team. True,
coffee, nobody is allowed to smoke, and rarely does				Dick loved the
anyone work				game, but beyond that, the sports writers didn't
beyond 5:00pm. More importantly, we used to care				understand one thing
about the work we				about the seven time All-Pro linebacker: Butkus took
produced; there was a sense of craftsmanship,				his job
regardless of the job.My Brother-in-law in Cincinnati				personally. It was important to him that his opponents
conducted me on a tour of his company's				know that
machine-tool shop years ago and showed me how				they had been tackled by the best player; as he said,
he could take a block of				"When they
aluminum and convert it into a high-precision machine				get up from the ground I want them to say 'it must
tool. It was a				have been Butkus
pleasure to watch him work, as it is to watch anyone				that got me'." Dick Butkus was a craftsman.The
who knows				craftsman has a burning desire to produce a superior
what they are doing, be it a waitress, a programmer,				product/service
a laborer or				because he sees it as a reflection of himself. As such,
a clerk.Quality and service used to be considered				the lines delineating
paramount in this				their personal life and professional life are blurred. This
country. If it wasn't just right, you were expected to				is a significant
do it over				characteristic that clearly separates a craftsman from
again until you got it right. We cared about what we				the average worker. The
produced				craftsman's work is his life. He does not shirk
because it was a reflection of our personal character				responsibility, but rather
and				embraces it with confidence and embosses his name
integrity. But somewhere along the line we lost our				on the finished product.
way and				Conversely, making a work related mistake of any
craftsmanship has fallen by the wayside. Why?				kind pains a true craftsman.Job titles are normally
Probably because				inconsequential to the craftsman who is more
we no longer care.In today's litigious society,				interested in delivering a quality product/service
employees are acutely aware that it is				enjoyed by the
difficult to be fired due to poor performance. They				customer. Instead, the craftsman takes pleasure in
know they will				being touted as
still get paid and receive benefits, regardless of the				the best in his craft. He appreciates recognition; when
amount of effort				someone
they put forth. Consequently, there is little to				makes a compliment about a product, the craftsman
encourage people				views it as a
to perform better. Money isn't a motivating factor				personal compliment. This too runs contrary to today's
anymore. People				corporate
now expect bonuses, raises and other perks to be				world where people desperately seek recognition
paid out regardless				through simple
of how well they perform during the year.We've also				job titles. Want someone with an inflated ego? Give
become a nation content with doing small things.				them a title.
America				Want something done right? Call a
used to be known as a powerhouse that could tackle				craftsman.Productivity"Dependable", "professional", and
large projects,				"resourceful" are adjectives that
such as building skyscrapers, designing innovative				aptly describe the craftsman. He is not one who
bridges and tunnels				fabricates excuses but,
spanning substantial bodies of water, engineering				rather, always finds a way to get the job done. The
transcontinental				craftsman is typically
railroads and highway systems, conquering air and				your most productive employee. He is mindful of the
space travel, and				concept of productivity
defending freedom not just once but in two world				that we have touted for years:Productivity =
wars. If you really				Effectiveness X EfficiencyMost people fallaciously
wanted something done, you talked to the Americans				equate productivity with efficiency, which simply
and no one else. Now				gauges how fast we can perform a given task.
we get excited over iPods, cell phones, and other				Effectiveness, on the other hand,
electronic trinkets.Many believe Craftsmanship is in				validates the necessity of the task itself. There is
decline due to the general apathy found				nothing more unproductive
in today's society. Maybe. I tend to believe it is due to				than to do something efficiently that should not have
an erosion				been done at all. An
of our moral values. Let me give you an example.				industrial robot, for example, can efficiently perform
Having a child in college,				such tasks as welding. But
my interest was piqued recently by an article				if you are welding the wrong thing, then it is
describing the pervasiveness of				counterproductive. Going back to
cheating and plagiarism in our schools. It is not my				our description of a methodology, effectiveness
intent to make a				defines "Who/What/When/Where/Why",
political statement here but many of the students				efficiency defines "How." The craftsman is well
mentioned in the article				aware of the difference
rationalized their cheating on the fact that one of our				between the two and knows how to apply both. As
past Presidents				such, the craftsman is in tune
cheated and lied under oath, and got away with it.				with his work environment and corporate culture.So
They figured if it is				how do we make craftsmen?Not easily. Because of
okay for the Commander-in-Chief to act this way, it				the human dynamics involved with the craftsman,
was an acceptable form				you will need to be a pretty intuitive manager or
of behavior.Arnold Toynbee, the famed English				industrial
historian, observed, "Civilizations				psychologist to make it happen. Selecting suitable
die from suicide, not by murder." If the moral fabric of				candidates is the
our society				logical first step. Devise an aptitude test to determine
dies, our story is told as evidenced by other great				the candidate's
civilizations that				suitability to become a craftsman. After all, "you
long preceded us. Our perspective needs to be				cannot make a silk
realigned: Our personal				purse from a sow's ear." Aside from specific
and professional lives must be viewed as one. As				knowledge and experience
Toynbee remarked,				in a given field (e.g., programming, woodworking,
"The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line				construction, accounting,
between work and play." By				etc.), here are some other important traits to look for:
doing so, we identify more closely with our work and				Fertility of mind - judge his ability to learn, to adapt to
assume a greater				changing
pride in workmanship. We do not need to hear this				conditions, and to look beyond his scope of work.
from our boss, but				Evaluate his
rather from within. As strange as it may sound, I see				professional curiosity.Confidence - judge how well the
Craftsmanship as				candidate knows himself,
being patriotic in nature; doing a good quality job is part				particularly how well he knows his own limitations. He
of leading				should admit his deficiencies and not fabricate
a good and honorable life and builds on the individual's				excuses.Dedication - judge his loyalty and
esteem, the				determination to
company he works for, and the country he lives				accomplish something. What is his attendance
in.The biggest problem though is that we have				record?
forgotten how to manage				What outside clubs and organizations does he belong
people. The manager's primary goal is to create the				to and how active is he in them?Entrepreneurial spirit -
proper work				judge his personal initiative.
environment for employees to produce the desired				Is he driven to succeed (but not to the point of
work products. This				reckless
is different than a supervisory capacity that directs				abandon)? Does he have a problem with
how each person				accountability?
performs the various tasks of a job. In fact, I				This says a lot about assuming responsibility.Attention
encourage managers to				to detail - judge his ability to focus on a subject.
manage more and supervise less. I cringe when I see				Does he have a problem with discipline or
a manager try to				organization? A person's
"micromanage" either a Fortune 500 company or a				dress, mannerisms, and speech says a lot about a
non-profit organization.Yes, people need to be trained				person.Reliability - judge his ability to assume
in order to properly				responsibility and
perform their work but following this, employees				carry a task through to completion.Resourcefulness -
should be mature				judge his ability to adapt to changing
enough to supervise themselves. In the old days,				conditions and persevere to see a task through to
management stressed				completion.
discipline, accountability, and structure; three ugly				The candidate cannot be inflexible; he must be able to
words in today's				find
workplace.Understanding CraftsmanshipSome might				solutions to solve problems.Socialization skills - does
say craftsmanship is a simple concept that we should				he work better alone or as a team
intuitively know. Not true; most people today have no				player? His position may depend on his answer.
comprehension as				When you have selected suitable candidates, here
to what makes up a good craftsman; they have				are three areas to
either forgotten or it has				concentrate on:
simply passed them by. Craftsmanship can be found				Develop their skills and knowledge by allowing such
in any field of endeavor				things as:
imaginable, be it in the product sector or service				participation in trade groups, outside certification and
industry. Craftsmanship,				on-going
therefore, is universally applicable to any line of				training, subscriptions to trade journals, continued
work.Craftsmanship is not "workmanship", nor is it				education,
synonymous with quality,				etc. Some companies even go as far as to develop
although the three concepts are closely related. Let's				an in-house
begin by				school to teach the company's way of doing things. If
giving "Craftsmanship" a definition: "The production and				the in-house
delivery				school is good, it will promote confidence through
of quality goods or services from highly skilled				consistency. Even
workmen."Quality relates to the absence of errors or				if people leave the company, they will recommend
defects in the finished				your company because
product or service. In other words, finished goods				they know the quality of the work produced.
operate				Supporting the education
according to their specifications (customers get				needs of our workers is not only smart, it is good
precisely what				business.Teach them the need for producing quality
they ordered). Such products are normally durable				work; they should
and require minimal				become intimate with all aspects of their work
maintenance. Craftsmanship produces quality				process (5W+H).
products. In the absence				Further, instill discipline and patience in their work
of craftsmen, a rigorous methodology or assembly				effort.Change their attitude towards development so
line process is				they become more
required to produce quality goods using workers				focused on delivering a quality end-product. This is
without the expertise				perhaps
of craftsmen. Such processes detail "Who" is to				the most difficult element to teach. However, it can be
perform "What" work,				realized
"When", "Where", "Why" and "How" (5W+H), thereby				by having them become intimate with the needs of
assuring a quality				the customer
product or service is produced. Such is the underlying				(have them visit or work with a customer for awhile -
rationale of				"let them
the ISO 9000 certification as used by many				walk in the customer's shoes"). It may also be
companies today. The point				necessary to
is, quality is not the exclusive domain of the				change their form of remuneration by going to a
craftsman.Craftsmanship is also a human trait. Some				reward system
might argue a computer or				for work produced (as opposed to guaranteed
industrial robot can produce quality products and are,				income regardless
therefore,				of what is produced). Changing the mode of financial
craftsmen. However, we must remember these				compensation
devices are programmed by				is highly controversial in today's business world. But, as
human beings in accordance with the rules of the				an
craftsman. As such,				example, can you imagine the change of attitude of
they are an extension or tool of the				today's professional
craftsman.Craftsmanship can be found in either the				athletes if they were paid based on their
overall work process or				accomplishments (e.g., runs
a section of it. For example, there are craftsmen who				or points scored, hits, rebounds, etc.) rather than
are intimate				having a
with all facets of building furniture, such as a table, a				guaranteed income? Their motivation and attitude
chair or				towards
desk, and can implement the product from start to				their profession and team would change
finish. However,				radically.Candidates must learn to respect their
as products grow in complexity, it becomes difficult to				institution, the process
find people				by which they work, fellow human beings, and
suitably qualified to build them from the womb to the				themselves. They must
tomb. Consider				also learn not to be afraid to TRY; that they must put
military weapons alone, such as the complicated ships,				their best
tanks, and				foot forward, win or lose. Bottom-line: they must learn
airplanes we now use, with thousands or millions of				that their
parts to				work has meaning and worth. If they don't enjoy their
assemble. Such complexity makes it impossible for a				work, they
single person				shouldn't be doing it.
to have the expertise to build the whole product. The				"There are two things that I want you to make up
same is true				your minds to: first,
in the service sector where different types of				that you are going to have a good time as long as
expertise and				you live - I have no
capabilities may be required. In other words, craftsmen				use for the sour-faced man - and next, that you are
have a				going to do
specific scope of work. The scope of work may				something worthwhile, that you are going to work
relate to other				hard and do the
types of craftsmen through a chain of work				things you set out to do."
dependencies, e.g.,				- President Theodore Roosevelt
Craftsmen A, B and C concentrate on separate				Talk to schoolchildren in Oyster Bay, Christmas-time
sub-assemblies which				1898CertificationTeaching the elements listed above
are eventually joined into a single product.AttributesSo,				probably cannot be done in one
what are the attributes of a craftsman? What makes				fell swoop. Further, companies simply don't have the
a craftsman a				time or money to
craftsman? There are three basic attributes				wait for the craftsman to be produced. Instead, they
described herein:1. Possesses the necessary				must understand
knowledge and skills to perform the work.The				the human spirit needs to be cultivated and be
craftsman is an expert in his field of endeavor; so				allowed to grow over
much so that				time. Because of this, it is strongly recommended that
he could easily serve as an instructor in the subject				an in-house
matter. But the				certification program be devised specifying what the
craftsman is also smart enough to know that				candidate should
education is not a one				know and what skills and talents he should
time thing, that his world and field evolve as new tools				demonstrate. This should be
and techniques				divided into classes of progressive expertise; e.g.,
are introduced. As such, the craftsman is a student of				apprentice, intermediary,
his profession				and craftsman. The ancient builders in Egypt, Rome,
and is constantly looking to improve himself. This is				and Greece understood
exercised through				this concept and devised such classes of workmen.
such things as continued education, routine certification,				Other disciplines and
studying books				schools follow similar tactics (the various degrees or
and trade publications, and industrial groups. The				belts in martial
craftsman willingly				arts for example). Each degree is based on specific
participates in trade groups, often at his own expense,				prerequisites to
in order to network				master before moving on to the next level.An
with his peers.It is Important to note that the				in-house certification program has the added nuance
craftsman does not need to be told				of making
he needs periodic training to sharpen his skills. Instead,				people feel special which greatly enhances their self
he takes the				esteem. If
personal initiative to stay on top of his game. Further,				they are made to feel like a vital part of the company,
the craftsman				regardless if
has no problem with a periodic job review; in fact, he				their work of a large magnitude or trivial, they will
welcomes it for				strive to do
it might bring out a weakness in a skill he needs to				what is best for the company overall, not just
sharpen.2. Attention to detail.The craftsman				themselves. Consequently,
understands and respects the process of building				their work adds meaning to their life.There is one pitfall
delivering				to all of this; today's "go-go" management
a product or service and is acutely aware of the				style fails to see how craftsmanship adds value to
penalties for cutting				the company. In
corners. Earlier we discussed the need for a				fact, there were companies back in the 1980's that
methodology that specifies				shut down such
5W+H. The craftsman is intimate with all details of his				programs simply to reduce costs. As a result, quality
scope of work,				suffered,
so much so, he could probably write the methodology				repeat business was lost, products were more in
himself. Further,				need of repair,
his intimacy of the work process means he can				absenteeism on the job escalated, etc. Want value?
produce a reliable estimate				How does
of time and costs to perform the work.Although many				a loyal customer base who has confidence in your
of the craftsman's tasks may be repetitive, it doesn't				products or
mean he easily falls into a rut. Instead, he is constantly				services sound? And what effect would employee
looking				harmony have,
for new tools and techniques to improve the work				particularly if they believed in the work they were
process. As such,				producing? It
he plays the role of Industrial Engineer who is normally				would be mind-boggling, all because we had faith in
charged				the human
with such a task.The craftsman's attention to detail				spirit to produce superior results.A final note:
also means that he demonstrates				craftsmanship is not a one time thing. After it has
patience in his work effort. Again, wary of cutting				been instilled in people, it has to be cultivated and
corners, the				perpetuated. If
craftsman must possess such patience in order to				a manager slips even for a moment, it will go right out
produce the product				the window and
the right way.3. Views professional life as an				it will take time to bring it back to life. As for me, I like
extension of his personal life.The craftsman identifies				to post
with the end product which is where				motivational reminders kind of like the one recently
pride in workmanship comes from. In his mind, the				spotted in the
craftsman has				Hickey Freeman manufacturing facility in New York,
been charged with the responsibility of producing				"Excellence is Tolerated."Tim Bryce is the Managing
something, and				Director of M. Bryce & Associates (MBA)
wanting to satisfy the customer, puts forth his best				of Palm Harbor, Florida and has 30 years of
effort to				experience in the field.
produce it. In other words, craftsmen take their work				He is available for training and consulting on an
personally. This is a difficult trait to teach particularly in				international basis.
today's society where the focus is more on financial				He can be contacted at: Copyright Â© 2006 MBA.
compensation				All rights reserved.

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Craftsmanship: the Meaning of Life

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