Be a professional manager

Be a professional manager

From Rakyat Merdeka

I used to work as a manager and had to retire early in
December 1999. This was my bonus for the Idul Fitri post-fasting
festivity. However, in this case I was treated differently from
more fortunate people such as those not yet retiring and
receiving their Idul Fitri bonuses.

In my opinion my case is not early retirement but early
dismissal because when an employee retires he is entitled to his
life-long pension. I am not disappointed, though. As a manager
with good self-respect I had to accept the offer for early
retirement.

Now that I have retired I have more time to read about
management techniques and how a manager should function in the
workplace. I realize that I still need to learn more about this
and not be content with what I have already learned in
educational institutions.

I am reminded of what my immediate superior told me, upon
retiring a few years back. He shared his opinion with me about
how to become a professional manager, that is a manager not in
the sense of one that has to serve all the bosses in the company,
including their wives and children.

Such managers, ready to serve all the bosses and their wives
as well as children, are managers that seek only to please their
bosses. They have been appointed managers not out of achievement
but as appreciation for their flexibility. So, in this case, they
are just the same as office boys.

Flexible managers usually talk a lot and always claim to know
important people in the government related to the tasks assigned
him to do by the boss. In fact, he is usually telling a pack of
lies.

It is difficult indeed to become a leader, especially if one
has to believe one's only subordinate. In this way one will
usually be cheated in a refined manner.

It is the obligation of Muslims to share experiences. May my
experience be useful for corporate leaders and managers who are
still in active service.

H. SUWARDI

Jakarta