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