What i learn from politics

I don't have fate in politics. You discover about ideologies and believe the world can be a better place. But that good fate valids only during the university time.

Politics is definitely not top of mind in working life. Office life itself is hard enough. Yet there are just too many stories and critics on newspaper that i can't help but to pickup some useful management insights.

Karpal Singh (has been roundly criticised by many people) suggesting that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) supremo Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should step down for fostering the party-hopping culture that led to the loss of Perak to Barisan Nasional (BN). Is his fiery comments are unhelpful to PR’s cause, especially at a time like this when they are under siege in Perak and with the PR government in Kedah possibly becoming shaky too?

But there are learnings for the manager, we have black goats in the office too.
Boss says we implement Six Sigma for better productivity, there will be whisper saying it is just another new boss campaign. New boss whom build his career in the production floor therefore wanted to build more factories.

We (especially Asian) are poorly trained to accept differing views. We are unable to understand or even analyse it.

Gerakan and MCA have not spoken out against Umno’s welcoming of two former PKR state assemblymen who have been charged for corruption or against a former DAP representative who is quite possibly the most reviled politicians amongst Chinese voters not just in Perak but across Malaysia. And you and I know where the Chinese is not voting for them the last election.

Some what can us manager learn from this?

There is also differents views and opinions. Ignoring them is a choice. But definitely not healthy. Putting issues on the table might not be comfortable or easy, but it managing the risk of unknown.

The manager can learn to get the best of the situation.
We can treat Karpal as the 'aging tiger' trying to show his paw or we start to welcome a fresh idea and alternative options speaking up representing part of the people.

Even better, you realize there is a role for 'Karpal' in your office as the "bad cop". Which help to reinforce the "good cop" positioning.

In summary there is always 'other views' in the office.
a) silencing the 'alternative' view is not what the manager should do
b) optimize the situation such as utilising the strength of the 'alternative' view to help deciding the better options.