I shall no doubt be denounced for advocating a philosophy that is worth tuppence, but who cares? My professional career—unlike that of many others—is ending I can therefore “speak my mind” without much consequence.
My various professional experiences have led me to reflect on management methods within large corporations and, further upstream, in the business schools I had the privilege of attending.
Business is business, and as we well know, we never have friends, only opportunities. That said, the manner counts just as much as the substance. Yet, we must observe that the quantitative objective regularly kills the form, or the way of achieving it.
In fact, we are taught to be strong, to be powerful, to be first, but rarely to reach these goals—as far as that is possible—with grandeur and empathy. A wise man once said that one does not rise by lowering others. This is confirmed by observing all despots and dictators (civilian and within companies—yes, yes, it exists!) who all share the same behaviour: to crush in order to dominate.
Business schools are often very virile in their approach, speaking of rapid growth, strength, power, and authority. Whereas the economic world, certes often compared to the worst of jungles, needs other things to endure: a form of grandeur and patience that most directors no longer possess.
Knowing how to take a step back from certain disruptive elements, bringing others along in success, understanding differences, ensuring group cohesion… these are far more interesting values to manage. All the rest will follow, including the results!
The younger generations seem to have understood that the current model has reached the end of its development and that other solutions and approaches are possible, even necessary. We must reinvent the way we work; technology—including AI, of course—is forcing the economy to position itself differently.
This change of course must nevertheless be anticipated in business schools. Observing the people freshly trained by these “yield and performance machines”, the battle is not won.
This reminds me of my beginnings in the banking world, a long time ago. We spoke then of the “senior banker” as a person of reference, of great culture, of civic sense. He often had a somewhat paternalistic side but was endowed with bonhomie and a sense of community. This banker nonetheless kept his objectives, but the form was of the utmost importance.
Where have those bankers gone? They have disappeared in favour of their children, who had their parents’ money without the accompanying culture. We thus reach summits of technical knowledge today, but we have lost common sense, pragmatism, and empathy.
The generation entering the professional world will know how to reinvent itself and find a better balance than previous generations, for from the latter, there is little left to expect or to understand.
Have a lovely summer continuation, happy reading, and every success in your endeavours .