Discussion: View Thread

  • 1.  Cynical Observations by Kemper

    Posted 01-17-1997 12:03
    I saw the Kemper posting [(Thu Jan16) Re: What Goals Should a
    Leadership...] as gross generalizations and overall as being cynical
    reflections.

    Example:"...management... still doesn't trust the people working for/with
    them."

    There are functional, and ranked (with priveleges), managers who lead well,
    and talk with and listen to their bosses and hirelings... I work for one.
    She makes good decisions. She teaches, trains, mentors, and models skill in
    personal time management, technical skills and human relations. She is
    raising the glass ceiling too.

    "Aberration" is too strong a term. My boss is not the only one around. She
    is not a rarity. She may be in the minority, however. The fact that
    exceptional people are less numerous than the average person is what makes
    them exceptional. Abnormal??
    (I don't want to play with the semantics beyond this.)

    Kemper's cynicism expressed toward the general field of "leadership" is not
    without merit, but I would ask Kemper and those with similar views to
    reflect on the possibility of their view being poisoned by their local
    knowledge (as impacted by poor managers, vindictive attitudes, non team
    players, etc.)

    This is not to infer that Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory doesn't
    have cynics and saboteurs of leadership. We have a largely scientific
    community, of which most leadership positions are filled with PhD's.
    (Now here comes Cate's generalizations!!):
    The scientists and business managers here have been trained as cynics. Some
    may seem to act as saboteurs to leadership. Their buy-in is not immediate.
    They do not easily accept change pressed by others without validation of
    the whys and wherefores.
    However, as I see them: They are committed to success. They make this place
    run. They are in charge. They have ideas, vision, committment to mission,
    and persuade Congress to provide funding. They make bucks. They want
    excellence. They are not perfect. They are leaders. They challenge
    everything.

    Some are autocrats here. My boss isn't the only one who isn't .
    Some are better at swimming with sharks than others.

    Corey




    Corey G. Cate
    Training Project Manager
    Chemistry and Materials Science Directorate
    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
    P.O. Box 808 L-353
    Livermore, CA 94550
    email: cate1@llnl.gov

    Visit the C&MS Web pages at: http://cms.llnl.gov


  • 2.  Cynical Observations by Kemper

    Posted 01-17-1997 20:39
    In a poll taken in 1990, and yearly thereafter, employees were asked if they
    liked their boss; trusted their boss, and bought into their boss` ideas and
    goals. (They should have left their company). 70% said they didn't.
    What does that tell you? Kemper
    >
    >I saw the Kemper posting [(Thu Jan16) Re: What Goals Should a
    >Leadership...] as gross generalizations and overall as being cynical
    >reflections.
    >
    >Example:"...management... still doesn't trust the people working for/with
    >them."
    >
    >There are functional, and ranked (with priveleges), managers who lead well,
    >and talk with and listen to their bosses and hirelings... I work for one.
    >She makes good decisions. She teaches, trains, mentors, and models skill in
    >personal time management, technical skills and human relations. She is
    >raising the glass ceiling too.
    >
    >"Aberration" is too strong a term. My boss is not the only one around. She
    >is not a rarity. She may be in the minority, however. The fact that
    >exceptional people are less numerous than the average person is what makes
    >them exceptional. Abnormal??
    >(I don't want to play with the semantics beyond this.)
    >
    >Kemper's cynicism expressed toward the general field of "leadership" is not
    >without merit, but I would ask Kemper and those with similar views to
    >reflect on the possibility of their view being poisoned by their local
    >knowledge (as impacted by poor managers, vindictive attitudes, non team
    >players, etc.)
    >
    >This is not to infer that Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory doesn't
    >have cynics and saboteurs of leadership. We have a largely scientific
    >community, of which most leadership positions are filled with PhD's.
    > (Now here comes Cate's generalizations!!):
    >The scientists and business managers here have been trained as cynics. Some
    >may seem to act as saboteurs to leadership. Their buy-in is not immediate.
    >They do not easily accept change pressed by others without validation of
    >the whys and wherefores.
    >However, as I see them: They are committed to success. They make this place
    >run. They are in charge. They have ideas, vision, committment to mission,
    >and persuade Congress to provide funding. They make bucks. They want
    >excellence. They are not perfect. They are leaders. They challenge
    >everything.
    >
    >Some are autocrats here. My boss isn't the only one who isn't .
    >Some are better at swimming with sharks than others.
    >
    >Corey
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >Corey G. Cate
    >Training Project Manager
    >Chemistry and Materials Science Directorate
    >Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
    >P.O. Box 808 L-353
    >Livermore, CA 94550
    >email: cate1@llnl.gov
    >
    >Visit the C&MS Web pages at: http://cms.llnl.gov
    >
    >

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