See More

See more (Kompas, 19 Feb 2009)

by: Herry Tjahjono

There are two inspiring true story that will be my adaptation. First about a plumber (plumber). Once, a boss's largest automotive companies in Germany have a headache because the tap water pipe is leaking, he was afraid of small children falling. After asking around, found a best builders. Through telephone conversations, the builders promised two more days to fix the pipe tap the boss. The next day, the handyman just call the boss and say thank you. The boss was a little confused. The workers explained, she was grateful because the boss had wanted to use his services and are willing to wait for another day. On the appointed day, the handyman work and bereslah duties, and receive wages. Two weeks later, the builders returned to call the boss and ask if the tap water pipe right. However, he also came back to thank you for the boss's willingness to use his services. For the record, the builders did not know that his client was the boss's largest automotive company in Germany. The story is not finished. The boss so impressed with the builders and eventually recruited him. Handyman named Christopher L Jr and now serves GM Public Relations Customer Satisfaction & Mercedes Benz. In an interview, Christopher said, he did so not just the demands of after sales service for his services as a plumber. Far more important, he always believed the main function is not a fix leaky pipes, but the safety and comfort of people who use its services. Christopher see more of his duties.

Another story. There is also the story of my friend, James Gwee, about Mr Lim who is old and worked "only" as the door checker (check the hotel room door hinge) in a five-star hotel in Singapore. Tens of years he's run the tedious work earnestly, diligently, and the best. When asked whether he was bored with the tedious job of that, Mr. Lim said, who asked the people who do not understand their duties. For Mr Lim, his primary task was not checking the door hinge, but ensuring safety and maintaining the lives of its guests. Described, the majority of hotel guests are senior managers and top management of the. If there is a fire and there is a jammed door hinge, the life of a senior manager at stake. If he died, as a decision maker, the company will suffer. If the company suffers, and such bankruptcy, so many thousands of employees will suffer. Not to mention his family, including the manager's wife and kids.

Mr Lim's views thus far, and he was not just a door checker. Some lessons Christopher L Jr and Mr Lim relative of human kind. Both are not a human being or regular classes (good people). They kind of "great human being or human excess" (great people), although his formal position or a job at a time so "low and normal." Their mental attitude is much higher than their formal positions and jobs.

Two stories that give some valuable lessons. First, to become great human beings are not solely determined by the technical ability a person doing his job. Capability and technical competence (hard competence) may be the same or indifferent, but the mental attitude or soft competences more will determine a person becomes a big man or not. Second, to soft competences could have referred, we need to rebel and get up from a long sleep over this, get out of your comfort zone good. As a human being minimalist, workers or leaders as it is (an important job description is run), job targets or key performance indicator (KPI) is reached, OK! That's just typical of an ordinary human. This effort requires self-sacrifice because only by being good people as long as this alone, yet no one bothered us, still able to work comfortably, and so on. Then, the rebellion to be free from conditions that must be good people than myself first. Remember the advice Jim Collins, Good Is the Enemy of Great. Third, a more concrete step next is the mental attitude to "see more"! Christopher L Jr plumber who wants to ensure his clients a comfortable and safe. Mr Lim door checkers who want to ensure the hotel guests awake his soul from the fire hazard. Look further, beyond-the-job! Fourth, when able to see more, then we are able to "give more" (giving more). Only by looking more and give more, we are able to become a big man who not only work limited to the KPI. We will be able to work by giving key indicator values (KVI), values more noble, superior, useful for every user or viewer of your job. That Christopher L Jr and Mr Lim. What a great leader of the nation missed it missed a leader election results deserve to be called a great leader, great leader. Those who are now actively competing with each other and highlight the ad wars each KPI. Notice carefully, then all the campaign promises, including the realization, the context is still limited to the fulfillment of the KPI. This applies both to those who are still in power as well as former and new candidates. All talk about the KPI of leadership, had not touched the leadership KVI. The leaders and even all of us so proud and amazed myself as able to meet the "KPI life" each of us, which usually is quantitative, material, and easily measured. Though, to be a great people, great leader, great father, great manager, and so on, more is needed the ability to dedicate "KVI life" we, who are usually not easy to measure precisely. This nation is in great need of Christopher L Jr and Mr Lim as much as possible and as soon as possible. As a final note, an office boy who is able to offer value is not less KVI with a CEO who only gave his KPIs. If we "want" to look deeper, we will be "able" to go further.

Herry Tjahjono

Corporate Culture Therapist & President of The XO Way, Jakarta