First Lessons

One thing that DMR kept on telling me, even until I came to PNG when I asked for some advice is “You cannot manage what you do not understand”. I have never understood it at first but I tried to remember it as I can sense that there is something big on those words of him. DMR is a generalist and not a specialist so he studies at least basics of the things that he handles. In our department in Franklin Baker, when any men under him are stuck in a problem, he is usually the person who has the answer.<>

Another thing that I learned when I just started working is that it is best to start from the bottom so that when you acquire a better/higher position, your men cannot make a fool of you. This is very evident as I have faced some subordinates that are good in their field i.e. air-conditioning. I really have to strive hard, learn the basics and later learned how industrial refrigeration and air-con works as it part of the Facilities department. After learning them, I can easily tell how to handle that part of our division.

In GlaxoSmithKline, I also have been a follower where my supervisor doesn’t have any idea on the division (facilities) he is handling and has no plans of learning things on his own and want everything to be “spoon fed” to him. He is bossy. I did not give him anything unless he asks. And a lot of trouble happened since then. Due to this, he was again transferred to other area where he is more competent. I have not been a good follower then and changed later, but the main thing that I learned then was that you should know at least basics of the area you have to handle or at least try to learn them.