I've been in Rome for the past day working with Philips on their Sense and Simplicity advisory board. On this board, I'm given the rare opportunity to see how internal change can be managed, or maybe more appropriately, led through example.
The CEO of Philips Design, Stefano Marzano has struck me as a particular interesting role model. He has led Philips Design for 14 years through bad times and good. Stefano manages thousands of designers globally with attention to both organizational and creative detail with a sharp eye. I have no aspirations to be a CEO after meeting many in the last two years. I have great admiration, but no aspiration. The job requires multitasking and delegation to the nth degree. I instead prefer the model of working towards being a master baker. Ideally the bakery never gets too big, the bread tastes better than all the rest, and the master baker never forgets how to bake his own bread.
Stefano's model of management subscribes to what he calls the agricultural school. This was new to me. A farmer has to grow his or her crops yearly, and sometimes they plant the seeds and nothing grows. Sometimes a storm or other calamity wipes the crop away. But the farmer keeps on going. Year to year, maybe the farmer feels no advancement. But Stefano pointed out that you have to look a one's lifetime of work as a farmer, and not just season to season.
Observing Stefano's perspective gave me a chance to step back. Maybe instead I want to be an organic baker where I grow my own crop of wheat? Start from the basics. Think broadly. And also remember to care. I think this is a plan that I can live by.
Posted by maeda at July 7, 2005 07:07 PM