Anne is the only child of George Wallet. George had a small construction firm and hoped that someday Anne would help him with the business. Anne enrolled at the local university and pursued a degree in civil engineering. After she graduated, Anne decided to work for a large construction firm. She felt that this would broaden her perspectives of how a business might be run. She was quite successful in the company, but at the age of 35 was convinced by her father to join him. Since her father would retire in 5 or 6 years, she felt that she had the confidence and experience to take over the family business.
She joined her father's firm and spent the first few months trying to understand the inner workings of the company. Soon she felt comfortable with the situation and started to suggest changes to her father.
His response was that "Hey, you learned a lot while working for that big contractor, but this is a small company and we do things different here. Besides, why change things? We have always done things this way." Anne made several suggestions to her father that she felt would be helpful to the firm. She invariably got the same response. :(
Conflict was certain under these circumstances. George continued to address Anne as the daughter he had raised. Anne thought she should be addressed as the adult she had become. Furthermore, She felt that her father, where business matters were concerned, should not address her as a father but as another adult.
This is a story I heard about interpersonal conflict. My dear readers, could you find a good way to solve the communication problem for Anne and her farther?
PS: Thank you for read my blog and welcome to give comments.
Hi Kitty! Once again, welcome back to Singapore, hope you had a fantastic CNY back in China =)
回复删除Nonetheless, just to share my thoughts on your post. If I am in Anne's shoes, I will persist on my stand if i truly believe the changes that I am about to bring can improve the profitability, productivity or efficiency of the company. Well, no father, or directors of a company would say "NO" to a possible option of earning more money right?
Nonetheless, if the father insists on his ways, as a form of respect, I will either patiently wait till he retires and then I will take my actions if else, I would just quit and join another company if my views and my suggestions are continually ignored. But nonetheless, I will properly explain and justify myself if i really have to quit my father's company as to me, that is really the last resort.
Just my two cents worth. See you in class on friday then =)
P.S: Gentle reminder to prepare your resume and cover letter for a job or internship application as we will be vetting each other's resume and cover letter during this friday's lesson k? Please take note =)
Hi Kitty,
回复删除It was an interesting experience that you've shared.
I agree with Zu Rong in that an increase in profitability would strike a chord with the father. However, in addition to mentioning how and why these changes proposed can increase the profit margin, she should also substantiate it with evidence to reinforce her stand.
Additionally, she could come to a compromise with her father on agreeing to allow some changes to the company. If George is able to see that there is marked increase in profits as Anne suggested within the few years before he retires, I'm sure he would be more agreeable and have more faith to other future proposed changes.
If Anne wants to be taken seriously, she has to present herself in such a manner. Perhaps in George's mind, Anne will always be his little girl.
In order to allow George to realise the capabilities of his daughter, Anne could be firm but not rude or impatient with her father in recommending and showing how her changes would benefit the company.
Hi Kitty!
回复删除In my humble opinion... well, this usually happens a lot in many companies where the subordinate has a stronger vision and/or ability to manage the company than the superiors, but the superiors like holding onto power so much they either cover up this fact, or enforce their power on these subordinates.
However, this scenario is special because the relationship between the "subordinate" and the "superior" is a familial, parent-child relationship. From my point of view, I feel that the daughter is dealing with the relationship aspect of the problem but the father is dealing with the content aspect of the problem. What I mean is, Anne is feeling the frustration from how her father is treating her; like a little girl. On the other hand, her father is a simple man who probably dislikes changes. The only way to solve this problem is to have what we call a "heart to heart" talk, seriously sitting down together and talk to each other.
I also think that perhaps they have personality clash. Her father is someone who is going to retire, and had probably seen his fair share of life. He may be a simple contented person who does not wish to adapt to anymore changes in his life. The daughter, however, is probably at the height of her career and wish to expand on that with this momentum. Here there is a conflict of interest too, so I feel that the best way to solve this is to really find an opportunity and talk it out, daughter to father, adult to adult. The daughter should first and foremost request the father to treat the conversation as one between two adults to ease the process.
Thanks for reading my lengthy comment, =p Have a good day!