Enda Larkin - Journeys: Short Stories and Tall Tales for Managers

Elephants are self-aware. At least, they are, based on the findings of research conducted at Bronx Zoo with Asian elephants ...

Steve Howley turned up the volume on his radio. He liked to stay abreast of developments in any field; tidbits of information usually came in handy at some point, particularly if you knew how to use them. After all a little knowledge could be made to go a long way.

He listened intently as the reporter explained how, according to a recent study, researchers using specially-designed mirrors had proven that elephants can recognize their own reflections, something until then it was believed that only humans, apes and to some extent dolphins could do. One of the researchers a Dr. Someone-or-other then described how surprised they had been at the speed with which the elephants came to terms with their own image and began interacting with the mirror; they did not appear to mistake their reflections for strangers and try to greet them, as the researchers had suspected they might do.

Steve remained enthralled as the Doc went on to explain that this self-awareness seemingly contributes to the social complexity seen in elephant herds, and could be linked to the empathy and concern for others in the group that they have been known to display. Even now, he ended, we know only a fraction about their true capacity for self-awareness ...

Well thank you for that great insight. Now back to you in the studio.

Always knew they were intriguing creatures, Steve mumbled to himself as he turned into the underground car park on West 66th Street. Taking a left off the ramp towards the entrance lobby, he slotted his top-of-the-range Lexus into one of the empty spaces closest to the main elevator the best spots were usually free at that hour. It was exactly 7am.

As ever he noted the time on the small scratch-pad mounted on the dashboard. He also noticed that the bosss car was not yet to be seen, although he knew that the CEO didnt always drive in; still, he felt a strong sense of satisfaction that, once again, he had likely arrived before him. Such things mattered, he assured himself, for they showed true commitment and dedication. It was these seemingly innocuous details that could swing the vote in his favor come decision-time and, for a man on the move such as himself, there was always a decision-time of some sort or other on the horizon.

Climbing out of his seat he stood for a moment beside the car and, catching his reflection in the side window, he flicked some stray hair back into place, fixed his collar, straightened his tie and tweaked his cufflinks. He then opened the back door to retrieve his Regent Stripe jacket. Carefully he put it on and brushed himself down with the double-sided-soft-bristle he always kept in the glove compartment. Looks mattered after all.

He was ready for the day ahead.

Since joining the company as SVP, Product Development a number of years earlier Steve had set himself some challenging goals, the primary one being to gain a seat upon the Operating Committee, or the OC as he liked to call it. This was now, he recognized as he took the elevator to the 15th floor, a target well within reach because there was an incumbent member due to retire at the end of the current year. Grabbing that vacancy was weighing heavily on his mind of late. Heading towards an obsession, if you were to ask his wife.

As he watched each floor indicator light brighten then fade during the ascent, Steve knew that securing the much sought-after position on the six-strong body required his continued mastery of The Game, as he had christened it, or in other words he had to focus relentlessly on three areas.

First up, of course, he had to deliver on the targets established for the Product Development Division without producing the required outcomes in that area, any thoughts of future progression were clearly immaterial. To do that he needed his team to deliver for him, and this in turn meant maintaining his unparalleled performance as a leader to ensure they were continuously productive to the nth degree. Finally, he was not nave and realized that there were a number of his colleagues chasing the same end, so staying ahead of the competition was therefore vital.

A ting sounded and the doors opened. Seconds Out, Round One , he thought to himself as he stepped out onto the corridor.

Steve marched past the still dark offices and his thoughts turned once more to The Game, as they frequently did. He was in it FTW, as the guys at the club were fond of saying or for the win to the uninitiated. To that end, apart from his undoubted flair in his chosen field his talent for product development was widely acknowledged it was, he believed, his innate ability to read others, to stay one step ahead of them, that gave him a real edge over his rivals; and not just in the race for the seat on the OC either, but in the wider game itself. As he had learned from reading Sun Tzu in The Art of War to know your enemy, you must become your enemy.

He was a true general.

On the one hand this ability to get inside the heads of others meant that he knew how to court favor with his superiors; and, after all, no game was ever won without pleasing those who controlled it. Over the years he had figured out what made each one of those top brass tick so he could first anticipate yes, it was always vital to anticipate and then respond to their needs, thereby putting himself in their good books. Make sure to give them what they wanted, that was the key.

And even when he needed something from them, his talent for mind games meant he could do so in a way that made them feel that they were actually the driving force behind what were, in truth, his ideas. He knew how to give them the invisible steering wheel, as he liked to describe it, whereby he subtly sowed seeds in their minds and they headed in the direction he wanted them to go.

Flicking on the lights in his office he sat at his desk and then switched on his computer. As the screen sputtered to life he continued to think about how he stood apart in The Game.

When it came to his employees he could read them like a book too and he knew that his overall approach to management was another area where he excelled.

He had a simple leadership philosophy.

As most people liked to be shown the way or craved direction and due to the fact that the buck ultimately stopped with him he believed it was vital that any decisions taken, or actions implemented, within the Division had to have his fingerprints all over them. Nothing of importance and ultimately everything was important to some degree when set in the context of the bigger picture could happen on his patch without his approval. He kept a tight hold of the reins.

In doing so he exercised high levels of control over his employees generally, but particularly his direct-report managers, not in an aggressive manner for that would probably have been counterproductive, but nonetheless he needed to pull all the strings. Although he had inherited, for the most part, an intelligent and hard working team, be that as it may, he felt they did not truly understand the nuances of corporate life or the complexities of the business environment to the extent that he did. Hence the necessity for continuous direction from him.

Certainly he had never heard any complaints from his people about this approach. But why would they have any problems with it? After all werent they benefitting from his vast wisdom and experience?

Okay it was true that a number of senior managers in the Division had left since the start of his tenure but this was only to be expected, as some people were simply unable to cope with the higher performance expectations he held in comparison to those of his predecessor. If you cant stand the heat and all that.