The "Thick Black Theory" in Management

Here are some well-tested tips for managers who are determined to succeed.

Tips for managers who are determined to succeed:

1. Ask every unit that you manage to halve its size without reducing production and service quality.
2. Ask your subordinates to submit risk-free proposals; if a project fails, it is their fault.
3. Give your subordinates all the responsibilities but no authority.
4. Claim full credits for any project that succeeds; blame subordinates for any failures.
5. Avoid making any decisions: if you make no decisions, nothing can be blamed on you.
6. Make sure that you are the only means of communication between your boss and your subordinates: do not give your subordinates any chances to talk to your boss. Don't tell your subordinates anything unless it is necessary to do so.
7. Label setbacks as "success" whenever you can; e.g. if one of your star employee departs, say "great, this gives us an opportunity to rebuild".
8. Long term interest for an organisation is unimportant -- your job security is in your next promotion/move.
9. Don't hesitate to sacrifice your colleagues for your next promotion/move.
10. Don't hesitate to sacrifice the quality of your product or service. They may affect the reputation of your organization in the long term. You can always blame your successors for problems that emerge in their terms.

Quotes:

• "Life is nothing but a competition to be the criminal rather than the victim" Bertrand Russell
• 曹操：“寧教我負天下人，休教天下人負我！”

Related:

• Authority vs Responsibility, an Evolutionary Equilibrium
• Talents management
• The Ache of Management 2: managing the process
• The Ache of Management 1: A realistic scenario in expansion
• Policy on phone usage, a proposal
• 厚黑學 (Thick Black Theory)