What to Learn from Wolves (Wolf-like Management Upgraded Edition)

Author: Ru Mu, Zheng Zhong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-09
Features: Wolf packs have a strong and stable leadership core, which is also essential for a modern company. If the top leadership is in constant conflict and at odds with each other, the entire company will inevitably become a disorganized mess, leading to a decline in economic performance and financial instability. To change this situation, it is necessary to start by reforming the leadership structure and conducting large-scale. In 1978, the world-famous Chrysler Automobile Company was on the brink of bankruptcy. At this critical moment, Lee Iacocca took over as the company's president. To his astonishment, he discovered that the company had 35 deputy general managers—not only was there an excess of personnel, but more importantly, these top executives were in constant competition with each other, passing the buck, which severely impacted the company's operations. Acting decisively, he immediately dismissed 33 deputy general managers, leaving only two capable and responsible ones in his leadership team. At the same time, he vigorously promoted talent. For example, financial expert Steve Miller, within just six months, brought the company's chaotic accounts into order, naturally earning a place in his leadership structure. Another example is automotive design expert Hal Sperocchi, who had an extraordinary insight into the market, was also brought into the core leadership. If problems arose in production or operations, he would promptly convene meetings with top executives to gather collective wisdom, enhancing the targetedness and decisiveness of solutions. He also intentionally invited departmental managers to participate in major company decisions, strengthening their sense of belonging and responsibility to the company. He called this approach "consensus management." Lee Iacocca's series of reforms completely transformed the company's previous disorganized state. All employees worked diligently to help the company climb out of its slump. By 1983, the company miraculously turned around and achieved substantial profits. In 1985, he was considered one of the best candidates for president, even then-U.S. Vice President Bush acknowledged that Lee Iacocca was a "strong contender" for the presidency. However, he abandoned this opportunity and further restructured Chrysler, dividing it into four major departments to strengthen its competitiveness in the more intense market environment. As the saying goes, "A bearish leader leads a bearish pack." If the leadership is weak, slow, or even engages in internal strife, such a company will inevitably collapse in no time. Chrysler, on the brink of bankruptcy, was a prime example of this. This painful lesson should be etched in the minds of everyone in the market. Some might say, "I'm running a small business, I don't need all this leadership—I make all the decisions, so what does the leadership structure have to do with me?" If you truly hold such a mindset, that would be extremely dangerous. Napoleon once said, "A soldier who doesn't aspire to be a general is no good soldier." If you truly don't want to grow your business and are content to stay small and mediocre, then your business philosophy and capabilities will be pitiful, and you will be vulnerable to collapse at any moment. It is well-known that small businesses have extremely low risk tolerance and must rely on others, always playing it safe. A slight tremor in the market could easily cause a collapse, leaving no chance for recovery. While large companies also face significant risks, at least they have a chance of capsizing in storms, whereas small businesses generally navigate minor market fluctuations with ease. Growing your business not only brings more financial rewards but also significantly enhances your social status and fully realizes your life's value. Therefore, once you immerse yourself in the market's ecosystem, you must break free from the weak mindset of being a "sheep" and strive to become a "wolf," and even further, develop the ambition and mindset of becoming a "wolf king."
At the beginning, your company will undoubtedly be small, perhaps with only three or four people. However, this does not hinder your efforts to establish a leadership structure. Even with just three or four people, you must be selective. Understand that these individuals will become the core figures in the leadership structure of your future, larger company. Only by forming a leadership team centered around you, composed of capable and like-minded individuals, can your company have the strength to stand firm in the fierce market competition.
When selecting talent, use scientific methods to avoid unfavorable factors. It is good and feasible to work with friends and family to start a business. But before doing so, you must carefully consider whether they can genuinely help your cause, whether they can stand together and help your company grow. While there are advantages to forming a company in the form of a family, there are also significant drawbacks. The advantage is that you feel everyone is on your side, there are no hidden agendas, communication is smooth, and the company should grow faster. The disadvantage is that you may overemphasize blood ties and exclude capable individuals, leading to a leadership structure filled with mediocrities and hindering the company's development. Even more dangerously, sometimes relatives and friends may engage in power struggles, fighting even harder than outsiders.
Comparing these two scenarios, we believe it is best to avoid having friends and family in your leadership structure. Another danger is placing excessive emphasis on talent. Without prior assessment of their character, you might bring in individuals with conflicting interests at the very beginning of your venture. This would force you into a dilemma: your disagreements and coordination efforts would not only miss many opportunities for growth but also leave the company in a state of stagnation. Therefore, if you are determined to start a company and want to compete fiercely in the market, you must position yourself as a "wolf king" and then use scientific methods to promote talented and like-minded individuals into your leadership structure. Only by forming a strong, united leadership team centered around you can you ensure that your business sails through storms and overcomes any challenges.
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