美國職場奮鬥記 (5)

我的老板對我相當的實在。他告訴我，在公司裏，對任何一個員工要走管理階層的路子，至少要有三層直屬老板的認可。有誰願意為中國人，拿自己的仕途作賭注。在老美心中，我們中國同胞們技術高人一籌，做個從事實驗的工作人員是最恰當的。中國人技術高超加上按部就班的工作，逆來順受，這就是一般老美喜歡雇傭中國人的主要原因。我和這位老板相處四年，沒有爭論。因為他從來也不管我，我上班打瞌睡，他一笑置之。我每天六點上班，兩點半下班，他也不管。因為他知道，我都是如期把他指定的工作完成而且很少出紕漏。我不能說他對我有種族歧視。在那四年當中，雖然我們都知道，我走管理路子無望，但是他還是盡力推薦我參加一些有關管理的訓練課程。也盡量讓我參加外麵的學術會議。他時常告訴我，要隨時準備自己，才能應付公司內外說來就來的挑戰。而這些以後真的都成為我跳槽的先期準備工作了。

 

這段期間，我的老板推薦我接受了不少的管理培訓。這些培訓都是公司為了培養管理階層的人員準備的一係列課程。我上的第一門課就是有關領導統禦，溝通交流的課程（Effective Leadership Communication）。這門課是從大學請來的一位社會學教授授課。課程一個禮拜。在上這門課之前，我對社會科學根本就不了解。對我們當年從台灣出來的留學生而言，隻信自然科學，而且優秀分子都學理工。對學文史的學生基本上覺得是二等公民。這種根深蒂固的想法，在我上完第一堂課後就改過來了。我實在對自己很感冒。遺憾自己過去對社會科學的無知與膚淺。這使我學到了，對任何學問，不懂就不懂，不能一昧的下結論，人雲亦雲。這點，後來我的女兒，長大了念大學時，要主修英語，我就全力讚成。

 

這一門課教導的是人與人之間如何的交流。其實就是心理分析的課程。全班有15個學員。我是唯一的外國人。老師，學員自我介紹完畢之後，特別交代我這個老外，下課後到他的辦公室個別談話。下了課，我進入了他的辦公室。他一開口就告訴我，這門課是針對西方社會的環境而設立的。對於一個東方人，可能無法接受。同時強調，多少年來，我還是第一個老中學員啦。我當時就很客氣的告訴他，我雖然是個中國人，但是我在公司上班就全是西方社會的思維。我又強調一點，我說我在思考時都是用英文的。我還謝謝他的提醒。總之，我當時的感覺是在這個公司，我這個老中能來上這個課，就很不尋常了。我很喜歡這個課程。也使我體會到人文科學這門學問，絕不是我這種學自然科學的人可以勝任的。難怪在美國第一流的人才去學社會科學。

 

在我進入公司的第三年，我獲得一個員工大獎。每年每一個大組選出一位優秀員工。我們這個大組有60餘人。通常，隻要你被選中一次，緊接著而來的就是升級。可是，我並沒有拿到我該拿的。記得，到了第三年結束時，我的老板在我的考核中評到，我這個人太低調，太安靜，不愛說話。他要我多說話，多表現自己，讓大家都知道我的成就。當時我就反駁說，是你要我盡量保持低調的啊。在最後一年期間，我開始不安靜了。在所有的會議上，我開始發表意見，開始全力為自己的前途奮鬥，爭取大家對我的認知。結果沒有多久，我的老板告訴我“閉嘴“。因為，我的張口刺激了而且損害了許多老美的白人優越感。但是，這一回，我告訴自己，我實在沒有啥好丟的了。我是鐵了心要和你們這些老美一搏的。

 

還沒開始好好一搏，我的這位老板就被調走了。這位老板在公司風光了好一陣子。也算是節節高升。有一點，他和其他的老美不一樣，就是他很腳踏實地。不像一般老美很愛剝削。他很低調，很少講話。就是屬於埋頭苦幹的哪一種。結果，多少年後，他也免不了被整肅，調到商務發展單位。那時我們那個公司，隻要研發人員調離研發單位，都是不好的征兆。之後沒有幾年，工廠失火。公司要抓一個倒黴的替死鬼。最後，在還算優後的條件下，他選擇了退休。後來，我聽說，他回到他畢業的大學找到了一個輔導大學生的工作，準備安度晚年。我這位老板，曾經在公司作出了無數貢獻，立了汗馬功勞。可是，他到底是個學者，不像在工業界混的老江湖。所以，好景不長，在他不到退休的年齡，就退下來了。

[yijibang]

回複croupier的評論:
I cannot agree with you more. The Chinese from mainland is for sure more aggressive and they certainly have more skill to get along with their supervisors. One thing I do worry about is that some of Chinese are not honest to themselves enough and playing games too. Well, playing game is acceptable as long as it is legitimate. Recently I heard a few cases in Bay Area that some of the Chinese managers are not living to the expectation when the turth comes out. I am not saying they are cheating, but they are not honest to themselves and many times pretend to know what they don't know. I had seen this situration before and I will describe in my future writing. Thank you for your reading and comment.

[croupier]

Very interesting discussion.
I never had chance to talk to the early gerneration of Chinese industry veteran from Taiwan and HongKong who fighted their way in the US till I came to Taiwan; surely they have my full solute for being the vanguard few decades ago and could now offer us younger people from mainland some rich heritage, I guess this is what yijibang is doing at the moment. I also believe the enviroment in 1970s for Chinese in US is definately more difficult than nowdays.
Something we would like to share with anyone who is interested in this discussion is that, it seems people from mainland are more aggressive thus somehow feel more at ease to cope with the sometime cunning side of the corporate politics, thanks to the culture revolution; so once they overcome the language barrier, they appear to be frequent to be promoted to senior positions, compared to those technology savvy but sometimes meek and weak Chinese from Taiwan and HongKong who might feel more comfortable working in university and research institute.
I still believe, being a gentleman does not make you a good leader, there are occasions you need to show your teeth and fight, Comrade.

[kittensc]

Hi, yijibang 前輩, thank you so much to taking so much time to share your experiences.

[yijibang]

回複丁莊秀園的評論:
I don't think anyone would like to attend the meetings including me. Once you are in a position, you are the one to make decision whether you need a meeting or you can cut down the meeting time. I am working in a start up company now. We are certainly doing very well to control the number of meetings and the meeting time. Thank you for your reading and comment.

[丁莊秀園]

Thanks for sharing your valuable experience. I also attended several leadership trainings but never went into management since I don’t like to attend meetings – although it is much better experience of meetings in US described in my 在美國開會.

[yijibang]

回複ironchef2的評論:
Thank you very much. I totally agree with your point of view. As matter of fact, I always mentioned in my blog, that we have to improve our English and to gain a deep understanding of American culture. I have two grown up children, they constantly tell me that they do not feel any discrimination in their working enviroment.I believe if we can melt into this society, we will be better off. Unfortunately, as a Chinese, we not only can not give up our culture completely but also we won't be able to. Anyway, I am near the end of my career, for all the younger generation, you guys have a chance, a chance to improve yourself to make yourself a part of this community and enjoy your life. By all means, I still believe this is a lovely country full of expectation and opportunity as long as you have a desire to pursue what you want. Thank you again for your reading and continuing suupport.

[ironchef2]

前輩, I have lots of respect for you and we appreciate your time tremendously for sharing your valuable life experience with us. I read my comment again, it is blunt(?), and probably it was written for myself to read. True, "discrimination" exists among different races, even among same race. But it is a pure race issue? or rather the different life experience, language, different education and culture that contribute to the "discrimination"? Your children probably already answer these questions. Am I an ostrich? Absolutely. But in a positive way. My attitude is to focus what I can do in my power and what is in my best interest. Still remember how your Korean assistant was treated? I believe working on personal weakness will gain more respect than a crying baby. And from what I read, this was what you did to succeed during your long career.
A Chinese phrase, "listening to a wise man is better than reading books for three days". I really benefits from your writings.

[yijibang]

回複ironchef2的評論:
Well, I am not going to argue with what you have just said. Actually that was indeed what I thought when I was still a graduate student. I even thought at time, there was no racial discrimination because I did not see those things in shcool. But this may not be true in the real world. I will get into details about how did I struggle and finally get into management postion in my write up. Thank you for your comment.

[ironchef2]

We cannot simply attribute the failure in management position to the race factor. It is deeply rooted in our culture and education that we excell in science and technology. We rarely had education on communications, leadership, management in our early education. And our culture encourage "low key". If you want to take on a management spot, equipped yourself with experience (start something small such as volunteer in a committee etc.), knowledge and embrace the American culture. Shatter the "quiet" barrier and speak up, let your existence be felt.
It is not the race factor that matter, but the early education, culture, personality, communication skills, the will to take responsibility and sacrifice, and experience that count. Unfortunetely, a stereotypical Chinese immigrant lack all of those to be a leader, and we often regretly attribute to the race factor.

[元寶媽]

Thank you for sharing!

[土村藥師]

很高興坐到yijibang 前輩的沙發.前輩在美國公司的奮鬥過程對於我們在外麵謀生的人很有啟發.有意思的是,您寫的很多事我覺得都似曾相識,比如中國人在國外很少有人能奮鬥到高層,在香港也是這樣,大陸人很少奮鬥到管理層,一方麵和香港長期受英殖民的影響,有一種與生俱來的傲氣,另一方麵也和大陸長期和外麵世界隔絕有關.現在提倡與世界接軌,我覺得大陸的一些學者真的應該出來見見世麵.
謝謝前輩對我的HPLC問題的解答,謝謝您的美文,等著看下文.