美國職場奮鬥記 (22)

有了這層關係，我的要求就來了。我的要求就是如期把工作做完。如果做不完，必須通知我。我可以親自下手來完成。他們知道我的底子，也知道我是個既能動口有能動手的老板。而且不是說著玩的。從那時開始，我的經理再也沒有問題要他們完成工作了。組裏有兩位女博士，一位來自台灣，在美國修了一個博士。這位博士，是本省籍的同胞。其實，我非常高興能有這麽一位寶島姑娘同事。至少，我們可以用台語來交談。我的台灣話是頂呱呱的，總是希望有機會練習。那年我回台灣，到台大，中央研究院，清華等校的化學研究所，和教授一起都是用台語交流化學，不會講的就用國語或英文。我和這位女博一起快四年。起初，這位女博眼睛長在頭頂上。交代給她任何工作，總要有意見。我的做法就是盡量讓這些博士們自己去闖闖，給她們足夠的空間與時間去工作。我要做的就是提供她們所需要的材料，儀器等一切。結果，經過頭破血流之後，東西還是拿不出來。不過，這位女博，經過我曉以大義，總算轉過來了。後來，我們變成很要好的朋友。多年後，她找工作都是我一直給與最好的推薦。也一直還在圈子裏工作。我進入公司不到幾個月，算是一切搞定。每天上班輕輕鬆鬆，大家在一起就像一家人。每個禮拜，組裏的人都會自動的帶點各式的點心，早上一起享用，呱啦呱啦的聊上一陣子，才開使我們的工作。

我們經常會辦聚餐，就是每個人帶一個菜，中午在公司的草地，擺上桌子，一起享用。我們都說好，不準用買的，就是要親自做的家常菜。我還特別做了韭菜盒子，蔥油餅，涼拌菜。這是我來美國這麽多年，第一次看到美國人那麽的愛吃韭菜。我們每年也辦公司郊遊，邀請員工眷屬一起參加。聖誕節也有大的爬梯。總之，在這個公司上上下下，氣氛融洽，每天大家都是高高興興的上班。一直到現在，我們還是不定期的聚在一起。互通工作上的信息。可見得一個公司是可以創造出一個和諧的工作環境。隻要大家協力，摒棄己私。在一個公司上班當然是為了工資，但是除了工資以外，實在還有許多其它的樂趣可以追尋的。樂趣當然包掛了自己在專業 的學習。

我上班不久，我老板太太的公司裁員，結果她手下的一位中國小朋友被裁掉了。這位小朋友是小時後從緬甸來美。大學畢業後就在一家做試劑的公司工作。被裁員後，老板就推薦給我。剛好我那時有個缺。說實在話，這位小朋友的經驗實在用不上。可是見麵之後，我非常喜歡他。我當時就給他工作，同時答應親手從頭教他液相色譜。這位小朋友來了之後，可真是努力，終於學會了一技之長。後來很快的變成了我的台柱。同時他的靈活，也使他成為公司舉辦活動的要角。所以我時常說一個人要有機會，但是機會來的時候就要好好把握。這位小朋友後來也找到其他工作離開了公司。而且我都是一直做他的推薦人。

在我進入公司第三年，我們雇了一位從大陸出來，在美國拿到化學博士的大妹子。這位女博士，先前在這個公司做了幾年。後來因為結婚（嫁給了老美）而辭職。結婚後住在華州的一個小島上。先生是個反文明的人，因此住在荒僻的小島。聽說又缺水，缺電的。早上起床後，第一件事是那個鏟子在屋外挖個洞，然後排泄。結束後，再用土埋起來。這位女博士，工作非常認真。公司從總裁，副總，一直到我的老板，一口咬定要雇她回來。我跟她麵談了半個小時，見了我的老板。老板問我的看法如何。我說，沒看法。你們都已經決定要她回來了，我當然讚成。其實，我來上班後，最大的成就就是把她所有以前的工作推翻，重新來過。不客氣的說，這位女博雖然十分賣力，可惜底子太差，所以她以前完成的方法，沒有辦法認證。我們裏麵的助手們隻要重複她完成的方法，就成天的唉聲歎氣。我之所以被雇傭，就是要把這些方法，全部修改成可用的方法。女博士風塵仆仆，每周一中午來上班，每周五中午要趕回去報到，與夫共度原始時代生活的周末。不過，我是從來不計較我的屬下工作小時，我的要求就是把工作做完。如果，沒有工作，那就意味著人手過剩。工作太忙也不對，那就意味著要加人。

[yijibang]

回複realprincess的評論:
您好客氣！剛開始工作要把一切基礎打好。我認為最重要的還是人際關係。我們要使自己Fit Into 環境，一個公司總有一個公司的文化。然後就是學東西，盡量利用公司的Resources 學東西。有了一技之長，啥都不怕了。在翅膀沒硬以前，是要忍讓，謙虛。當然，是有一定的界限。謝謝您的瀏覽。預祝您一切順利。

[realprincess]

緩緩敘述的文筆我很喜歡，
文如其人。

我是個剛剛開始工作生涯的人，喜歡聽職場前輩的故事。。。

謝謝！

[yijibang]

回複duckling3的評論:
I am so happy for your and keep doing your good job.I always believe that our personality determines our fortune a lot. Many times if we retreat one step and we can see more clearly what's going on. 退一步海闊天空。The problem is we always have tendency to forget about that when the time comes. We are certainly lucky to work in a relatively liberal environment here in Bay Area. Again wish you the best in your success.

[duckling3]

回複yijibang的評論:

Thanks for your response. I guess I am indeed lucky to have met so many good bosses. I never had the feeling that they felt I was a threat to their position. Instead, I made them feel they made the right hiring decision. In my 12 year career (Bay Area), I had earned 4 promotions, none was a request or demand, some came as surprises. Maybe it was also because I reported to department head or directors, instead a group leader or a senior scientist. I myself is at a middle manager position now, supervising and supervised many Ph.Ds. Your posts made me think I ought to be more careful and sensitive in managing Ph.Ds. And guess what, as you know, most Ph.Ds in chemistry field are Chineses.

[yijibang]

回複duckling3的評論:
Thank you very much for your comment. It is quite true that I did leave my job with a hard feeling. I am sure I certainly have room for improvement. On the other hand, many times, at least in my situration,there is so much you can do. May be you are right I am not as lucky as others. But I did have good bosses who did not feel threaten by my expertise. On the other hand, they know how to use my expetise and become very successful. As many other readers point out, it is quite common to have your boss felt threaten. The question is how to manage the situation so that you can turn the negative into positive. That is all what we have to learn and classified as communication skills or interpersoanl skills. By the way, I always live a good life no matter how bad the situation in my office. Because I try my best to put only 8 hours in my office and once I leave my office, my mind is at home. Thank you for your continuing reading and wishes you the best in your career.

[duckling3]

I read all 22 posts. I learned quite a bit and found the posts very interesting. I had great interest in the posts because I work in the similar field and hold Ph.D in chemistry as well. Thank you for sharing.

However, the author seems very unlucky that he did not meet any single good boss, he couldn't get along with any boss or have any lasting nice relationship. Many times, he left the job with bitterness. Frequently, he did skip level reporting and was mindful in earning credit for himself. In addition, he emphasized in almost every post that his bosses were all technically incompetent, and he got discriminated because they felt threatened by him. Frankly, I cannot believe these thoughts were from someone in the industry for more than 30 years. I don't want to be harsh, but come on, wake up and think hard what you can do to improve yourself, before you believe you have been a victim for so long. Meanwhile, get it over with some bad experiences, and try to have a higher quality of life. The part you fought with your Chinese boss is especially, well, sad…