美国职场奋斗记 (5)

我的老板对我相当的实在。他告诉我，在公司里，对任何一个员工要走管理阶层的路子，至少要有三层直属老板的认可。有谁愿意为中国人，拿自己的仕途作赌注。在老美心中，我们中国同胞们技术高人一筹，做个从事实验的工作人员是最恰当的。中国人技术高超加上按部就班的工作，逆来顺受，这就是一般老美喜欢雇佣中国人的主要原因。我和这位老板相处四年，没有争论。因为他从来也不管我，我上班打瞌睡，他一笑置之。我每天六点上班，两点半下班，他也不管。因为他知道，我都是如期把他指定的工作完成而且很少出纰漏。我不能说他对我有种族歧视。在那四年当中，虽然我们都知道，我走管理路子无望，但是他还是尽力推荐我参加一些有关管理的训练课程。也尽量让我参加外面的学术会议。他时常告诉我，要随时准备自己，才能应付公司内外说来就来的挑战。而这些以后真的都成为我跳槽的先期准备工作了。

 

这段期间，我的老板推荐我接受了不少的管理培训。这些培训都是公司为了培养管理阶层的人员准备的一系列课程。我上的第一门课就是有关领导统御，沟通交流的课程（Effective Leadership Communication）。这门课是从大学请来的一位社会学教授授课。课程一个礼拜。在上这门课之前，我对社会科学根本就不了解。对我们当年从台湾出来的留学生而言，只信自然科学，而且优秀分子都学理工。对学文史的学生基本上觉得是二等公民。这种根深蒂固的想法，在我上完第一堂课后就改过来了。我实在对自己很感冒。遗憾自己过去对社会科学的无知与肤浅。这使我学到了，对任何学问，不懂就不懂，不能一昧的下结论，人云亦云。这点，後来我的女儿，长大了念大学时，要主修英语，我就全力赞成。

 

这一门课教导的是人与人之间如何的交流。其实就是心理分析的课程。全班有15个学员。我是唯一的外国人。老师，学员自我介绍完毕之后，特别交代我这个老外，下课后到他的办公室个别谈话。下了课，我进入了他的办公室。他一开口就告诉我，这门课是针对西方社会的环境而设立的。对于一个东方人，可能无法接受。同时强调，多少年来，我还是第一个老中学员啦。我当时就很客气的告诉他，我虽然是个中国人，但是我在公司上班就全是西方社会的思维。我又强调一点，我说我在思考时都是用英文的。我还谢谢他的提醒。总之，我当时的感觉是在这个公司，我这个老中能来上这个课，就很不寻常了。我很喜欢这个课程。也使我体会到人文科学这门学问，绝不是我这种学自然科学的人可以胜任的。难怪在美国第一流的人才去学社会科学。

 

在我进入公司的第三年，我获得一个员工大奖。每年每一个大组选出一位优秀员工。我们这个大组有60余人。通常，只要你被选中一次，紧接着而来的就是升级。可是，我并没有拿到我该拿的。记得，到了第三年结束时，我的老板在我的考核中评到，我这个人太低调，太安静，不爱说话。他要我多说话，多表现自己，让大家都知道我的成就。当时我就反驳说，是你要我尽量保持低调的啊。在最后一年期间，我开始不安静了。在所有的会议上，我开始发表意见，开始全力为自己的前途奋斗，争取大家对我的认知。结果没有多久，我的老板告诉我“闭嘴“。因为，我的张口刺激了而且损害了许多老美的白人优越感。但是，这一回，我告诉自己，我实在没有啥好丢的了。我是铁了心要和你们这些老美一搏的。

 

还没开始好好一搏，我的这位老板就被调走了。这位老板在公司风光了好一阵子。也算是节节高升。有一点，他和其他的老美不一样，就是他很脚踏实地。不像一般老美很爱剥削。他很低调，很少讲话。就是属于埋头苦干的哪一种。结果，多少年后，他也免不了被整肃，调到商务发展单位。那时我们那个公司，只要研发人员调离研发单位，都是不好的征兆。之后没有几年，工厂失火。公司要抓一个倒霉的替死鬼。最后，在还算优后的条件下，他选择了退休。后来，我听说，他回到他毕业的大学找到了一个辅导大学生的工作，准备安度晚年。我这位老板，曾经在公司作出了无数贡献，立了汗马功劳。可是，他到底是个学者，不像在工业界混的老江湖。所以，好景不长，在他不到退休的年龄，就退下来了。

[yijibang]

回复croupier的评论:
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 前辈, thank you so much to taking so much time to share your experiences.

[yijibang]

回复丁庄秀园的评论:
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.

[丁庄秀园]

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 在美国开会.

[yijibang]

回复ironchef2的评论:
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]

前辈, 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]

回复ironchef2的评论:
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.

[元宝妈]

Thank you for sharing!

[土村药师]

很高兴坐到yijibang 前辈的沙发.前辈在美国公司的奋斗过程对于我们在外面谋生的人很有启发.有意思的是,您写的很多事我觉得都似曾相识,比如中国人在国外很少有人能奋斗到高层,在香港也是这样,大陆人很少奋斗到管理层,一方面和香港长期受英殖民的影响,有一种与生俱来的傲气,另一方面也和大陆长期和外面世界隔绝有关.现在提倡与世界接轨,我觉得大陆的一些学者真的应该出来见见世面.
谢谢前辈对我的HPLC问题的解答,谢谢您的美文,等着看下文.