I just came from a management seminar. I spent a few days getting to know better other managers from my company.

We discussed quite a few topics and the essence of being a leader/manager. What struck me most was that our company is now moving into a more cohesive way of thinking. Managers will undergo this seminar to further their knowledge on the company’s goals. You would say, that’s normal. Yes it is. But do you get to spend a few days away from your workplace to casually discuss how to proceed with projects? No. This was our chance to develop new ideas away from our desks. It would seem just like an out of town planning session. But no, we also discussed the kind of culture our company aims to have. Now that is important.

Before any company can really progress, I believe it is important for the employees to understand what kind of culture the company has. In this way, employees get to set their minds and work towards that culture. Some may be in a culture where employees have strict rules to follow or a culture where employees get to have their views and opinion affect the company’s direction. And with that, employees need to know the goals of the company.

I may be talking some common knowledge things but that is the point. It is so common that we tend to take it for granted and forget about it. Yeah, sure I may be having this way of thinking because I’ve just been “brainwashed” by my company. But I’m actually thinking about my own company. My sister and I have a small trading company together with 3 of my friends. With my renewed knowledge of managing businesses, I hope to be able to progress not only within the company that I work for but with my own trading company as well.