管理的核心在于激发善意

Today, I would like to talk about “care for people.” I mention this idea often at work. Some may find me rather sentimental, but I believe it truly matters. In my view, truly effective management must be grounded in genuine care for people—in understanding and caring about your team. This comes from a manager's own goodwill and sense of responsibility.

Whenever someone leaves the team, I have an in-depth conversation with them and try to understand the real reason for their departure. If the company cannot meet their salary expectations or offer enough room for growth, and they have found a better opportunity elsewhere, I wish them well. But if they feel wronged and have been forced to leave, I find that deeply regrettable. It may mean that the company has fallen short in its management—or, at the very least, in communication and care. Beyond any performance issues, people in this situation often feel psychologically distant from their managers and lack the support and trust they need.

In management, people are always the most important factor. Every piece of work ultimately depends on people. When managers focus mainly on tasks and expect their team members to complete assignments and meet targets, they may overlook the emotional needs and feelings behind the work. This task-driven style of management can easily leave a team without a sense of belonging or inner motivation.

The warmth of our relationships often shapes the cohesion of a team. When managers and team members interact only rarely, they can become psychologically distant. With that distance, trust becomes fragile. Once an employee begins to struggle at work, misunderstandings can easily arise: the manager may believe that the employee lacks responsibility and ambition, while the employee may feel that the manager is biased against them, leading to anger and helplessness.

As a manager, communication and guidance in day-to-day work matter, but so do interactions beyond the work itself. A relaxed conversation, a simple lunch, or even a brief greeting can quietly bring people closer and help them feel warmth and support.

Just as importantly, managers should create a more supportive working environment and make it easier for the team to do its work. Beyond providing essential guidance and training, they should understand the difficulties each person faces, recognize the effort that person has already made, and help them overcome setbacks, find direction, and regain confidence.

Every day, managers work with people who are both lovable and imperfect. They encounter the good and the bad in human nature, as well as people's strengths and shortcomings. At its heart, management is about inspiring the goodwill within each person. Whether it means showing empathy for others, helping them grow, or improving their work and their lives, each is an expression of goodwill. A manager's role is to awaken and release people's inherent potential, create value, and contribute to their well-being. This is the true meaning of management.