ShowerThoughts08 – There will be an increasing shortage of management talent in China.

Recently, various channels have revealed a growing awareness of self-awareness among Chinese people—those born in the mid-90s and 2000s are more likely to follow their own thinking rather than the commands of their superiors. Many memes have also surfaced on Douyin (TikTok), such as the reactions of those born in the 80s, 90s, 95s, and 2000s to their bosses asking them to work overtime, and how they treat colleagues and superiors.

This is a very welcome development, indicating that our material needs have been largely met, and we are beginning to pursue higher levels of spiritual fulfillment and self-discovery. However, this also highlights another issue: management.

Our previous management model didn't actually require much "management" because everyone's primary need was to survive and avoid losing their jobs. Therefore, most management relied on oppressive hierarchical structures—superiors commanding subordinates. Driven by necessity or pressure for promotion, even those with differing opinions or discomfort had to obey. However, with rising awareness and improved living conditions, more people are prioritizing "happiness." At this point, oppressive, purely forceful management becomes ineffective. This is what leaves many companies and managers bewildered—why can't I retain employees? Why are they becoming increasingly uncooperative?

At this point, the art of management becomes increasingly apparent. I used to think management was a mystical, experience-based thing that many people should be able to do. However, as my years of work experience have increased, I've increasingly realized that there are many people who don't understand management, and the difference between those who can and cannot manage is enormous. Management as a discipline is perfectly justifiable. Overseas, after working for many years, an MBA is a very convincing degree if you want to pursue a higher management position. Many people who have worked for several years will go on to obtain this degree, and the salaries for management positions are also very considerable, which precisely reflects the importance placed on management.

Currently, domestic management still follows a coercive, one-size-fits-all model, failing to consider the human element. Many companies also tend to offer higher salaries to workers who can provide output, such as programmers. However, as society progresses, the importance of management talent will gradually be recognized, and greater emphasis will be placed on management skills.