"Alternative" Senior Vice President

Author: Kim Joon

United States workplace in popular phrase: you join a company because of its brand; you leave a company because your boss (You join a companybecause of its brand; you leave a company because of your boss).

I'm going to say: good brand to attract qualified personnel; as to retain talent, to a large extent depends on the seniors. According to the survey, more than 50% of the employees because they do not like their boss and left the company.

I'm from 1999 in the United States joined Microsoft to serve the Microsoft Research Asia, has been working at Microsoft for nine years.

In the meantime I in two countries, four cities, mobilizing over the whole five departments, a total of ten. I originally joined Microsoft, can say that is because it's brand. Able to work for this company for so long, of course, and I came across a good boss are inseparable. Here I would like to share with you is that I work in the United States Headquarters during a superviser-current Microsoft Windows Division, Senior Vice President of StevenSinofsky.

About Steven: feel the "alternative"

Steven Sinofsky like others call him "Steven", not a United States person commonly used hereinafter referred to as "Steve", may not want and the company another "Steve" (Ballmer) confusion.

Steven is one of Microsoft's legend. He had approximately thirties when he became Vice President of Microsoft, not to the 35-year-old was promoted to Senior Vice President, is he the one level, the youngest one. In the 2006 Windows before posting, Steven Department has overall responsibility for all Office applications software development work for more than a decade, has released Office 2007 Office95 to. Once jokingly "King ofOffice" ("Office of Emperor"). Steven was my development departments where Office 2000 + employees worked.

All we know of course, also quite interesting, perhaps only at Microsoft this grade not apparent, "no no" of the company.

I had the Office product planning team is internationalization. In addition to the headquarters in the United States has more than 20 people in the team, in Europe there are equal to the size of the team, is responsible for understanding local users who primarily national habits. But in Asia but no one doing similar work on a full-time basis. Because my Chinese background, I am more sensitive, and also organizations in East Asia development team to present their work at Headquarters, with a view to bring the concerns of the East Asian user needs.

Day draws near to and from work, I received a letter from our sector Director sent me email, above CC two individuals and one I was little boss-a blonde lad Cameron United States, and another called Steven or anything, I didn't read carefully.

E-mail specific content I remember, just remember China-related. I remember I was quite bluntly "replyall" (the return), the return statement in the Chinese and other East Asian market, and said that East Asian users use habits and Europe and the user is not the same, if we do not have the specialist to do the research, we will not be able to own called GlobalPlanningTeam "(global planning team). Finished, I click on "send" is sent out. In the message sent in a moment, I feel a bit wrong, suddenly aware of CC of another person is StevenSinofsky. Now regret it yourself too reckless, my lovely little boss knocked at the door, I get squeezed eyes, saying, I guess, Steven will come to you in a moment. I'm with a grain of salt, a thin, the middle child of the "small old man" has appeared in my office door. He wore a grey dog collar sweater, a white jeans, eyes sparkle. This is my company General meeting saw Steven.

Steven was in fact only thirty-seven or eight years old, has been sparse hair and grey, it is estimated that the brain too.

But for his gesture, full of vitality, innocent people really thought of him as a "man". I was somewhat nervous, Steven enthusiastically describes himself, then he and I talk day, not on the content of the message. I am also at ease, he and his team from China Office to my hometown re chatting their heads off a pass. After this, Steven has become a frequent visitor in my Office. I later discovered, usually four five o'clock in the afternoon, Steven will be in the building go go, and say hello, have a chat. So open the General Assembly, he canOften called an ordinary employee's name, it is not surprising.

Steven1989 year graduate after joining Microsoft, from an ordinary software development engineer, in less than ten years, become the Microsoft Global Vice President, and quickly jumped to Senior Vice President.

If the company strictly according to level, Steven probably discharged a sixth, seven, but if by influence and position, his rank you higher. Some things, even Bill Gates or Ballmer also let him one third, or more accurately, not to interfere with him.

Microsoft's successful people, most of them have the following characteristics: bright, hard working, energetic and competitive competition.

Steven can be said in this regard did each to the extreme. Said another, "Steven", because he's like most senior executives. For example, he didn't stand, all hydrophilic to experience. I previously mentioned he often "around" to the General staff of the Office, and we chat, ask. To his level, even if does not pay attention to the level of Microsoft also rare. He also likes to do the meeting record and industry visitors experience, the other executives might have please subordinates do. Then, say, Steven travel rarely with Entourage. There are several times to China, he even came to visit, simply do not like other people breaking journey.

Office team obviously already accustomed to him in this way, some weird behavior.

But he also potentially affect his subordinates. Sector Vice President and General Manager at the level of business trip streamlined, Entourage to cannot be further reduced. More "inconceivable" Yes, I have a trip on an airplane came across one of Steven, was in charge of subordinate Outlook Global Vice President of products. He happened to be and I went to the same session, should share with me in economy class.

From "the blog" to the blog people

In 2005, Steven started blogging.

It is said that his primary motivation for this is very interesting – he wants to prove that the blog was just a "fad" (that is, the Pan), long-lasting. Didn't expect him to my blog, malice, from campus to the staff assessment to work under pressure to Seattle's weather, he is one of the "Bo" Afar. His blog in effect both inside and outside the company. Within the company, he's the management of Bowen was widely forwarding.

Steven's blog in the reader while producing far-reaching impact, but also his own views on the blog.

Word 2007 at the last minute to join the support of the blog, it is his blog the best attitude. At the same time, he also put his internal blog officially named "Steven" sOffice Hours "(" work time "Steven).

2006 Steven with companies recruiting team went to the United States schools at Stanford University.

The school is located in the United States in Silicon Valley, is the most high-tech companies around. Coupled with the Northern California pleasant, sunny, to allow graduates to work in the field may not be an easy matter. When informed that some students wishing to work for Microsoft, but Seattle rainy weather shoulder, Steven wrote a famous blog, entitled "why Seattle weather and not bad" ("WhySeattle Weather Does Not Suck"). Steven in the text to the fact that upcoming Excel2007 beta on Seattle monthly rainfall do analysis, and several other large cities have done a comparison, concluded that although the number of days of rainfall in Seattle too much, but the total rainfall in relative terms. And summer almost drop down, so the weather was not as rumors say so bad.

Stanford graduates there has been no change in this article, Bo-Wen, I have no idea.

But think of a Senior Vice President of the weather so jiaozhen on, Formosan. Then, he has for the company careers well-intentioned.

Steven learn Chinese

One day in early 2004, Steven came to my Office, a meeting will say: "NiHao!" ("Hello!") and then announced that he wanted to learn Chinese.

See me with a grain of salt, he opened in the hands of a variegated, turned out to be Chinese teaching materials. Steven said he had called the University of WashingtonChinese language course, every Wednesday evening for two hours. I listened to you jokingly,! later we can use Chinese dialogue. Steven slightly shy to say, No, no, but you can spend some time each week to help me exercise studied Chinese?, Steven became my Chinese students. Probably two or three months, every Wednesday at noon to my Office. I helped him review in Chinese lesson learned words and simple conversation.

I thought Steven learning Chinese however spur of the moment, in fact, he had "premeditation".

United States University of lineage, Microsoft to some senior staff provides "sabbatical" (that is, long vacation). Steven that year preparing to get away from everyday affairs for three months, to go to China for Microsoft in local sales and r&d. He studied Chinese language, is also preparing for the trip.

Steven class very serious, I often forget he is my superiors, he asked quite strict.

As with most foreigners, Steven was not accustomed to Chinese of inflection. I could teach him, he followed over and repeat, as pupils. Sometimes the door to a whisper and laughing, he would hate hate to say that these guys have to laugh at me. Of course I encouraged him to seize it. Indeed, Steven from busy work for taking the time to learn Chinese, light is his motive, was already very impressed me, and I also play think helping him. Steven has been able to say that soon some everyday language, he felt that "long" it's cool, you often hang in the mouth, not even two days ago.

Steven in the process of learning Chinese developed a "universal language" theory, which is strongly promoting the pinyin system, the abolition of Chinese characters, so as to help the Chinese really "internationalization".

Estimated at Washington University's English class, also made the remarks. A day to my Office, he took a course of lectures on the FA. I see, is the modern linguists-ren wrote restrictions article "history of Amur Food Lion-the full total 91 words (even the title of 96 words), each word in the Mandarin pronunciation is shi. This passage that everyone can understand, but if you read to the others, he is nevertheless also do not understand!

The Amur Food Lion-history

Shi shi's poetry, l. Lions, Lion food 10 affidavit.

Amur always adequate, as the lion.

10 am, Shi ten Lion Shi city.

Is, Shi Shi shi city.

Lion's view is ten, using vector potential, that is 10 Lions died.

'S pick is ten dead, Shi's lion.

The Shishi wet, wipe Shishi paternity of make.

Wipe Shishi, Thi is started on all 10 Lions.

Food, started about 10 lions, 10 Lions.

Mr. Zhao old restrictively uses a set of same pronunciation but glyphs in different kanji to drafting, it is said that wish to take note of the written Chinese Hanzi and capabilities — —-ideographic.

Steven Chinese teacher is very clever, he borrowed this man told his United States students need for Chinese characters, pinyin can help you learn Chinese, but cannot substitute for Chinese characters.

Steven is deeply convinced that no mention of his theory of the "internationalization" in Chinese.

Steven and China

From Steven learn Chinese, we can see that he is interested in China.

He thinks not understand Chinese, so I want to learn more. When Chinese officials access to Microsoft headquarters, Steven usually be happy to meet with them, which is responsible for government relations colleagues appreciate. Once you finish one of Steven see Vice Minister, Ministry of science and technology, the senior officials to return to the hotel evening English wrote him an email, thanks Steven busy taking the time and he and his team of delegation meeting, and call ourselves through this row deepens on Microsoft's understanding, learning a lot. The email makes Steven very pleasantly surprised. He forwarded to me wrote a word plus the exclamation: "think of it, I received a Chinese official's email!" This in the past is never happened before. Apparently Steven think Chinese Government officials on the external communication has been noticeably improved.

Steven since 2000 after at least came sixth China, mostly in his management Office sector.

One time in the early spring of 2003. At that time China has just discovered that SARS cases. And like most people, Steven was not yet aware of the gravity of theSo unyielding as he originally planned to go to China. And so he returned to the United States, is the black helicopters, everyone talks about "non-" the colour changes. United States Government also informed the people do not go to China during this period. Steven came back very consciously put his isolation, at home on a week of classes. Back from this experience, he also relish, like adventure.

In November 2003, Steven Sinofsky dressed in clothes in Beijing attend MicrosoftOffice System product launches

The previously mentioned the abandoning of Chinese, for Steven to China spent his sabbatical.

He was going to come to China to live for three months, but the strewn. In September 2004, as he prepares to depart for China, the United States Court sent subpoenas, let him to New Jersey to join Microsoft's patent case involved do permit. But he had to change the plan, to the East Coast for two weeks. Fortunately, Microsoft will soon win in this case. October 1, China's national day, I received a Steven NiHao entitled "email." The first sentence is written using Ruby: "Wo Zai Xian Bei Jing! I madeit! ("I now Beijing! I did!)," happy feelings, is charged to the message.

Steven to the motive of the Chinese small settlements, in his own words, is to "learn" to know China's market and Microsoft in China, including research, development, and his relative unfamiliarity with the sales team.

From China to United States headquarters, I invited Steven to Microsoft headquarters of Chinese employees made a speech, talk about his experience working in China. The other day to hundreds of people (some United States employees informed of news also came), small conference room is full, there were people standing in the hallway. One of the products with Steven Office PowerPoint do six slides to his usual humor, forthright style to vividly describes his experiences in China.

At the beginning of the lecture, Steven thank Microsoft's legal department.

Why? remember I mentioned earlier, before his departure he was court subpoenas to testify? Steven said, let's get Microsoft's lawyers ability, early won the lawsuit, he will probably go into China. Then Steven thanks to his big boss, allow him to take nearly three months to go to China. Followed by Steven expressed his Microsoft China colleagues to apologize for the inconvenience. He jokingly said, Microsoft China heard he was going to stay for three months, that Headquarters senior sent him to the "undercover" inspection work over there, really nervous. This time I go to China to give everybody had a psychological burden, he is very sorry. At the same time he Microsoft China departments provide assistance to him.

Next, Steven speak to he went to China.

He stressed that he is going to the dedicated "participation" in the Microsoft China team's work, not being a spectator. He also to introduce themselves in China, approximately 60% of the time and sales teams to work together, 40% in research and development team over there.

On their own experiences a "China", Steven comment relish and share with him in Shanghai to participate in the Microsoft team with a large customer sales meeting held in between.

This one-hour speech was very interesting, from time to time the audience broke into laughter and applause. After the lecture, many people around him to ask questions. Steven patiently answered one by one. I'm afraid to miss him too much time and persuaded people dispersed, Steven has smiled and said, okay, today I became "China expert", a pleasure!

Later I heard Steven in in-house a high-level meeting, he served as Vice President of the above managers did the same report, describes his trip to China.

Shortly after, Steven in China established an Office product planning team responsible for the investigation of the market and user habits. And then later Microsoft headquarters set up a "China Advisory Board", is responsible for the Affairs of major policy decisions. Steven naturally became a member of one of the key.

Epilogue

In writing this article, I'll send you an email Steven, asking for his opinion.

I send this message, is the United States West Coast time in the morning, but like his usual style, one minute it gave me back: "no problem!," I asked, can you wear Chinese clothes published photos? he used to come with meSaid, put on clothes look a bit funny, so I fear he may be reluctant to use this picture. Didn't think Steven very simply reply said: "as early as in the Internet!" is silent.

Express your pen, realized his expansive, write several pages.

May seem to be some things not excavated. Some knowledge of the person if Steven read my article, you may say I put his perfect. In fact, this is not my intention, but put pen to paper, reminiscent of the past, but about Steven's fragment so I can't help but think of such a number of key words: work, diligent, professional, approachable, not "pose" and "alternative" and so on. Then all these adjectives with an adverb "super".

I don't know if these keywords are Steven critical success factors, but I'm glad they have ever had the pleasure of his boss and close contact with him.

Microsoft is very happy with his loyal and diligent employees. It is no exaggeration to say that Steven joined Microsoft in 1989, he nearly 20 years of youth, dedicated to the company, in the Office and in the Windows of hundreds of millions of users around the world such as service product lay yourself deeply. It is precisely because there is such a company, Steven on the software industry is full of passion, dedication and passion of employees, the Microsoft Corporation in the past 30 years after storms back to maintain today's success.

About the author

Kim Joon, Microsoft Research Asia communications and Public Affairs Director.

In 1999, the United States to join Microsoft, successive Business Manager, Office Product Manager, senior project manager in software outsourcing. And in Microsoft Office in Chicago, Silicon Valley and Redmond Headquarters, for Office2003 and Office2007 core planners. 2006 to Beijing, in charge of Microsoft Research Asia-Pacific region of communication and public affairs. Kim Joon in 1995 graduated from Peking University undergraduate studies in the US, have access to the University of Chicago in sociology and a master's degree in business administration.