Geron Steel Wire specializes in R&D, production and sales of special steel wires
President Faces "Official Reprimand"
2010-03-07
On December 31, 2009, during a work discussion with a finance colleague, President Lu Ting inadvertently switched to the Haimen dialect—his local tongue—as both hailed from Haimen. A nearby employee jokingly remarked: “President Lu, company policy prohibits using the Haimen dialect during work hours. You've taught us to break this habit, yet today you've slipped up!” Lu immediately acknowledged: “You're absolutely right—I violated the rules.”
After the meeting, Lu instructed his secretary to draft an Official Notice No. 1 of 2010 from the President's Office, reprimanding himself for failing to use Mandarin in the workplace. When the secretary hesitated, Lu insisted: “Since I mandated Mandarin usage, I must lead by example. Stricter self-penalty is warranted.” He subsequently donated 100 yuan to the Employee Mutual Aid Fund as a fine.
Background: A Cultural Shift
Prior to 2008, local Haimen staff dominated the workforce, and dialect use was habitual. After relocating headquarters to Nantong in 2008, non-Haimen employees surged, creating communication barriers when groups conversed in regional dialects.
To foster inclusivity, Lu issued a policy in 2009:
● Mandatory Mandarin in work areas
● 50 yuan fines for violations (doubled for managers)
● “Please Speak Mandarin” posters displayed company-wide
Enforcement Challenges
Initially, violations persisted—even among managers during meetings. When offenders shrugged off corrections, Lu delivered a pivotal lesson: “Speaking dialects might seem trivial, but consider this: If you're the minority in a team, left clueless during laughter-filled dialect chats, wouldn't you feel excluded? Using a shared language is fundamental respect.”
His words resonated deeply, transforming skepticism into collective accountability.
Leadership by Example
By subjecting himself to the same scrutiny, Lu transformed his slip-up into a cultural milestone. Rather than dismissing the employee who called him out, he leveraged the incident to reinforce:
● Equality: Rules apply to all, regardless of rank
● Respect: Communication clarity as a baseline for teamwork
● Integrity: Accountability strengthens trust
This incident became legend within Geron, exemplifying how leaders cement values not through edicts, but through vulnerable, visible adherence.
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