Looking back in life... some situations always serve as learning points:
Nervous in Power: Sometimes, when nervous-minded people held positions of power, it's a mental challenge trying to work with them. When cornered in situations, they will use threat tactics to find their way out... Perhaps it's a habit or just to prove their authority within the office... But the question remains whether are such tactics effective? There are unknowns within the gaps created by such erratic behaviour. Initially, new team members are likely to be shocked and just give in under pressure. The experienced ones understand the 'emptiness' behind those threats and chose to ignore it, and move on in a logical way that conforms to the big picture in corporate objectives. In reality, no one really subscribes to the stressful way of nervous-minded management, but had to put up with it for the sake of their own safety.
Learn the traits of successful corporate leaders: Keep an open mind and listen to feedbacks. When negative situations arise, put that self-induced anxiety aside and keep calm, the sky won’t fall. Try not to take the easy way out. Be a courageous leader to stand in front and bear full responsibility. Look at the pride of Japanese corporate leadership culture where the head always takes complete responsibility. Focus your attention to identify and analyse the true gaps, instead of picking on 'commas' and 'full-stops'. Implement realistic plans and face up to the changes required. Patiently manage the dynamics in the process of improvement, as some things simply doesn't happen overnight. Learn to value every team member with respect and sincerity. Work closely with the team and always be the last one to leave. Build real team cohesion and treat everyone just like a family member. Reduce the office espionage and neutralise unnecessary politics. To really understand the voices on the ground, you must plug your ears to the ground instead of listening to 'informants'. Take the lead by sharpening your management skills and do more self-study to gain insightful industry knowledge. As a leader, you must prove yourself to be better than anyone else. The journey ahead depends on the leader’s mental model for guiding the rest. Always remember that respect is to be earned, and not to be demanded.
Chaos in Ranks: In a corporate ladder structure, the ranks play an important role to keep the interlinking sections connected. When the top ranks are uncertain in direction and had dubious integrity, the morale in the mid and low ranks will be affected. When that happens, people responded differently. Some in the mid ranks chose to stay quiet and stick to the corporate guidelines, not particular about the upward movement. But some would do everything to ensure the top shines, so as to move up the ladder each year. The low ranks are probably the hardest hit, as they are the operational frontlines to everything. Highly tensed, they are facing piling workloads, diminishing motivation, and sometimes unnecessary abuses from supervisors. When more upward movement occurs, the low ranks expect more talkers than workers. The situation soon becomes more unstable when the top ranks do not have a practical sense about actual resource limits. There is a difference between giving people the right stretch to enhance their capability and the inappropriate pressure that will cause explosion. The sensible ones among the ranks chose to depart rather than to explode.
Strengthen the roots, straighten the trunk, and the branches follow: When the strong branches broke away from the trunk, there must be good reasons behind it. There is no use trying to deny or put on a temporary cover-up. It's just a matter of time before you face the same situation again. Be brave to deal with the facts directly, cut the unnecessary acts, find the root causes and evaluate the possible solutions. For example, let's use cancer as an analogy. The treatment process for cancer is the most effective at the early stages when certain symptoms are detected. However, when the cancer cells start to spread throughout the body and the condition was detected only at the advanced stage. There is very little any doctor can do to stop it. Therefore, it's essential to construct a preventive management system that will detect early signs of fissure through on-going personal engagement with the ranks. At any point, success should be appreciated and failures should be managed with professional guidance. It’s part and parcel of the corporate learning journey… When people look at career progression, there are other key factors involved. It's more than just salary and promotion… Firstly, the big picture about aligning to the corporate mission... Followed by the foundation on operational structures, strategic directions, policies, business process improvement, integrated admin support, staff benefits, etc. Next is the functional software about leadership quality, working-relationships, self-development opportunities, etc. Finally, when it comes to workload management, it has to strike a good work-life balance. If your cup is always full, there is no more space for anything else… Wouldn’t it be wiser to maintain a half-filled cup, knowing what to do next according to priority and provide some space to handle more?
At the Top: The view at the ship’s bridge may be somewhat different from what was imagined. To keep the ship stable and running, the captain’s job is to ensure that ranks are cohesive, strong and capable. In line with the big picture, the captain should be able to read the bearings on the map and plot the directions so that the ship steers clear of danger while progressing towards the target destination. How do we identify the traits to become a successful captain?
Excel as a leader by setting the right example: At the bridge, the captain's mental model is the key towards success for the entire voyage. Therefore, the fundamental working principles are important as it determines how the ship would function in unity. The most effective way is to set themselves as model examples for the team to follow. The captain is supposed to be a natural team-builder who works out the specifications of the team's formation and competency requirements for the tasks. It's essential to build and connect the team members in a cohesive way through role modelling… ‘True unity is the greatest strength'.
On the Ground: Among the ranks, it's common to find some ambitious individuals who aim for the sky. It's good to have highly-motivated and capable individuals that help to foster a positive spirit of competitiveness among the ranks. On the contrary, it works differently if there are sly individuals who chose to overcome others using whatever means it take to rise above the rest.
The law of Karma works fairly, you'll reap what you've sowed: There is no definite right or wrong, it's a matter of going through the karmic cycle. Sometimes, the measure of ranks based on meritocracy and tangible achievements are not sufficient. Sharpen your radar and observe the inner side of those 'potential performers' carefully. Listen to their opinions and connect to their thought processes. Will they become true leaders with respectable morals? Or would they cause discord and unrest among the ranks in a discreet and camouflaged way that impresses the top with 'good team leadership skills'? In some cases, the lines are too fine to be detected, but one day you shall find out their true colours.
The Balancing Act: In times of chaos, when a new team was formed to steer the ship along with old and new sailors on-board... the challenges faced are multi-dimensional, both internally and externally. Everything sets on the tight rope and it is a balancing act. The type of character that the captain appoints as assistant on-board the bridge holds the responsibility to mould the teams of sailors. Typically, a good team should feel relaxed, focused, motivated and happy working towards the same goal as everyone else. The captain should work closely with the assistants, laying the foundation of team building and setting the long term objectives. Planning is not enough, executing the plans and making it work is crucial to the overall mission’s success.
To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan but also believe: A pragmatic captain knows that it is impossible to always achieve 100% success. However, the captain will be able to clearly draw the lines of achievement, as there are some vital guidelines towards accomplishing tasks. In most cases, people may not know how much you've achieved, but it's how well you've achieved the goals that really impressed people. Which is more important? Methodology or Result? A true captain will know the answer.
Theory vs Practice: Sometimes, in the state of chaos, it can be very difficult or almost impossible to apply learnt concepts in practice. The most challenging part lies in the ability to respond accordingly when the situation arises and not get carried away. In most cases, people are absorbed into the situations and the thinking processes get distorted. It takes a lot to build a strong mental foundation based on righteous moral principles, before putting it into practice. Try taking the first step to identify the gaps and continue to make positive changes to yourself and people within your own organisation.
Life's short, do things simple and cherish what you have now: Although life is time-limited... the difference lies in how well you've spent your life and bring brightness into others' lives... You will always be remembered in other's hearts. Theory is the principle, practice is the real work to be done. Try using the 70/30 rule where 70% is actual practice and 30% is supporting theory. Within the 70%, you should expect to do a lot of thinking to transform principles into reality. In life, it’s important to get things done, but it's equally important to do it in a morally righteous way. Think straight… Work simple… Overcome challenges… Close gracefully… Whenever you look back in the past, you should also see how fortunate you have been… It's natural for people to plan ahead for the future to do it better everyday... But few are able to grasp the present and cherish everything they have on hand now!
Moving Ahead: In corporate journeys, it's always good to find time and space to reflect on the past happenings and evaluate how to improve yourself and make life better for all. Everything happen for a reason and everyone has a role to play in a corporate environment. It's like butterfly effect. I've managed to overcome the barriers and charted my own career directions. Well-integrated in a new team, I felt relaxed and a clearer mind to focus on my tasks. The path forward is much brighter and more defined, like I always believe...
"Things can only get better after you have reached ground zero"
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