This is a continuation from Part 1:
https://weesertan.blogspot.com/2020/06/10-things-i-learn-after-10-working.html
~~~
It's also been 2 years since I reentered the republic, taking up a role that does projects, business development, marketing and most interestingly, leveraging and influencing demand drivers. Business travels were aplenty, and in February, I was away to 3 different countries, just before COVID-19 struck. It was a terrific exposure to the corporate world, with a fair share of stress and anxiety. No doubt that I am a more confident and calmer professional today.
~~~
6. Set a baseline for your principles, moral ground such that you sleep soundly at night.
To be able to sleep soundly either means you were very tired, your job is not challenging, or you did everything to the best you could (correctly) during the day.
Nothing beats the pride have doing the right things, the right way, for a prolonged period of time. Actually, you also have to demonstrate / show that you are doing the right things. Walls have ears.
Reputation and integrity is something earned through the challenge of time, but would disappear in a flash. Buffet knows this too, and this was what he held on during the Salomon crisis. Profit shall be a means to an end, and not the end itself. A drop of ink in a pail of milk, would destroy everything.
You won't endear yourself to many, but you will make a couple of life-long friends, who knows your sincerity and honesty as a person, and that you mean no harm to others.
7. Don't take things personally. Be emotionally and characteristically strong. Learn to unwind when you leave the office/turn off your computer.
Dale Carnegie said - Criticism is futile, while Buffet advises non-confrontational interaction.
There will be debates, vigorous clash of ideas, and days where everything doesn't go quite right. There will be numerous instances where you were wronged or misunderstood. Save the effort of explaining. The office isn't a church, and definitely not a garden with roses and butterflies. You don't have to stand up or object every time injustice happens. Time will make things clear. You can't control how everyone acts, but you can react (and respond) accordingly.
对事，不对人。
Leave office stuffs at the office when you go home. Life is more than just work. This is even more critical as we start to work from home.
Form is temporary, class is permanent.
Always give your best and chill. Don't get worked-up or angry.
8. Talk less, do more. Keep a low profile, and let results do the talking. If you have nothing to say, don't say.
It is better that you know you are the best electrician in town, rather than everyone thinks you are the best, but you are actually average.
Don't be afraid to walk away when you see gossips or non-value added circumstances. Don't be afraid to halt any advancement on issues you are not comfortable to tell others.
I personally shun office politics, even if it means not getting into cliques or good books. I am here to work, generate income and add value to the organization.
切记：树大招风。低调做人，高调做事。多说，多错，越抹，越黑。
This is especially true when someone is angry, keep your distance. Don't try to be a hero, or mediator if you lack the skills or authority. Not everyone is rational, or emotionally intelligent.
Try to always put on a positive outlook and smile more. Be cordial and friendly, but know your limits. You can't imagine how important and rewarding to always project an approachable and down-to-earth demeanour.
Meanwhile, we now live in the new normal, where we communicate more online and virtually.
Skype, Zoom, Teams, Whatsapp calls do not show the full environment or account of people privy to the conversation. It could also be recorded without you knowing, or have someone present in the background. You REALLY need to mind your words. I think this also applies to all your Whatsapp groups / social media accounts. Sharing useful information and ideas is welcomed, but most of the time, you may unknowingly step on someone's tail. It's better to stay low. Empty cans make the most noise anyway.
When trying to reply an important email / message, try to give yourself an extra hour or two. There is no reward in fast email replies, but dire consequences if you made mistakes in your emails.
To delete a chat message or taking down a video from the internet is pretty daunting.
Don't trust any internal / external surveys or feedback channel too.
As far as I can see, no one likes being fed with contrasting views, gloomy outlook or bad news. My CEO reminds us that bad news can't wait, and I suppose you have to first try your utmost best to manage challenges before escalating to the upper echelons.
Of course, when required to talk or present ideas, you need to be fully prepared. Language is something that connects. Try to learn as many as you could, which includes dialects. One of my proudest achievement is that I picked up Cantonese during my days in KL, and I could converse with people from KL/Perak/Hong Kong seamlessly. I speak Hokkien to older generations of Singaporeans, and Malay everytime I could. I try to revise my French, as my German is hopeless.
9. Colleagues should remain as colleagues. Friendly, respectful and supportive.
However, try to keep a safety distance (or margin of safety like what Buffet described). I don't think adding bosses or colleagues on social media is wise. Unless, you keep them in a separate bracket.
There is a fine line between having a personal touch/kind manners and being a busybody.
I also discourage discussing remuneration. There is a reason why your company forbids open discussions. Some things are better left unknown. Sometimes it is better to shut your ears, eyes and mouth. We may treat others as friends, sincerely, but others may not treat us alike. When it comes to benefits and reward, it is unusual to find genuine friends. I learned it the hard way.
Greed and competition is natural at the workplace, and like it or not, not everyone is sincere or a good loser. More often than not, envy, jealousy and suspicion fill the office ecosystem. Unless you are an entrepreneur and you could define the work culture and values, I would suggest keeping a margin of safety, and of course, always mind your own business.
职场如战场。
10. Treat people sincerely. Empathize and treat your men well. A good deed deserves another.
My mentors and bosses from the past such as Dr. Vigna, Dr. Philip Tan, Ir. KB Lim, Ir. Chris Chew, Ir. Kok Meng Chow, Les Gregory, Kwok Fai Law, Barry Brooks, and the list goes on, were all generous and treated their men well. Their simple token of appreciation was most of the time, a simple gathering/meal, or a message/email. I could still remember the Ramli burgers they would treat when we work into the night, or the CNY lunches they would throw. More importantly, they cared for the well-being of their staffs and employees. They imparted knowledge and life experience generously.
Dr. Vigna fetched me to KLIA from the hostel, opened his wallet and grab a stack of notes as my allowance when I went to Hong Kong way back in 2007. I am forever ready to walk the extra mile for anyone of them.
Being a leader in different teams myself, I appreciate true leaders who takes up accountability and responsibility. Treating your men well doesn't mean wrapping everyone in cotton wool, but to set achievable targets and a fair share of justified pressure. Ultimately, a leader leads, while a manager manages.
Of course, their qualities and aura get amplified as a contrast to lesser ones. They were understanding and magnanimous when it came to newbies like us.
己所不欲，勿施于人。得饶人处且饶人。
Nevertheless, you can't please everyone and no matter what you do, there is bound to be complains and disquiet. You just have to be consistent, and act to your conviction. That's why Point #6 is important.
PS: How time flies. I think business travel will be something of the history.
https://weesertan.blogspot.com/2020/06/10-things-i-learn-after-10-working.html
~~~
It's also been 2 years since I reentered the republic, taking up a role that does projects, business development, marketing and most interestingly, leveraging and influencing demand drivers. Business travels were aplenty, and in February, I was away to 3 different countries, just before COVID-19 struck. It was a terrific exposure to the corporate world, with a fair share of stress and anxiety. No doubt that I am a more confident and calmer professional today.
Receiving Paul Fletcher Award in London, Oct 19
6. Set a baseline for your principles, moral ground such that you sleep soundly at night.
To be able to sleep soundly either means you were very tired, your job is not challenging, or you did everything to the best you could (correctly) during the day.
Nothing beats the pride have doing the right things, the right way, for a prolonged period of time. Actually, you also have to demonstrate / show that you are doing the right things. Walls have ears.
Reputation and integrity is something earned through the challenge of time, but would disappear in a flash. Buffet knows this too, and this was what he held on during the Salomon crisis. Profit shall be a means to an end, and not the end itself. A drop of ink in a pail of milk, would destroy everything.
If there was someone simple, honest and no-nonsense, it's dad. I shall forever remember the values he instilled - Your own feelings are important (Raffles Marina, April 2019)
You won't endear yourself to many, but you will make a couple of life-long friends, who knows your sincerity and honesty as a person, and that you mean no harm to others.
7. Don't take things personally. Be emotionally and characteristically strong. Learn to unwind when you leave the office/turn off your computer.
Dale Carnegie said - Criticism is futile, while Buffet advises non-confrontational interaction.
There will be debates, vigorous clash of ideas, and days where everything doesn't go quite right. There will be numerous instances where you were wronged or misunderstood. Save the effort of explaining. The office isn't a church, and definitely not a garden with roses and butterflies. You don't have to stand up or object every time injustice happens. Time will make things clear. You can't control how everyone acts, but you can react (and respond) accordingly.
对事，不对人。
Leave office stuffs at the office when you go home. Life is more than just work. This is even more critical as we start to work from home.
Form is temporary, class is permanent.
Look at the bigger picture, take a 3rd person perspective (Lane Cove, Sydney, May 2019)
Always give your best and chill. Don't get worked-up or angry.
8. Talk less, do more. Keep a low profile, and let results do the talking. If you have nothing to say, don't say.
It is better that you know you are the best electrician in town, rather than everyone thinks you are the best, but you are actually average.
Don't be afraid to walk away when you see gossips or non-value added circumstances. Don't be afraid to halt any advancement on issues you are not comfortable to tell others.
I personally shun office politics, even if it means not getting into cliques or good books. I am here to work, generate income and add value to the organization.
切记：树大招风。低调做人，高调做事。多说，多错，越抹，越黑。
This is especially true when someone is angry, keep your distance. Don't try to be a hero, or mediator if you lack the skills or authority. Not everyone is rational, or emotionally intelligent.
Foreign worker - If you know there are hazards, stay clear - Safety first. Think safety, act safely
Try to always put on a positive outlook and smile more. Be cordial and friendly, but know your limits. You can't imagine how important and rewarding to always project an approachable and down-to-earth demeanour.
Meanwhile, we now live in the new normal, where we communicate more online and virtually.
Skype, Zoom, Teams, Whatsapp calls do not show the full environment or account of people privy to the conversation. It could also be recorded without you knowing, or have someone present in the background. You REALLY need to mind your words. I think this also applies to all your Whatsapp groups / social media accounts. Sharing useful information and ideas is welcomed, but most of the time, you may unknowingly step on someone's tail. It's better to stay low. Empty cans make the most noise anyway.
When trying to reply an important email / message, try to give yourself an extra hour or two. There is no reward in fast email replies, but dire consequences if you made mistakes in your emails.
To delete a chat message or taking down a video from the internet is pretty daunting.
Don't trust any internal / external surveys or feedback channel too.
As far as I can see, no one likes being fed with contrasting views, gloomy outlook or bad news. My CEO reminds us that bad news can't wait, and I suppose you have to first try your utmost best to manage challenges before escalating to the upper echelons.
Of course, when required to talk or present ideas, you need to be fully prepared. Language is something that connects. Try to learn as many as you could, which includes dialects. One of my proudest achievement is that I picked up Cantonese during my days in KL, and I could converse with people from KL/Perak/Hong Kong seamlessly. I speak Hokkien to older generations of Singaporeans, and Malay everytime I could. I try to revise my French, as my German is hopeless.
9. Colleagues should remain as colleagues. Friendly, respectful and supportive.
However, try to keep a safety distance (or margin of safety like what Buffet described). I don't think adding bosses or colleagues on social media is wise. Unless, you keep them in a separate bracket.
There is a fine line between having a personal touch/kind manners and being a busybody.
I also discourage discussing remuneration. There is a reason why your company forbids open discussions. Some things are better left unknown. Sometimes it is better to shut your ears, eyes and mouth. We may treat others as friends, sincerely, but others may not treat us alike. When it comes to benefits and reward, it is unusual to find genuine friends. I learned it the hard way.
Greed and competition is natural at the workplace, and like it or not, not everyone is sincere or a good loser. More often than not, envy, jealousy and suspicion fill the office ecosystem. Unless you are an entrepreneur and you could define the work culture and values, I would suggest keeping a margin of safety, and of course, always mind your own business.
职场如战场。
One wrong step, and you may regret for the rest of your life
10. Treat people sincerely. Empathize and treat your men well. A good deed deserves another.
My mentors and bosses from the past such as Dr. Vigna, Dr. Philip Tan, Ir. KB Lim, Ir. Chris Chew, Ir. Kok Meng Chow, Les Gregory, Kwok Fai Law, Barry Brooks, and the list goes on, were all generous and treated their men well. Their simple token of appreciation was most of the time, a simple gathering/meal, or a message/email. I could still remember the Ramli burgers they would treat when we work into the night, or the CNY lunches they would throw. More importantly, they cared for the well-being of their staffs and employees. They imparted knowledge and life experience generously.
Dr. Vigna fetched me to KLIA from the hostel, opened his wallet and grab a stack of notes as my allowance when I went to Hong Kong way back in 2007. I am forever ready to walk the extra mile for anyone of them.
Being a leader in different teams myself, I appreciate true leaders who takes up accountability and responsibility. Treating your men well doesn't mean wrapping everyone in cotton wool, but to set achievable targets and a fair share of justified pressure. Ultimately, a leader leads, while a manager manages.
Of course, their qualities and aura get amplified as a contrast to lesser ones. They were understanding and magnanimous when it came to newbies like us.
己所不欲，勿施于人。得饶人处且饶人。
Nevertheless, you can't please everyone and no matter what you do, there is bound to be complains and disquiet. You just have to be consistent, and act to your conviction. That's why Point #6 is important.
A reminder to always be patient, polite and give my best in what I do (Tüyap, Istanbul, Feb 2020)
PS: How time flies. I think business travel will be something of the history.
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