Thanks Team BOLEH

03rd August 2014, Sunday

Rainy - Muar, Johor

It's almost a month after we stepped down as Executive Board of AIESEC in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. It has been a year full of learnings.

This is a story about a guy who wish to change the World. In a micro level, he wish to start from Malaysia. 

On March 2013, he was presenting his passion & vision on leadership to a crowd of 50-60 university students. He went into the crowd with one (1) thing in his mind - "Whether or not I pass this Confidence Vote, I will give a slap on everyone's face - Leadership is relevant to Malaysian society. Firstly, we need to be the change we want to see in Malaysia." Of course, this is echoed from Mahatma Gandhi's quote, "Be the change you want to see in the World."

He knew it is not going to be an easy journey, but it is going to be worth it. It all started with taking a risk to Trust.

"Be careful, she is somehow childish." 

"It's okay, she genuinely care about people's development.", he said. 

"Be careful, he is too emotional." 

"It's okay, I am going to challenge his leadership limit. Give him the biggest & most connected function.", he said. 

"Be careful, she may not be able to juggle between academic and work." 

"It's okay, she will learn and I believe she is a responsible person.", he said. 

"Be careful, he cares too much about the people and do not open up to the team." 

"It's okay, he genuinely care about people, hence, he care about intern experiences. That's what we need.", he said. 

"Be careful, she has laid back attitude." 

"It's okay, she is full of passion. Most importantly, she can communicate passion.", he said. 

"Be careful, he may quit halfway when he do not see the relevance." 

"It's okay, he is just lacking of confidence. I believe he can do it.", he said. 

"Be careful, she is not from this campus." 

"It's okay, she will be involved.", he said.

He is thankful of this journey of leadership - the road less travelled by.

1. Thanks for developing my habit to Read.

I had zero knowledge on leadership & management. It was the first management book that I read - "Making Ideas Happen by Seth Godin". Thanks Lay Sin Ang for getting it for me with your book voucher. After all, it's about read, think, reflect and apply. Thanks for being part of the platform for me to apply what I learn from books. Next, I moved on to read "Taking People with You by David Novak". In one year, I began to fill up my bookshelf with more books. It range from :-

Personal Development, Leadership & Management, Business Magazines, The Economist, Malaysian Authors, Published Journal - History etc. 

Thanks for enabling me to build up this reading habit. It has became the most powerful foundation for me to pursue my leadership dream.

2. Thanks for teaching me to Live, Love, Laugh.

I failed in relationship, friendship and family while pursuing my leadership dream. In short, I was totally lost. Thanks for this experience which enable me to get back on my feet and think, what's the core values that I uphold? What makes me happy? What I care the most? I came to a conclusion that, life is as simple as - love & happiness. However, when I climb up the ladder, I lost my ability to love and to be happy.

It was a tough December 2013 for me, when I stop and rest for one (1) week to think about life.

You taught me work life balance is the key for higher productivity.You taught me health is the pillar of leadership.You taught me people seek for love & understanding.You taught me humans communication, interaction & relationship building.You taught me to appreciate more.

3. Thanks for teaching me what's Leadership

Once I thought leadership is all about goal, strategies & action steps. The more skilful and knowledgeable is your people, the better is your organisation. I do not deny the fact that, we tends to measure the success of a leadership in an organisation with the result we achieved as a team. However, what is the root? The root is actually the people.

You taught me leadership starts with the people within an organisation. The culture of an organisation is determined by the leader, and most importantly the people within the organisation. 

As much as skills & knowledges are concerned, values, attitude & mindset of the people within an organisation are more important. Once the people are of right values, attitude & mindset (something that are build in - affected by how ones is brought up in a community - something related to Anthropology), skills & knowledges are something that we can develop from time to time.

This realisation re-defined my dream to be the change I wish to see in Malaysia. To focus on the people, which we shall start to shape the right values, attitude & mindset of our people through a proper educational & family culture.

I do not know how am I getting there, but thanks for being part of this journey which bring me closer to my dream.

This gratitude note has been 'on hold' for a month. I can't finish all in one day. It's amazing to realise how much I learn from this experience with you all, and the list goes on.

As much as you think I am a shaper who is trying to shape you , I wish to say 'Thank you' for shaping me to be who I am today. =) The matter of fact, my Belbin Team Role changed for Shaper (in LC) to Team Worker (in MC).

P/S :  I know some of you don't like shaper. Don't get it wrong, Shaper's role is more than what we think. Read more about Belbin Team Role to understand more on each role and the purpose of this team role test. Shaper's role is not to shape a person. Shaper is a person who provids the necessary drive to ensure that the team kept moving and did not lose focus or momentum.

Wonder why I suddenly miss you? This video from Simon Sinek makes me reflect on my experience - miss you. =P

Enjoy~

Regards,

John Lau C.K.

3 Things I learn about Communication

On 27th July 2014, I posted a status in Social Media - "Humanise our approach, when technology became an important tool of communication."

Why? This is because I value communication from the bottom of my heart.

I am currently working as a part timer in an organisation - AIESEC , which I need to do virtual conference calls to stay engaged with my team who are working in office / all over Malaysia. Thanks to email, Podio, Google Hangout, Skype, Facebook and Watsapp which allows me to stay connected with my team.

"As much as we value the advancement of Information Technology, we learn to value human connections & interactions." At least, it works for me. =)

So far, these are the 3 things I learn about communication.

1. Human are Social Animals with 5 Senses
God gifted us with 5 senses - touch, smell, taste, seeing, & listening. These allows us to exchange information (communicate) and learn. While delivering a session, make sure we touch at least 2 out of 5 senses to whom we wish to deliver the information. It works the same while we are communicating with people virtually or physically. Of course, if we are able to touch 3 out of 5 senses, that will become a powerful presentation.

How I do it? Whenever the internet connection allows us to do so, always open your webcam during conference call. Make sure everyone can see your expression, gestures and listen to you. Gotcha! You touch 2 senses.

2. Email is not the only tool of Communication

"...for over 100 billion emails sent and received per day. Email remains the predominant form of communication in the business space. This trend is expected to continue, and business email will account for over 132 billion emails sent and received per day by the end of 2017." - source Email Statistics Report, 2013-2017 - The Radicati Group, Inc.

We can't deny that email is very important for exchange of information and to keep paper trail. It's also a fact that, emails are boring. Why? Because it only touches the sense of seeing of the reader. 

Email is important, but we need to learn how to make our email engaging. It comes with our understanding on how to use the suitable word and grammar. Enrol yourself to : Writing For Specific Purpose class. =)

Once we get used to email communication, don't forget there are still a lot of ways of communications.

Email is a tool for us to exchange information and set appointments. It is not a tool for discussions. Get off your seat and get to the person to talk. Otherwise, set a conference meeting and lets talk and listen to each other.

3. We invest more time on operations, and forget to communicate.
Often, we got our head into a problem and try hard to figure out a solution ourselves. We put on our headphone to seek for a 'me time' and inspiration through music. That's what I respect, but I don't think it's good to keep a problem to ourselves in a work place.

As much as we care about operations and strategies, we learn how to talk to our team mates to gain new perspectives. I enjoy talking to people who are out of my functional area, because they can see my product from a customer's perspective. 

For both listeners and perspective seekers, put this in our mind - "Seek first to understand, then to be understood." - the principles of empathetic communication from Stephen R. Covey (Author : The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People). We have one in our office. =P



This is a personal sharing on what I learn about communication and human interaction. Hope it helps.

I am happy to spend 2 hours of my Saturday to slow down, reflect and share my thoughts about communication. How about you? What makes you happy today?

Also inspired by : 

Simon Sinek: If You Don't Understand People, You Don't Understand Business

Cheers.

John Lau C.K. 

Fighting Dengue, what's your role?

Published by : The Malaysian Insider
Article : Without Change in Public Attitude, Fighting Dengue, A Losing Battle Says Senior Doctor

News link : http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/without-change-in-public-attitude-fighting-dengue-a-losing-battle-says-seni


It was few years ago, when I was still in my secondary school - Muar High School, teachers used to give us 'Karangan' (essay) topic for us to do factual writings. I miss those moments, and wonder if it is still the same now?

'Dengue' is a topic that were often discussed in class. It was clear in my mind, once we were done with the writings, teacher will provide us 4 facts from the schema answers. To encourage critical thinking among students (which is one of the wish from Ministry of Education), I believe an open space is needed for students to read, think, write, present, debate and feedback. It shall not be judged merely by grades.

For Malaysians who had gone through the same education as me, the first thing that comes into your mind as a solution to cope dengue may be 'gotong-royong'. Am I right? I hope so. Haha!

I imagine a school where students are updated with news early in the morning not by force.
I imagine a school where students have a democratic platform to share their thoughts on news.
I imagine a school where students are given spaces to do friendly discussion on an issue happening around the World.
I imagine a school where is back to the basic of human's needs of love, happiness and belongings.
I believe Malaysian can do this. :)

I can't agree any more with the title, "Change in Public Attitude". Before we put our blames on Government, let's change our attitude and behaviour from within and our family. It will be hard, but shall we be accountable? Yes. At least I was brought up in a family that taught me to prevent stagnant water at home as a contribution to cope Dengue fever. Oh, I appreciate my family education a lot. :)

As an undergraduate in Civil Engineering, I am shocked that stagnant water in construction sites are the main source of to breed Aedes (Mosquitoes transmitting Dengue). Temporary drainage systems on site are often taken lightly. To educate more value-based engineers seems like a must in university. Of course, we shall educate value-based leadership in construction industry too.


In short, only if each individual are taking responsibility as a global citizen to stop dengue, then we are able to talk about enforcement of laws and policies. Why? Because it's our nature to break rules? Don't we?


Cheers. =)

John Lau C.K.