Day 1: A Good Start

It was a definitely great start to the Long Vacation. Except for a brief bout of withdrawal symptoms, I was actually busy with:

(1) Morning brisk walk with the 2 dogs
(2) Opened SRS and 2nd savings account, as advised by FP
(3) Arranged to meet FP & lawyer next week
(4) Cooked a quick pesto-based pasta lunch with shrimps
(5) Prepared simple dishes in time for early dinner for family (and all the food were finished with little wastage)

There's something very satisfying to potter around in the kitchen to whip up appetizing dishes for our loved ones.

Here's hoping for a quick recovery for my frequently sick Little Niece.

Lost & Found: A Matter of Perspective

What a way to begin Day 1 of my long vacation!
 

There you are, right at the top right hand side!

This Adidas jacket was instrumental in me getting my favorite Nike windbreaker back into operation!

Oh no, not again! Where is the zipper?



Got you back, finally!

I almost sent this purple Nike windbreaker to the recycling bin because for some strange reason, I thought I have lost the zipper - a small yet most critical part of the jacket.  This morning, as I was putting away all the folded clothes, I thought the same thing has happened to my Adidas jacket too.  Somehow, by some strange stroke of "fortune" or serendipity, I looked up and right at the corner, I saw the missing zipper!  I quickly pulled out my Nike windbreaker and there it was!  To think that I have rummaged through every corner of the house as well as the washing machine to look for it...it was there all along!



I like to think that this little incident is a reminder - to learn to see things from another perspective and not to give up too easily.  It's really about a shift of an angle and not to let the subconscious assumptions mislead us into viewing and seeing things from only one way.

Rest, Refresh & Refuel: Part 2



Time for PLAY!



Stepping Up To Supervision

I read an interesting article in Straits Times today, by Roy Magee, regional vice-president, Asia, for AchieveGlobal.  I thought it was such an apt article for the team of first-time/relatively new leaders that I have left behind. 

It painted a very real scenario confronting the workforce of today, especially for many Gen Y colleagues who will be stepping up into supervisory role in the coming FY.  In particularly, I truly enjoyed learning how one can overcome or address the difficulty that lies with transiting from being a "buddy" to being a "boss" and learning to delegate effectively.

It's so comforting to learn from the AchieveGlobal's consultants that "more employees in the country are turning down promotions to managerial positions [because] the difficulty of the job outweighs any excitement or pride they might feel in getting promoted".  However, I think this only applies to those who genuinely want to give their best at their job and not to others who only want the recognition that comes with the position.

The advice given to first-time managers in the article seemed relevant, at least to some of the folks that immediately pop into my mind:

Building Personal Credibility

This is the perception others form of the new manager, based on their assessment of the actions of the manager over time.  It is earned "when managers admit that they don't know everything, leveraging the experience of their team, give others credit when it's due, follow through on their commitments, and work hard to remove obstacles for their work group".

Activating Team Commitment

This is the usual spiel about setting "worthwhile goals for the team, show how their work fit into the bigger picture and establishing and responding to clear performance objectives".  It's beyond delegation of tasks; and includes colleagues in idea-generating and decision making; it's about instilling a sense of ownership of the collective work.

I think this is a tough area.  I have tried so many times this FY to do so but I realise that people have selective hearing.  Ultimately, one has to achieve personal credibility first and that comes not only from doing what the author has suggested but also in demonstrating abilities and qualities that command respect, eg power of analysis, helicopter thinking, leadership qualities, etc.

Engaging Senior Management Support

Now this is a tricky hallmark to acquire as a new manager.  Focusing too much on establishing a strong relationship with the bosses may create perception of being a "bootlicker" and "boss-pleaser".  However, "managing upwards" is a critical success factor to successful stepping up to supervision.  It's about "understanding what is important to their [bosses] and actively supporting it".  It's about "proactively keeping them up-to-date on any current or potential issues" as well as going to them not only with problems but also with potential solutions.

I think these are sound advice.  The only thing is how to balance this well in order to effectively and successfully transit the first-time managers/supervisors into their new roles. 

If I have known and accepted these requirements earlier, perhaps for myself, my very own transition into my current position would have been a tad easier and smoother.

The Start of My Sabbatical

Rest. Restore. Rejuvenate

Ok I m exactly 3 days away from complete break from work. Over the next 3 days, I must finish:

1. Report cards
2. Consolidation of achievement reports
3. Last presentation and hosting work
4. Mail migration
5. Meet last person for report card

Start Sabbatical Journey with:

• Korean & HK TVB drama viewing - tons to watch
• Catching up on New Reads list
• Plan Orlando & Taiwan trips
• Brisk walking and dog walking
• Draw up list of nature trails to conquer

The rest will come later.

A few dreams at a time.

Report Card

Just submitted my annual report card hours ago - the official one. The 1-page should be done by Sat I hope. And then with that, I am ready to take a pit stop before embarking on the next stage of my career road.

Gist of my report card

What have I done well?

• Maybe being available and on constant look out for colleagues and staff
• Giving my best to every task, assignment, paper or proposal I have to vet or provide guidance/counsel to
• Successfully pushed for the set up of a new unit

What am I proud of?

• Guts to push ahead with appointing a younger, prefer-to-work-behind-the-scene colleague
• Support to colleagues when they need to make career-changing decisions
• Abiding by my principles and values even if it means breaking the heart and faith of someone who invested much in grooming and developing me
• Developing a clear understanding and conviction of my role rather than focusing on achieving whatever tasks that come my way

What I did not do so well

• Being sensitive to staff's need to enter the inner circle of trust; their need to be engaged, informed and consulted
• Resolving the unspoken faultline and tension with peers; rebuilding relationships
• Speaking up to clarify expectations and to persuade and influence buy-in to my intended focus and approach in my first year in this new role.

Rest, Refresh & Refuel

That's the online dictionary meaning of Pit Stop.  And this is what the 6-month break from work will mean for me. 

Rest

• No more need to rush out monthly reports
• Forget about vetting papers and papers
• No more backlog of emails to read and act on
• Stilling of the mind & listening to the body

Refresh

• Renewing myself spiritually.  
• Reacquaint myself with God's unmerited grace and favor. 
• Repainting my flat as well as my sister's flat
• Guiding my niece in her studies - being with her and exciting her about learning
• Travelling- have fun and play in Disneyland, Orlando

Refuel

• Picking up photography
• Learn to bake
• Going on nature walks and do brisk-walking
• Explore Singapore
• Read and perhaps write

Don't Sweat the Big Stuff

Today's Straits Times article carried an interesting article, "Dreaming big? Don't sweat the big stuff", so said Charles Leadbeater, an invited speaker for a Social Innovation event held at SMU recently.

According to him, the key to innovation is online collaboration - it's about achieving big things with small stuff and not about the conventional way of creating impact ie doing "big stuff to achieve big things".  It's about connecting people in a "right kind of a way" and put together a team of people who can achieve quite a lot for much less, with fewer resources expended. 

In other words, it's about putting in place many small but right things to create the desired big impact and not about top-down strategic/corporate planning. 

In this modern web-based age, "planning (should be) replaced with constant communication".

With this article, I began to review what my direct report told me the other day about his plan to only put in place incremental changes for his team in the new FY.  Perhaps he is a true maverick, ahead of his time, in terms of his attuneness to the increasingly online collaborative environment the new generation of workers are exposed/used to.

I used this article as a central talking point to chat and prepare my new first-level frontline supervisors.  It was exhausting talking to the 4 of them consecutively but it was satisfying to seek an understanding of their fears/concerns, expectations and wishlist.  Of course, it was also time to deliver my usual leadership spiel.

My take-away from the session:

1. New leaders need to be excited about and aware of their new roles and responsibilities; or to have their sense of excitement stirred up
2. New leaders need to be reminded to take an active lead and adopt a mental shift in their frame of mind, ie not to wait for directions and guidance but to actively contribute ideas and views
3. New leaders need to be counseled on the wisdom of going beyond focusing on their direct JHs but also to be aware of the need to engage and seek buy-in from other equally important stakeholders
4. Encourage the team to learn to shift away "from a culture of expecting to be told what to do and the need to wait for a plan to a culture of encouraging people to be participants, to collaborate, to seek one another out and decide for themselves, without being told what to do"
5. New leaders need to have the wisdom to make the right judgement call on when and how to decide on what right things to do without being told or to wait for approval or endorsement of plans

Lastly, to close the loop, to bring the outcome of these conversations back to the eventual shepherds of this pack of sheep as learning points for their ongoing journey.

I wish and pray for the new team to succeed in bonding together and identifying the same inspiring vision for them to move together in tandem and tune in this new FY.

Goodbye. Thank you. Good luck

Today was a day of bidding goodbye to many colleagues and thanking them for their support. It was not easy to leave them with words of encouragement. The desire to impress on them the need to do a good job, be good people and supporters of our boss was so strong. Putting our heart into our job was the key message I tried to convey.

I was touched by what one of them said to me during lunch. She asked me which department I would be going to next and if she can join me there.

Looking at the mad rush to get our act together in time for the all important meeting today, I cant help wondering...is this because we did not care enough or we have not learnt to look out for one another?

Then the fiasco with the escalated negative publicity issue - is this a case of going the wrong extra mile or a case of non compliance with SOP?

I can only wish my colleagues good luck. I worry for one of my direct reports. I was initially concerned about a boss who has actively supported me for the last 9 years; but was reminded that she is far too experienced and tenacious to be defeated by all these cumulative setbacks.

This recent series of bad publicity is a test of leadership, both witin the team and across the organization. I am not sure if this latest incident would be an opportunity to rally and bond us together for a common cause or it succeeds only in demoralizing or demotivating our staff.

I can only hope for the best.

Orlando. Taipei. Seoul. Jiuzhaigou

There are just far far too many places I want to explore.

I have said yes to many people; it looks like I will be disappointing some. Is vacationing overseas something that must be done? I would rather reacquaint myself with a city that I grew up in and has undergone much transformation than to spend such long hours on the plane in order to have whirlwind tours elsewhere.

But I have initially indicated interest in going to Europe with a coursemate; next managed to convince her that Korea is a better choice. Then I had this yearning to visit Jiuzhaigou and tried to interest my sis. But when I met with my indirect report 2 weeks ago, told her I wanted to go Eco in Taiwan.

Then, the unexpected bombshell came when a colleague texted me to ask if I am interested in Orlando, Florida. The Co. is sending her on a conference trip and the hotel is near Disneyland. She doesn't mind having my Sis along.

Now Travel is one of the many must-dos or wish-to-do things of my 6-month vacation. More so, when I am able to help fulfill one of my sis's longstanding dream to "conquer" Disneyland in US.

So it's choices. choices. choices. I only wished I had won the recent $10m Toto draw.

Clearing Leave

The prelude to any vacation is always fraught with frantic efforts to clear backlogs, a mad rush to beat looming deadlines and doing hand-overs.

It's a mixed feeling - on one hand, I am grateful that colleagues are leaving me out of the loop of things; on the other hand, i am frustrated by the assumption that I am already in a "holiday mood" hence will not take it lightly to be loaded with never-ending assignments.

For someone who has been constantly and intensely involved, it certainly takes some getting used to - the fact that at some point, I must let go. And that point is fast approaching.

Or maybe it's already here, now.

Maybe it's a good thing after all. With this closure, I can begin the next episode or stage in my life.

There will be many more short bursts of a vacation ahead, followed by or interspersed with exciting pit stops to rejuvenate myself, and then to finally seek to relaunch my career.

A Watershed Bunny Year

This is a watershed moment. I am submitting a blog post via my iPhone. Today is exactly one week from my impending 6-month break from a 25-year career.

I want to chart each defining moment of this long vacation, remember each pit stop made and finally identify the directions to move on, again.