(most of the time)

"Happiness is the richest thing we will ever own" – Donald Duck

Ten Leadership Capabilities for 2018 and Beyond

Providing effective leadership while simultaneously building organizational leadership capability is crucial to any organization. As a highly contextualized practice, however, using the old leadership formula no longer works in the new context.

The new market is one of complexity, turbulence and high velocity. The acronym VUCA (volatile, unpredictable, complex and ambiguous) is often used to describe these new conditions. This new environment has created unfamiliar, and often confusing, situations by posing new types of challenges: ‘adaptive’ challenges as opposed to technical ones. While technical problems are easy to identify and can be solved by applying well-known and tried solutions, adaptive challenges are difficult to define, have no known or clear-cut solutions, and call for new ideas to bring about change in multiple places that involve many stakeholders. Examples of adaptive challenges include designing and successfully implementing complex systems or procedures, and securing agreement for a policy change, while dealing with multiple people management and generational issues, including stakeholder relationships with conflicting goals and interests.

As a seasoned leader, have you have sensed that today it is becoming more challenging to inspire, motivate and commit people to action than it used to be?

The following 10 capabilities are what I learned from a lifetime spent assisting leaders around the world on how to build a culture of trust, integrity, accountability, collaboration, innovation, high performance, and success. They have also been confirmed by the latest research.

1. Contextual Intelligence
Contextual intelligence (CI) relates to fully understanding the context in which you lead. It has three key components, hindsight, foresight, and insight:
• Hindsight is about taking full advantage of what you have learned in the past.
• Foresight is the ability to clearly articulate what you wish to become and clarify what you will do to reach your goals and aspirations.
• Insight is the convergence of hindsight and foresight – the decisions resulting from knowledge informed by hindsight.
This capability affords you greater clarity to read accurately your organization’s economic landscape.

2. Learning Agility and Adaptability
Learning agility refers to your capacity to learn from experience and to then apply this learning to new contexts, thus enabling you to rapidly adapt to new business problems and keep learning from your experience as you do it. This transformative learning strengthens your tolerance for ambiguity and uncertainty.

3. Sensemaking and Visioning
Sensemaking relates to the process of making sense of the current reality, and enables you and your people to make sense of experiences, events or issues that are confusing, ambiguous, or unexpected. Visioning creates a map of the future by painting a picture of new possibilities. It provides your people with the motivation to give up their current views and work out ways to change.

4. Storytelling
Storytelling is a strategic business tool and the preferred sensemaking currency of human relationships among all stakeholders. It serves multiple purposes: highlighting your company’s purpose; socialising new employees; transferring knowledge in the workplace when mentoring others; facilitating internal and external communications; developing teams and leadership skills; engaging clients and customers; communicating complex ideas; and persuading others to change. Impactful stories appeal to the intellect, evoke emotion, and contextualize and encapsulate messages. Effective storytelling requires speakership (powerful oratory) – the science of influence and the art of oration.

5. Emotional and Social intelligence
Emotional and social intelligence (ESI) relates to the competencies linked to four key domains: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. ESI is one of the best predictors of leadership effectiveness and business performance, as it is relevant to global contexts and wider settings, facilitates learning, and provides leaders with the flexibility to anticipate, adapt, create and sustain change.

6. Authenticity
Authenticity means staying true to yourself and owning your personal experiences (e.g. values, beliefs, emotions, needs and wants). Exercising authentic leadership means leading from your own personal point of view by being consistent with your truth. This requires being self-aware and transparent, setting high standards for moral and ethical conduct, being open to opinions and viewpoints prior to making important decisions, and acting without impulse or hidden agendas. Acting authentically requires courage and builds your character strength. Character is the unique combination of mental characteristics and behavior that distinguishes you from others. Strength of character means doing the right thing despite temptations or outside pressure to the contrary. It means speaking up and acting on your convictions – what you believe is right, according to your values and your truth. Acting consistently like this builds your capacity for character-based leadership and demonstrates your moral potency and ethics. This affords you a great reputation, which is essential for effective leadership and one of the most treasured and powerful assets you can have as a leader.

7. Psychological Capital
Psychological capital (PsyCap) relates to the state of development that influences your levels of satisfaction and performance. PsyCap is the result of the powerful synergistic effect of the following four psychological states represented by the acronym HERO:
• Hope: The will and the way – your desire, ambition and expectation to persevere and, when necessary, to change direction to reach your goals.
• Efficacy: Your confidence to succeed – your belief in your ability to take on and succeed at challenging tasks within a given context.
• Resilience: Your capacity to bounce back from adversity, conflict and failure to succeed, and adapt to changing and stressful demands.
• Optimism: Your capacity to attribute and explain: positive events as personal, permanent and pervasive causes; and negative events as external, temporary and situation specific.

8. Creative Thinking and Innovative Behavior
Creativity is projected to become the third most important skill needed in 2020. Leader behavior can shape company culture and is an important predictor and innovative workplace behavior (IWB) – the behavior that guides the initiation and intentional introduction of new and useful ideas, processes, products, services, or procedures. From a strategic perspective, your leadership is an important driver of innovation in two ways: (1) establishes a work environment that is conducive to creativity and subsequent innovation; and (2) drives and manages strategic innovation goals. This capability affords competitive advantage for your organization.

9. Global Mindsets and Cultural Intelligence
As a leader, your ability to adopt a global mindset and being able to exercise global leadership to affect change is critical. To this end, you need cultural intelligence (CQ) – the capability to relate and work effectively in culturally diverse contexts and situations. CQ also affords you the ability to effectively manage diversity and inclusion within the organization.

10. Collective Leadership Capability
Collective leadership involves all employees and means that everyone takes responsibility for the success of a team or organization. Hence, today’s leadership mandate is not about exercising power or authority but rather about creating more leaders by empowering employees at all levels of the organization. This capability affords you decentralized decision-making, high levels of collaboration and accountability. In turn, this enables you to execute flawlessly and to deliver outstanding business results.

Consistently cultivating and applying the above 10 capabilities is your definitive route to leadership excellence and results in today’s world.

T-Code

Let us make our future now, and let us make our dreams tomorrow’s reality – Malala Yousafzai

The Point Of Being Alive

Lord, thank You for all You've so generously provided!

Duke of Atrisco

"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think" – Winnie the Pooh

Duke of Benavente

They talk behind my back today…hahaha…what happen was…after posting up the Press Ad Sales Results Slides in the Marketing War Room…I left the room…only Uncle Andy, Marcus & Mr. Horton’s Secretary stay back…then Marcus came out…told me that the Fresh Division planned sales quantity and planned sales value…the numbers are not that tally…Marcus is not really that sharp…so only left Uncle Andy & Mr. Horton’s Secretary…hahaha…then, I make a double check…what happen was that both of the item codes for loose and carton are in the same quantity…thus, it have inflated the final numbers...then, Marcus told me to remove the carton item codes from the list…I replied back that I just copy & paste…because the worksheet it’s formularized…then I say chup…wait a minute…something is not right here...the root of the problem is the merchants who didn’t put in the forecast accurately…then, why do I need to purposely…or do the extra work…or have to double-check or double-audit on their work…I told Marcus that…and Marcus agree…and I saw that Mr. Horton’s Secretary take a peek at the conversation that I was having with Marcus…hahaha…the culprit…Uncle Andy is right...Marcus cannot differentiate on the roles of Trade Planning anymore...everything also take up and do...and then perceived it to be value-added...adoi...

10 Important Career Lessons Most People Learn Too Late In Life

1. Don't stay in a job you hate. You spend half of your life at work. Life is too short to put up with a job you hate or a boss who treats you poorly. Many people convince themselves that they can stay in a job that makes them unhappy because they need the income or because they don’t believe they can find another job. But the truth is spending too much of it in a bad situation will make you miserable and it can affect your health. If you’re in this situation, try taking small steps to where you want to be. You deserve so much better!

2. Take care of yourself - Sacrificing your health for success or wealth isn’t worth it. I had a close friend who worked non-stop. He was always “plugged in” and wouldn’t even take vacation. He was diagnosed with cancer, took retirement and died shortly thereafter. Sadly though, he never got to enjoy any of his retirement earnings. Our bodies are not machines. You can’t keep going 24/7. The lights won’t always be green. If you don’t slow down, eventually, you will come to a red light and have to make a complete stop. Don’t take your health for granted - no amount of success or money can replace your health. "Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live." - Jim Rohn

3) Take time to Listen. Listening is a great time and money saver. It can solve a host of problems, bring creativity, give insights and not to mention show people that you care. Listening is crucial to gaining a complete understanding of situations. Without this full understanding, one can easily waste everyone’s time by solving the wrong problem or merely addressing a symptom, not the root cause. I would like to challenge you to make a concerted effort to listen more than you speak and just see the benefits.

4. Rejection and Failure will strengthen you. Failure is not the end. Few things in life are certain but failure is. Although it leaves a sour taste, failures are the pillars for success. You gain experiences you could not get any other way. Additionally, rejection is unavoidable in a creative life. Learning how to deal with rejection early on, will keep you from plummeting into a place of immobilizing despair. Rejection hurts but don't dwell on it. If you focus on positive thinking, even the harshest defeat is only a stepping-stone.

5. Don’t let money or your job title define you. Most people define success around money or fame. They get their self-worth from these things.This gives money way too much power over your life. We must realize these things could be lost in an instant. Maybe it's time for you to re-define success. Enter the race you are designed to run. Focus on a higher purpose and you’ll bring out the best in yourself and others. Only by using your gifts and talents in the service of others can you live a life that brings lasting fulfillment.

6. Surround yourself with people who will motivate you and push you to grow. Teamwork and networking is key. Part of your success is dependent on the people you surround yourself with. Social networks matter. I am not saying you should only surround yourself with sycophants but those with positive voices who will see the greatness in you, believe with you and encourage you to take action. Many of us have stifled our dreams because of doubtful and negative colleagues and friends.

7. Spend more time away from the office and more time with your family. Work is a never-ending process and life is not only about work, office, and clients. Sometimes in our efforts to provide for our families, we miss a key point: precious time with them.The interests of a client is important but so is your family. No one wishes on their death bed they spent more time in the office or more time checking email. Disconnect regularly and experience real life with those that matter most to you. "What consumes your mind controls your life...what's on your mind?"

8. Worrying doesn’t solve anything. It just magnifies fear and creates anxiety. The antidote to fear is action. Don't let fear hold you back. You won’t achieve your goals if you’re afraid to pursue an idea, or are worried what others will think of you. If you push through the worry and the fear you’ll almost always find that you were worried about nothing. Have faith. Don't worry. Patience and Persistence will open the right doors. "I've had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened" — Mark Twain

9. Never stop learning. Never stop growing. Personal development is continuous. Learn everything about the field you are in and also related fields. Become the expert others look to for advice. With the rate at which technologies are changing, if you decide that you are done learning, you will be left behind. By continuously learning you will be able to keep on top of things, make better decisions and remain "relevant" in this digital era. Try as well to diversify your skill-set so you can have income from more than one sources.

10. Happiness is in the present moment. Many people say. "I'll be happy when I achieve..." Happiness seems to be somewhere in the distant future where you will find that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. None of us knows how long we have on this earth so you can choose to be happy now. The truth is the rat race is never ending. It sucks you in and has it's grip fixed so tightly that you forget to enjoy the journey and those around you. Life is full of moving targets. The bar is constantly being set higher and higher. No matter what your situation, if you can approach it with an attitude of happiness, you are already successful.

Signs You are a Boss. Not a Leader.

Leadership is everyone’s cup of tea. However, it requires perseverance and demands experience by assimilating hard life lessons.

It is a customary practice for individuals to identify leadership with a label or a rank. A CEO is a “leader” because his office directs the employees of the organization. Even a manager is expected to be a “leader” because of his expected duties.

Leadership is not a badge that one puts on in situations. Leaders do not transpire when it is “time to step up and take charge”. Individuals become leaders when they know how to conduct themselves and possess the propensity to inspire others to do what they normally wouldn’t do on their own.

While anyone can be a trained leader, our definition of leadership needs consideration.

Here are four signs you are spending more effort bulldozing a team instead of leading one:

1. You are emotionally unpredictable – As an employee, having to worry about what sort of emotional reactions will the leader have lowers work productivity and efficiency. On some days every situation is dealt with ease and on other days, the leader may throw a fit of rage for no apparent reason. These emotional inconsistencies give way to tumultuous situations at workplace and create chaos. As a leader, one is responsible for the entire team. The leader becomes the back-bone of the entire structure and only a true leader can take up such a huge responsibility.

2. You never stick to your guns – Nothing destroys loyalty of your employees faster than you not keeping your word. When you do not deliver what you promised, your employees start questioning your capabilities and authenticity. A leader needs to demonstrate hundred percent honesty to set a positive example for the team.

3. You point the finger instead of pulling the thumb – If your employee makes a mistake, definitely at some level they are accountable. However, on another level, their mistake may have been a result of a process you proposed. A true leader must know that it doesn’t matter how or why something went wrong, what matters is that one needs to react and move on. If you keep pointing out everyone else’s mistakes without accepting your role in the equation, you will be driving your employees to alienation and disrupting their performance.

4. You focus on the bad and never highlight the good – There is a thin line between inspiring great standards and harrowing one’s motivation. If you only point out mistakes of your employees, they will start doubting their effort all the time. Although sometimes it is necessary to highlight the mistakes and effectively work them out, it is also necessary to appreciate and value what they bring to the table rest of the time. Only focusing on their shortcoming will leave your employees lost in the dark and unsure of how to best direct themselves within your expectations.

So what are the competencies you need to build to be an effective leader? Dwell into some of the competencies you can build –

1. Influencing Skills – A leader should relish leading his team and not consider it a task or duty. A good leader encourages direct and touch debate and knows when to end it and move on. In times of crisis, the team should be able to look up to the leader and rely on his or her ability to take the right stand.

2. Delegation – The leader should be able to clearly and comfortably delegate both routine and important tasks and decisions.

3. Intellectual Horsepower – Much of success in life and work is based on gaining knowledge and skills and applying them efficiently to solving problems and challenges. Good leaders need to use their life experiences and lessons to work with the team and enhance their productivity.

Effective leaders gain expertise and unveil competence as they move forward with their role as a leader and acquire valuable experience on the way. Leadership competencies can be used effectively to select, develop and drive potential leaders of the organization. This in turn will help the organization to sustain competitive advantage.

Walking On Water

If you are facing a situation today where Jesus is calling you to do something that may seem as impossible as walking on water, take courage. The one who calls you will be present with you.

Dear Lord, thank You for the assurance that You are always with us.

Can I do better? Be better?

A Good Season

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.

A time appointed by God during which we live our lives.

You have allowed this circumstance for a good reason.

Value-added work VS Repetitive/Menial tasks.
Meaningful VS Routine.
One time off VS Everyday.
Growing VS Stagnant.
Contribution VS Zero nothingness.
Significance VS Emptiness.
Intelligence VS Stupidity.

House of Anjou-Capetian

Mr. Horton’s Secretary stock availability report is very good…it is call for action…however the Supply Chain Team still insists with their own way lah…but what I did today was…I actually encourage Mr. Horton’s Secretary…if Mr. Horton’s Secretary wants to push it through…I told Mr. Horton’s Secretary to do a full complete set for the next weekend Press Ad and the comparison can be made…I can see that Mr. Horton’s Secretary is sort of a little desperate to have that format validated and be use…then it’s voila…one value-added report that everyone will use it and remember it for the rest of their life…hahaha…now, whether Mr. Horton’s Secretary is going to do it or not…I don’t know…I only know that Mr. Horton’s Secretary is also wants to be seen, do less work and toe the line…can harap to run report but to challenge or to make a decision…I don’t think Mr. Horton’s Secretary is also up to the task yet…Uncle Andy got ask why are we interfering in this Merchant-Supply Chain matter...for the betterment of the team lor...

House of Hohenstaufen

THANK YOU GOD, PRAISE TO THE LORD, BLESS YOU GOD!

Headhunter: Hi J___, this is Yii Meng a headhunter. I’m currently on a lookout for Promotion Manager & Merchandising Planning Manager (clothing) for a hypermarket retailer. Are you open to opportunities right now?

Me: Hi, is it ok for me to know which hyper that is recruiting? Thank u

Headhunter: This is for Tesco. Have you been approached before?

Me: Thanks for the opportunity. Apparel is really not my forte. Have to forgo this round…btw, how did u got my num?

Headhunter: From referral

Me: Ohh, is it ok for u to share who is this referral is?

Headhunter: Didn’t mention if I could share the name

Me: I promise I won’t leak. Just surprise there is a referral. I thought u found me in Jobstreet

Headhunter: Pls keep to yourself but I believe the referral is alright with it. It’s Gerrard

Grateful to God and surprise that Gerrard have my number…hahaha…I would really like to go to Tesco...because they are doing the real Trade Planning job mah...sigh...but I still have so much to learn...not qualified...

House of Altavilla

Uncle Andy say that I am Marcus’s deputy…hahaha…Mr. Horton’s Secretary & Samuel was there…hahaha…I am a small potato only…senior level politics is not my cup of tea and forever I will not know how to manage it and play the game…I am not built for war either…I cannot stand firm in a dog fight…lack of killer instinct to go in for the kill…just like Marcus…I guess what happen to Trade Planning department today is also our own doing…we were not firm and we tend to bend too much…thus gradually, we lost the influencing & convincing appeal along the way…so, if I remain in G13…forever, I will do these routine, repetitive, comfort zone task…no value-added work…sigh…

So what happen was…Sörenstam…was looking for Marcus…Marcus pula went to the pantry to make tea…then Uncle Andy ask me to go in to see Sörenstam lor…saying that I am the deputy…I bet you that Mr. Horton’s Secretary is not happy to hear about it…hahaha…

House of Habsburg

Email from Peggy: very important person, cannot miss :)

Hahaha…suddenly we are like very close like that…sedangkan, in the first place…Peggy was one of the few people who criticize my Press Ad reporting format…well, I am not as smart as Uncle Andy, Mr. Horton’s Secretary and Samuel…I am simple, naive, straight-forward...I just do my very best…if I’m the garbage man…then, I will try to be the best garbage man in town…

We Won’t Break

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

The Creator and Sustainer of the universe loves and provides for His children, so we don’t have to waste our precious time worrying. God knows our needs and will care for us.

He also knows we’ll be tempted to succumb to worry. He tells us to come to Him first, trust his presence and provision in the present, and live by faith one day at a time.

In this life, we’ll face overwhelming troubles and uncertainties that can make our shoulders droop. We may temporarily bend under the weight of worrying. But when we trust God, we won’t break.

Worry won’t break us when we trust the Giver of all good things.

Phone Zone

Pray continually.

God is available for our quick cry or for a lengthy conversation. He welcomes us into relationship with Him, a constant and endless sharing of our joys and gratitude, needs, questions and concerns. We are always in the prayer zone.

I’m grateful Lord, that You want to hear from me. I need You today.

Access to God’s throne is always open.

Lost But Found

Suppose (a shepherd) has a hundred sheep and losses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it and when he finds it…he calls his friends & neighbor’s together and says – Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.

When we’re wandering in life, searching, wondering about our purpose, it’s never too late to turn to Christ. God wants us to experience His love and blessings.

Alturzarra

WatsApp message from Samuel – I raise up my concern and they tot I get angry n release me faster…

Uncle Andy is of the opinion that Samuel have a communication problem…Samuel emotionally communicates out and not what it is intended…Uncle Andy also rarely comments much on Mr. Horton’s Secretary…maybe because the both of them are close friends…the only thing that I always here from Uncle Andy is that Mr. Horton’s Secretary will stay put in G13 forever…

Duke of Montpensier

Hahaha…Ops Floor Walk starts at 7.45am…very early...Uncle Andy told Mr. Horton’s Secretary that she no need to attend…I attend on behalf can already…Mr. Horton’s Secretary terus senyap…Mr. Horton’s Secretary sure want to have foot in one…

Duke of Lorraine

So, now the Marketing Department have a War Room…basically it’s a room where all of the Competitor's Press Ads & Leaflets of the previous week are pasted in that room…I reminded Mr. Horton’s Secretary, if want to go to the room; call me… Mr. Horton’s Secretary have earlier ajak me but I mention that I need to print out the Press Ad results slides first…then mana tahu… Mr. Horton’s Secretary terus went into the room and didn’t ajak me…when I query Mr. Horton’s Secretary like a small kid…Mr. Horton’s Secretary’s answer was to give me time to do slowly on my slides wor…Mr. Horton’s Secretary is also like Celtic…hahaha…macam macam jawapan…

Duke of Guise

It was quite unexpected…GRACE…from God…something that I don’t deserved it…something that was unexpected happen…so, during the S&M meeting…Peggy was complaining about the Price Elasticity issue…why our competitors only have to drop a few cents; but their volumes will shoot up sky high…whereas for G13…we have to deep dive on the price cut so tremendously but there is no significant big uplift…so, out of my curiosity…I quickly do a checking and found out that Peggy was right…emailed to Peggy…and unexpectedly Peggy share with everyone in the meeting and mention that I run the report…THANK YOU GOD, PRAISE TO THE LORD, BLESS YOU GOD!

Duke of Touraine

I’m good at being a copy cat…I learn fast…hahaha…so, right after the Ops Floor Walk ends on Tuesday…I quickly drop an email and sum up on the next steps…indicating that I will follow-up on it and it’s my territory…don't intrude...hahaha…

Duke of Alençon

Mr. Horton’s Secretary’s daily job is damn senang…just lepak around and then just do 1 or 2 value-added report…and voila Mr. Horton’s Secretary gets all of the credit…while I have to slave around…doing routine, repetitive, supporting and boring tasks…everyday busy with administration work…nonetheless…I’m being put here for a reason…I know that I am a great copy cat…I am content...hahaha…

Duke of Angoulême

So everything was ok and agreed upon…then mana tahu…that is why I always say that this Mr. Horton’s Secretary is very smart…Mr. Horton’s Secretary came out with this value-added reporting format…where sales & stock on hand are being measured to get how many stocks weeks that it can be cover…on one hand, yes I admit that I am upset with myself because why I didn’t come out with the report format…why I didn’t use my brains…why I am so bodoh…on another hand…it was my idea, Mr. Horton’s Secretary came from behind to improvise it…Mr. Horton’s Secretary was damn super smart too…email to all of the Ops & Merchants…like lobbying for support like that…but I don’t denied that the report is useful & valid…it calls for action from every stake holders...it builds credibility to the team…

Duke of Berry

It was my idea…hmm…but why didn’t Marcus thought about it…Marcus is kind of smart too…during our S&M meeting…we will actually run through the Ready To Sell list first (from the Supply Chain Department)…then only do the Press Ad Review for the coming weekend and the following weekend…since there are so many complaints from The Merchants & The Ops that the stock availability is not sufficient…so, I suggested that we do the Press Ad Review first; identify what are the 4 Hero items and 2 Sub Hero items…thereafter only run through the Ready To Sell list…making sure that there is enough stocks to cover…and everyone is in the loop…and no playing the blaming game, no pointing fingers and on Monday…during the Store Council Meeting…Ops cannot use the reason of out of stock…

Duke of Anjou

Both Marcus & I attended the Individual Development Plan training…something like performance appraisal lah…so, Marcus have to name the successor for the Trade Planning department…Marcus raised a question to the trainer – whether 3 names can be submitted or not…hahaha…yes, I can see that Marcus wants to be fair & square to Samuel, Mr. Horton’s Secretary and myself…

Duke of Orléans

World Cup 2018; The Final >> France Vs Croatia…

This year World Cup have lots of surprises…The Dutch & The Italians were not even selected in the first place...The Argentinians, Brazilians were eliminated in the earlier rounds…England…well, this team of young lions did their nation proud as they march into the semifinals…doing what the glamorous boys of Beckham, Owen, Rooney cannot even do…I’m still an English fan at heart…

#EnglandWC