15 years as Insurance Player

Time indeed flies as I have just crossed my 15th anniversary few days back as an general insurance practioner. I have started my journey back in 1995 with Hong Leong Assurance (HLA) as a management trainee. On the first day of work, I was told by Lim Sze Yeen, the then HR executive I was one of the eight candidates selected out of nearly 120 applicants for the opportunity. Hmm, felt proud and honour of such feat. It is at HLA, I build up my foundation in my corporate career. It was shaping strongly to be a honourable entrepreneur through its 8 corporate values. Till today, I could still remember the values deep in my root.

Quality, Entrepreneurship, Integrity, Honour, Human Resource, Unity, Progress, Social Responsibility

Before securing the job in HLA, I had actually took up a two months temporary job as a production executive at the leading Taiwanese textiles factory operating in Nilai, Seremban. The main objective at Hualon Textiles is to earn my fund reserves so that I could secure a better opportunity in my career.

Graduated as the first batch of molecular microbiology, I was supposed to take up a job in the lab or pharmaceutical lines of selling. I did try to apply for those jobs but the requirement was to have own transport by way of car as it involves sales. I have only cub chai and I am not prepared to invest in car in West Malaysia. I was only focusing on getting a job that I could later continue back to Kuching or Sibu. I was waiting for my girl friend to graduate and that wait is at least two years.

I went for few interviews and one interesting interview was that the GM and Directors were trying to bash me up mentally and accusing me of prejudice. We argued on the definition and finally I left the interview more informed of corporate approach. The very next day, I received a call from the Sales Director offering my the job. I declined the offer nicely if not I will be in Boreinger Manheim, a pharmaceutical firm (May be I should have tried and probably I will be in Germany for free training...kekeke)

I have been travelling on my cub cai to KL/PJ almost every week for nearly a month. I study the road map carefully before riding my faithful to interview place. It is a good experience.

Then came, the opportunity in HLA, an opportunity informed by my girlfriend who spotted the advertisement. The first interview that I had with HLA was over the phone. An English communication test and I passed the test and was advised for interview the following week. Arriving at 18th floor of Wisma HLA at Jalan Raja Chulan, I was guided to a room and was given 3 essay questions for a pick to write only one. (I remember that in the room there were 3 other candidates). I chose to share the best experience that I have in the last 3 years. I wrote about my deep learning as resourceful and resilience (never die attitude) of a final year student when I was challenged to the max in completing my honours project. I think it took me 1 hour to write the 3 pages and I guess about 600 words. Ideas was flowing easily as it was my personal experience.

After I submitted the essay to a lady (I could not remember the name), I was advised to wait for my turn for actual interview. As an innnocent young man, I entered the interview room and there Sze Yeen and a small fella with a moustache by the rank of GM were ready to interview me.

...to be continued...

My Own 2010 KRAs

Top line - RM19.9m

Bottom line - RM1.0m

Teambuilding 2009

It is another accomplishment for this year. This event has definitely melt down the "I" among the team members and I hope the "WE" is budding strongly.

This one and a half day session which is divided into 3 main activities beside lunches, dinners and sleeping sessions has really nurtured team members to breakdown their defensive walls and nurtures their understanding as team members and friendship.

The 3 main activities are as follow;
a) Dry Session, where sharings were done in classroom style
b) Jungle Trekking, walking, climbing and crossing a 2km jungle trail
c) Building sand castle or designs at the beach

The group of us totalling 17 was divided into 3 groups namely "Kuat Makan", "Not Yet" & 'MPIB Boleh". Throughout the activities, team members have been working very closely in the name of TEAM WORK...(it really alive)...

The minor shortfall of this event would be...
a) We missed two of the team members who was unable to make it due to personal commitments.
b) We could have engaged a professional coordination for "full blast" effect (will make a difference in 2010).

Above all, I am personally satisfied that this team building event has achieved all the three objectives;
a) Deleting "I"
b) Budding "WE" values
c) Enjoy & Have Fun

I am looking forward to the maturing of "WE" values and growing in our personal values among all team members in facing the new challenges in 2010.

Key Performance Indicators (KPI)

I have learnt about this indicator eversince I joined the corporate world way back in 1995. It is a must in corporate organisation where results of the work is utmost upheld. Each employee is given a set of indicators to track their performance throughout the financial year. This indicator will be reviewed and discussed during the annual performance appraisal where the bonus, increment and promotion are considered.

Nevertheless, that is on the individual level and when all the indicators are combined, it must support the overall company's goals and objectives for the financial year. The CEO will be having the overall responsibility to ensure the KPI of the company is achieved through the implementation of various individual units.

Today, the government under the leadership of our PM had openly declared the KPIs must be in place and is to be achieved for good governance. Agreeable, this is a good approach to lead a good governance. However, a good declaration and the success of this implementation is very much depending the real performance review and follow up actions periodically. Any of the minister who perform below average must be identified and replaced whilst those perform well, must be appreciated and entrusted for bigger roles. Likewise it goes down the hierarchy to the respective ministries, departmental, unit heads.

Quarterly result must be disclosed and reviewed to ensure the progress is tracked and if any of the actions need to replaced or enhanced, it can be identified and acted upon.

In company, the internal and external customers will be providing feedbacks, constructive complaints or even mere dissatisfaction or grouses over the services or implementation of programmes not effectively meet the needs of the users. In the same manner, NGOs, oppositions or rakyat could air through proper channels to provide feedbacks to the government on the non-performance.

It is also encouraged that if any of the good performance delivered, an appreciation of support should be made unselfishly as to spur the performers to continue with their good action rather than just highlighting the weaknesses which could be counter productive.

I believe if everyone subscribe truely to the goodness of KPIs, we will be building a great company, supporting in our effort to support a progressive nation leading to greater respect by others.

Cash Before Trial

In corporate environment especially in the financial industry, it is a very sacred understanding of having highest integrity. One may always be hearing a lot hidden doings but true enough many were caught not charged. It may also due to long delay of authority investigation or probably the softer part of Malaysian culture or tidak apa attitude of us locally which may have encourage more became bolder in their action.

One may escape the charges but will not escape the punishment of life. Easy come and easy go. Time will prove if one has the patience.

Setinggi-tinggi tupai melompat, akhirnya jatuh ke tanah juga. One may thought that the community may be forgiving or forgetful but when one is caught, he or she may just have to count their days....praying for understanding and consideration but it will be definitely a disgrace to oneself, family & friends. So better do not cash before trial...it is never worth to be part of this evil acts...

Defining Performance Bonus

From company or employer's point of view, bonus is clearly defined as follow;

1. Compensation paid to an employee or employees for achieving a particular sales goal or organizational objective. This is above and beyond either a Commission or a Salary. A corporation achieving a 10% increase in profits may distribute part of the earnings as a bonus to its employees.

From employees' view, a hope from employee that his or her employer or supervisor appreciates their contribution. More directly as expectation to have bonus to support their needs or wants;

1. Buying special gifts for family and self,
2. Having extra to enjoy the hard labour for the whole year,
3. Going for overseas holiday with loved ones,
4. Buying new clothes, watch, car, TV etc
5. Giving angpow to parents, children and loved ones....
and never ending....list of requirements.

From the feedbacks received from people around, newspapers, blogs, internet news and directly from various friends, many companies have forgo this bonus in this year of global financial crisis. Some big ones even cut the salary between 15-20%. Employers seem to be more concern and fear of the impact of this crisis than facing unhappy employees. If business could not survive due to deep constraint of cash, what is employees' threat ? They may just need to terminate the employees.

Since the end of last year...when few of the super big global companies announced the collapse of their cash flow and locally few insurance companies had announced bad investment income beside deteriorating direct underwriting results, I have working smartly to prepare the mindset of my fellow team members of not to expect high bonuses or increment beside be more vigilant in their spending through my weekly and monthly meetings. I myself had even pycho myself to prepare the situation when comes to remunerations although the whole last year, we have achieved surplus in both top and bottom lines results, achieving the budget.

Finally, the D-day came...thank God, my Senior Management had managed to secure their promise to have the bonus paid before the Ox New Year celebration (though the amount is much less than expected) but my heart is happy as the pycho did have the effect nicely...(but it did not go well with few and sadly these few are those who are performing to the expectation but they have high expected and high headed thinking that they have done their part (could not see their undelivery though it was highlighted to them for which they had silently agreed). What a situation...

My mind went spinning..to ask, are they mindless ? not ashame ? what the hack, ah hia had not complained, sa kia cry first !

Those positive ones have stay calmly and even appreciated the gesture though the amount is lesser than previous bull run year as they have expected this would be the best as the management is still generous to give when others bigger names in the same industry had freeze the bonus...

It is during this diffcult time, we can see who is capable and can stay together as an united team. It is not a new subject but you would agree very much where we can also see who is loyal or not, who is a friend or not...I know a leader we must stay calm and always open to hear people out. After all, we must be caring and understanding. They are sensitive and if we could help them in this difficult moments, they may become better supporters of us. Thus, we must triply strengthen ourself to face this internal fractions before external demands.

New Year 2009 - I resolute corporately...

This afternoon, I had carried out my first sales meeting of the year. I put forth my resolutions for the branch and provide the expectation for my team members to work upon and at the same time, invited them to share their views and aspiration for the year.

Change is inevitable and is essence to achieve my 2009 resolutions as I stressed out to each one of my team member. With financial crunch continues to hit the headlines, I have remind my members of these iminent threats which everyone must be well prepared individually or as a dynamic team.

It will be a hostile if not dangerous at the forefront for us to sail through profitably and productively.

I need everyone's contribution to ensure the journey will be much cushioned off from the challenges ahead. In two weeks time, I will be presenting again upfront in the congregation of leaders to show how I am going to do what I did last year with a BANG ! Achieved what I have set out to do ! Oh Yes !

Last but not least, I resolute for positiveness ! to sail through rough patches with resilence.