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.

The financial rippling effects has reached our doorstep

Western Digital announced that Kuching plant will be closed down by March 2009 leaving 1500 workers laid off.

The Timber is suffering worst effect and fear 100,000 workers may be laid off if situation worsen after Chinese New Year. Many of the timber camps have closed since November 2008 for festival till March 2009. Demand is very low from usual Japan market and many companies even cancelled orders.

Petrol/Diesel dropped another 10 cents since the famous 80 cents hike in August but kampua/kolok mee or other coffee shop increase had not reduced a cent. I think the operators will not move until no customers willing to patronise their premises.

Are we prepared for worst as we prepared to close the year and welcome the new year in 10 days time ?

Recruitment & Succession Planning

Some 10 years ago, this topic is not so a concern to me but now it is becoming more critical as we grow bigger and faster. As I have learnt from one of my favourite speakers, as manager, we need to consciously identify potential team members and not during when we need one. Thus, averagely every other month, I will engage in interviewing potential members though I may not have any vacancy. And every 6 months, I will put up an advertisement in the paper to encourage wider application for picking. This is to enable creation of a potential pools to select and also to provide training ground for us to select the right people.

Having good pools of right staff will help in picking right successors to succeed eventual team leader though mentorship is importance to ensure their learning is in right direction. The one who could work together tirelessly and supportively moving towards goals together is a diamond to any great leader.

It is true that people will come and go during the process or at any time, thus we must always be prepared and accept the fact that this is natural although at times, we must reflect on what have gone wrong in trying to improve our team weaknesses or environment weaknesses. Yes, some of the members are good but due to dissatisfaction of certain situation, it leads to breakups but there are many who just have attitude problems to work.

As leader, beside challenges and obstacles, we will face with a lot of learnings and improvement through encounters of human issues. If we could manage this aspect well, as in any professions, we will be able to move "mountains". Every great organisation, human assets are backbone to them.

Spending time with our good people is a must so that we could lead and mould them beside opening the door of open discussion and two ways motivation approach. Every week, I am trying to sit down with my key people sharing with them the crux of our business beside giving them my personal sharings and hearing their challenges and successes. Many are still quite closeup but I believe the strong one will start the ball rolling.

Therefore, to build company, we must build people. Recruit the right one, mould them and lead them to success and they shall attract more successes and when the chain reaction goes smoothly, the organisation will growing strongly continuously.

Brain Seems Better Than Physique

It seems that what you know is more appreciate or valued that what you can do ? Right...no ?
Well, try the following;

Usually people salary is paid based on what you can think of or your better brain thinking rather than physical extensive works. Look at the leader who think, plan and lead is paid better than follower who just follow what the leader instructs.

Of course there is exception if you are the best of your field and specialist when everyone needs your expertise...with little brain to bargain, you will get the better pay than those who just think.

That is why may be our parents or teachers always encourage us to study well in order to build up our brain. But the smarter of all are not the smartest kids in class as when we leave school, usually those grade A students are working for those grade B or C (of course not the grade D or E). Don't you agree ? Well, that is the fact !

I believe that this group B & C sutdents are those who are smart in using their brain in balance with higher EQ than the smartest kids.

It is not too late to discover than the requirement to have both IQ & EQ in balance and utilise wisely. Exposure @ Experience would help the balancing acts. Be alert and move with great confident that we are all equally good and the difference is only on whether we do use our intelligent to best of opportunities.

Brainstorming Session

After 10 days, I back again to KL to have my brain squeezed further. Tomorrow, my top management had organised a day brainstorming session in coming out with new business plan for the next 3 years.

We had a similar session last year at Dorsett Regency and guess what...we are coming back to the same venue...why ? May be to ride on the good fortune this year as we had been doing quite well on the directions that we set last year at the same venue.

However, this year...we shall have tougher challenge with global financial woes and Malaysia market will not be spare. We need to be very careful and chart out extra dynamic plans to sail through this financial waves.

I look forward to this session to draft a strong plans for continuous growth and profitability in this challenging situation in 2009-2011.

In fact, at personal...it is also about time to do some reflection to ensure our personal objectives can be achieved or on track...good luck !