The Auntie Auntie Connection

Was at Courts Megastore this afternoon. As we entered the lift with a few people at the 3rd Floor of the Electronics Section to get down to the ground floor , a lady rushes in while another one followed closely behind but stopped at the entrance of the lift. There the 2 ladies held a discussion, one in the lift and one outside the lift on why the other should follow her down to the ground floor. Thoughout the discussion, the lift door was held open for them to sustain the discussion; the 2 ladies continued the discussion for a few minutes totally oblivious of us and the rest in the lift who were waiting. Suddenly, the lady in the lift hit the right note to get the other to follow; she uttered "... but they were giving the buy one get one free on the ground floor ! - that immediately makes the other lady hop into the lift and we all finally get to go down to the ground floor. Sigh !

YES! we do have a Genghis Khan culture

Quote Mr John Bittleston, a Business Mentor - " If the faces of the staff are pinched and tired and look like scared rabbits, you've got a Genghis Khan culture. If the staff smile, appear open with each other, cooperate, know their products, help but don't hassle, you've got a good CEO in charge - and a good culture".

Culture as it was defined by Mr Bittleston is the way a company behaves, the way it treats its customers, staff, suppliers and its other stakeholders. It is the sum of everything it does but it can be seen in the smallest individual act.

First observation, as was mentioned before in my previous post, the policy that was silently conveyed on how we should treat our suppliers is simply disgusting.

Second, the 'scared rabbits' syndrome is real and I personally saw with my own eyes how frighten staff, even reasonably senior ones were when they are called upon to see the senior bosses. Actually, I cannot blame them for being frighten; it was the way the senior bosses behaves, their body language and their tone makes one cringe. Their faces and body language were totally different when meeting customers and potential customers. When meeting subordinates, they appear to be the 'know all' and pose questions in such a way to make one feels like an invalid or a newbie on the job. Indeed, if you observed, one of the key element between the bosses and the subordinates that is missing is the element called 'TRUST'.

Sadly, I am not certain that this can be corrected with a 'Culture Committe' trying to tell everyone (less the bosses themselves) how they should behave. Shouldn't this start from the bosses themselves....setting examples. Good corporate culture ? Dream on ! Would anyone tell the bosses how the subordinates think they should behave ? Would they be receptive and would they simply reject a peasant's opinion...and kill the outspoken peasant.

Corporate Culture or Unculture Corporate Culture

The company that I worked in has super disgusting entertaining policy in terms of visits by customers, partners or suppliers. These are the unwritten guidelines:
Guideline 1. If they are our potential suppliers or suppliers, don't bother to host them to a lunch if we work say past the lunch time - let them pay themselves....they should be the one buying lunch because they want to do business with us.
Guideline 2. If they are our customers or potential partners, assess their level of seniority first before deciding who to host a lunch. If they are low ranking, don't bother. Apply the 'Dog Eyes See Man Low' principle. Let them die.
Guildline 3. If they are high ranking , the bosses will take care of their lunch. The rest ? - go and die or let them tag along with their boss lah !
I don't think the bosses understand the awkwardness of the working staff (peasants) who deals directly with these people be it customers or suppliers especially when they met overseas. When us peasants were in their country, they were usually fantastic hosts whether there is a potential sales or not with you; or whether you are high or low in ranking.
All the bosses have in their mind is that if the rule for the peasants is relax, the peasants will exploit them. SUCH MISTRUST !
If ever these issues were ever brought up, they will laugh and scorn at the stupidity and ignorance of the peasants..after all, it is such a trivial issue to them.
'Politically Correct' or 'Won't Die' type of remarks like this may come splurting out from their tactful mouths ..... "I don't think I have ever stop you from hosting, just know your limits but before you do so, please check with me first. Policy are just guidelines" ....silently but not saying it ' THIS POLICY IS ENFORCE ONLY UNTO YOU PEASANTS TO PREVENT EXPLOITATION'......My goodness, what do they think ? Peasants are idiots !
Are these corporate culture ! No, this is UNCULTURED corporate culture!
Maybe I am wrong, this is not even culture to begin with; this the mentality of the Kiasu (afraid to lose) Singaporean business man attitude.
Very Sad. Very very sad.

Mee Siam Mine Harm

'Mee Siam Mine Harm' (Mee Siam without cockles) - made famous by our Prime Minister during a National Day Speech though gastronomically incorrect do reflect the colourful nature of the Singapore food culture.
Not many countries outside Singapore allows one to order food cooked to ones desired.
There is also the Bar Chor Mee Mine Ter Kua (Noodles without liver) made famous by Mr Brown, and which is actually a fairly common request to the Bar Chor Mee man.
We all know that we can ask for food cooked to our choice of 'Mine Harm' (without cockles), 'Mine Hiam' (no chillie), 'Mine Chor' (no vinegar), 'Mine Kar Kiam' (not so salty) ........'Mine this', 'Mine that' or 'Kay (add) this, 'Kay that'.
I mean, where else on earth do you find such accommodating food sellers.
During the stall's peak hours, can you imagine how the food seller or his stall's assistants can remember or can cope with the varied demands of the discriminating Singaporean customers.

Thinking of Stepping Out ?

If you are thinking of leaving after many years of work and striking out on your own. Evaluate your own worth before you step out, then gather and consolidate what you need for your future plans while you are still gainfully employed.; else it will be difficult for you to get access to what you use to have easy access to when you are already out. You may end up worthless the moment you step out.

Equal Opportunities

If you are given equal opportunities, the one who grabs the opportunity and is self motivated to take the lead wins. Full Stop.

Unfortunately many a time, timing do play a very important part. If you are not there when opportunity strikes, good luck to you. It will be difficult to wind back the clock just for you.

Don't lament that your lunch was eaten, you were not there to begin with.

There is a big difference between leading and being led. The choice is yours.

Ask not what you will be given but ask what you can give. Don't blame life for being tough because nobody says it is easy.

Nobody Owes Nobody A Living

My personal operational philosophy is this. If you are a working professional, the company you work in does not owe you a living; by the same token, you do not owe the company a living.

Between you and your company, there is a professional contract i.e. the company contracts you to perform a function and you deliver your expertise to the fullest abilities for the good of the company, no compromise. Fair statement?

To continue, your superiors don't owe you a living and vice versa; and you don't owe your staff a living and vice versa.

Under trying circumstances, prioritise what is best for your family and yourself, the company comes second. Nobody ask you to die for the the company. Even if you do so, the company will not say thank you.

Life is just so cold and pragmatic, lets just be realistic about the whole thing.