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.

Measuring that Parking Fine Risk

When was the last time you tear a parking coupon at exactly the time of parking your car?
Do you looked around before you add a good 10 - 15 minutes 'cheat' time from the time you park your car ? If you do so, you are somewhat evaluating your risk ?

What is the judgement you use to add 'cheat' time?

Ha, do you actually measure the risk ?....i.e. the chances of the car park attendant coming around quickly? ...the chances of a good 50 cents coupon versus the risk of a hefty fine ?

Share with me your parking coupon tearing secret.

Uniquely Singapore

You can pick out a Singaporean amongst the crowd easily when you are overseas in any country...when he or she opens his mouth to say something.
Adults or kids they are easy to recognize - that brand of Singlish is just so uniquely Singapore.

I am nearer mah !

Scenario 2: In a crowded car park, 2 waiting cars saw a car coming out of a lot. Car 1 was in the wrong direction but was very close to that lot; Car 2 was in the right direction but was further from that lot.
If you are Car 2, what will you do ?
If you are Car 1, what will you do ?

What is the name of the game ?

I personally had the experience as Car 1 and was greatly embarrased when I was confronted by Car 2 for taking the lot...so very 'pai say'.

I come here first

Scenario 1: In a car park that is filled, 2 cars are waiting - one of the car had been waiting for God knows how long, another car just arrived but was lucky to find that the driver of a parked car next to him came to go drive off .
2nd car driver knew of the car that came before him but all the same thank God for his good luck and parked into place. 1st car driver must be exasperated by his ill luck.

Culture of the individual, mentality or is this the unwritten law of the car park ?

Watch Out ! Cyclist speeding across crossing

I always wonder what the law will say if a cyclist cycling across a pedestrian crossing gets hit by a car. Is the cyclist a pedestrian or is he a motorist ?

Out of convenience mentality, in order not to dismount, a cyclist typically cycles across a pedestrian crossing assuming they have the right of way. This is so dangerous, especially at night when visibility is not as good and when drivers are less alert after a day's work ...and moreover their speed is much faster than a typical pedestrian crossing the road.

Another issue of why can't you wait for me to get across or are our motorists just plain impatient ?

Coffee Culture in Singapore

It is interesting that the same cup of coffee or tea can be served in 10 plus different ways in good old Singapore.
There is the:
1. Kopi - normal coffee with condensed milk
2. Kopi O - black coffee or coffee without milk
3. Kopi C - normal coffee with carnation milk
4. Kopi Kow - coffee thick i.e. less diluted
5. Kopi Siew Dai - coffee with less sugar
6. Kopi Ka Dai - coffee with more sugar
7. Kopi C Siew Dai - coffee with carnation milk and less sugar
8. Kopi Kow Siew Dai - coffee less diluted and with less sugar

The same applies to Tea or Teh as we called it. In addition to the Teh variations mimicking the Kopi above, the plain old Tea Bag is also called the 'Diao Hee' , meaning fishing as in the way one makes the dipping action when making the tea. There is also the wonderful Teh Tarik meaning 'tea pulling' where the tea is made by pouring between cups at great distance to aerate it. Additionally, there is also the Teh Halia or tea brewed with ginger.

The Milo is also called the Ta Kiew meaning kicking the football. This is because the packaging of Milo is usually shown with a picture of a footballer.

And what is interesting is that the dialect naming of the coffee or tea variety is 'internationally' understood in Singapore's coffee shops regardless of which race is running the shop.

How did this Coffee or Tea culture spread ?

That All Mighty Pack of Tissue Paper

Singapore is probably the only place in the world that people uses a pack of tissue paper to reserve a seat in crowded eating places.
On raining days, you will find umbrellas slap across a chair or across an entire table.
If you sit down at the table while they are away, be prepared for a scowl and get ready to ship out when they got back.
What kind of culture is this?

Excuse me, are you an Elite ?

An elitist remark in a blog posting last year by a student had left many people reeling and a stigma to those affected. It has boiled over now but it does left us to wonder if this is indeed the mentality of our next generation ?
What is the message ? ......Survival of the fittest ? Move ahead or you will be left behind ? Compete or die a terrible sight. No prize for the 2nd best ?

The Cold Part of Corporate Culture

I worked in a company that recently initiated their Corporate Culture identity.

There is nothing wrong on the suface with the key culture identified and in fact, it look almost flawless from a company's operative perspective....all except that I personally felt those factors to be too business objective driven and lacking in EQ. The more I looked at the key culture identities, the more it send shivers down by spines.

Are we initiating a business culture or a corporate culture, I wonder ?

The compassionate and quality of life part of corporate culture is sadly missing. What is in there are all the identities to attempt to mould people with an end point to generate more money for the company.

Having done so and putting up an internal publicity announcement with posters in the company's conference room seems to put an end to the culture saga.

Is this something that can be changed overnight or is this something that can only be learned by good leadership examples ? Is there a good leadership example to begin with ?

Is this how a company corporate culture should be to thrive in today's cutthroat business world ?

Was there an attempt to learn from great company like HP ?

Positive or Negative Attitude - Your Interpretation

If you don't agree with your boss's opinion, you are negative.
If you don't support your peer's opinion, you are uncooperative.
If you don't support your staff's opinion, you are difficult to work with.
Conversely,
if you agree with your boss's opinion, you are but a Yes man.
if you agree with your peer's opinion, you are very accommodating.
if you agree with your staff's opinion, you are lacking in leadership.

Are you a Nemo or are you a Shark ?

Are you a Nemo or are you a Shark in your workplace ?
In today’s highly stress and competitive environment - sometimes you need to be a shark, sometimes you need to be nemo to stay alive.
Do you agree ?

Culture or Mentality

I visited a sort of aquarium many years ago with my kid. We were looking at this big beautiful fish swimming carefreely and gracefully around in the glass enclosure.

An American family walked by and the father uttered in awe at the beauty of the great fish swimming in the water to his children.

A Chinese family came along and the father took a look at the same fish and uttered to the family that the fish being so big, should not taste good.

Will these interesting differences examplify how we bring up our next generation.