A Definition of a Leader

Leader, leadership, lead. 

I am being surrounded by this jargon word for the past few days. 

A question was raised to me: How do you define a leader?

Wow.. I always know in my heart, in my head what a leader meant to me, but when I was asked with such a direct question, suddenly I was fumbling for words to answer. I was not able to answer it directly and quickly.

After a short deep breath, I rendered my sketch on what a leader meant to me.

Naturally, a leader is a person who is able to lead a group of people, teams or units. Not simply leading them, but lead them successfully, with integrity, dignity and honesty.

Well, why do I pick this one up as my main point?

There are many great leaders around us.  What matters to me, how these leaders step out from their throne. Do they leave great legacy behind? Do they mold and grow their teams?

I deduce that a leader is a person who lead through respect and integrity. Not from fear nor intimidation.  The foundation of respect always come from the natural expectations from a leader - give clear direction, provide quick and firm decision, care on the welfare of the members, honest and transparent, lead the talk, committed and is not afraid to take the plunge even though at the risk of his/her own position if the course is correct and aligned with the company strategy. 

I admire a leader who inspires, whose leadership legacy is adapted and continue to live in the people who used to be managed by this person.  
We always forget, we continue to learn, even after we have long left the school era.  We continue to learn, to be a better person. Better spouse, better parents, better siblings, better friends... the list continues. 
We learn from a person whom we respect and admire.  
We learn from a person who leaves a battle scar in our life.
We learn from a person who teaches that this world is not perfect. 
We learn from a person who shows us the way that only we can decide whether we want to follow the way, or turn around and choose another path. 

I am over 40 years old. I am still learning. I thought I have learnt all, but I am wrong.  I still encounter with surprises, something that I don't expect to see at this age.  But I do, and I learn. 

I also learn something new about myself. 

I know now that even though I am ambitious and determine, I am not cut to exploit others to reach my destiny. 
I also realize that even though I am offered a gold mine, I was strong enough to turn it down, because it went against my principle and my belief. 

This discovery has also made me acknowledge one thing - I have passed the test of a great temptation and as the result, I am in peace with my inner self.  I am not made of dirty parts and black hearts.  I am indeed a good product of my parents' teaching and upbringing. 

What else do I learn? 

I learn that I am surrounded by friends and family whose trust are on me, and whose respect I earned. I am so pleasantly surprise to know I have impacted so many lives in positive ways, that it humbles me.  If I leave this corporate world today, I am satisfied and happy to tell my son that I've done my best. I also know in the future, if my son crosses their path, he will get the help and assistance, even though I don't ask for it. I firmly believe, it will be given away anyway, for free!! 

As per my previous blog, I mentioned that I have such great leaders in my life, starting from my father, and followed by my many great bosses in my career.  Their influences and my admiration on them have mold me the way I am today. 

So, I am happy to know that I have the same effect and impact on people who have worked with me and for me (of course not all, I do believe too that there are some who wish never see me again.. :)). 

There is a say, a successful battalion is not only due to its commander, it is also because of the great soldiers in the team.  

I have to say the same with me. 

I cannot be a good leader if I don't have a good team who shows great commitment and passion in the job. 

I think in this era, we can no longer manage like a dictator. We are in a developing country, and this sort of management style is near extinction. 

My message to my colleagues, my teams, my friends.  Build up the next generation of great leaders starting with you. 
We instigate change. We build motivation. We champion honesty with the highest level of integrity in delivering our job. We respect each other regardless of differences we may have in our physical appearance or belief. We build a successful team.  We empower and trust them. We continue to develop their career.  We genuinely care about them, with no hidden agenda. Let the team try, and cushion them if they fail.  It is OK to fail if the impact is bearable.  They will learn faster and become better thereafter.
We start this chain reaction with us, and I believe we will see the positive impact it has in us, in the teams and to our country. 
Believe in our own capability.  We are great workers with abundance of great leadership skills. 
Look into us, and start believing in ourselves first, then other will follows. 

When I look at you, I always have positive outlook about you.  

I have computed the way my brain function - always expect the good thing and the best from the people who are around you.  They are human after all. If they make any mistake, forgive them and move on. Don't waste negative energy. It is what it is - a WASTE.  Not worthy of your attention.  It only attracts negative reactions in you - stress, annoyance, sleepless nights. If you cannot shake this negative influence, then walk away, leave! Don't ponder too long. When you are drown with such negativity, you will miss the opportunity that might be right infront of you. 

I still have a long way to go, at least 20 more years of working if God bless me with good health and longevity. My husband did say this to me once when I was in the most difficult moment  "I have been blessed with Miss Smooth so far.  It doesn't mean one moment of spiral that I am running out of it.  Just stick with your principle and your management style, you will get out of this ".  So I listened to this wise man, and indeed I am out of it.  

I determine now then ever, to live up to my principle and hold on it with firmer grip.  I will march forward, to reach my destination successfully, with the bless from Him and with the support from my dear family and my many great friends. 

...... sign off for now.  Cheers! 

What is going on now?

I like to watch and observe. Sometime, things that happen makes me smile, feel wonderful and elevated.

But many things too make me rethink the course of this life.

I know I am not a good politician. I am too direct, too vocal and too clear with my facial expression.

These characteristics, in many forms are regarded as positive. But in specific circumstances, and situation, it is simply a recipe for disaster.

There are too many dramas going on now due to the election year. I watched how sometime a politician can lie outwrightly, without remorse under the name of "I am doing my job". There are also many situations, in or outside political area where some people try to keep their position at the expense of others. Double faces, the cunningness just beyond me. Sweet talk in front and as soon as the person turn, this someone ready to stab the person's back.

I am truly amazed at the steps taken - through a long observation. Really smooth and well planned steps. Since I am a fairly good chess player, I almost admire the people who has the ability to bring the steps to real life. Though the intention is nothing to do with fair win, but winning is definitely the end game. Amazing, truly! I believe this is a skill on its own. Only that, if this skill is channel towards improving the country or the company, then many lives could be benefited from it.

I also watched cases where someone climbed the top ladder and leave behind trails of foul smell and broken lives.

As a person who always believe in goodness and fair play, it dishearten me to watch the scene unfold. Sometime I wonder, doesn't that someone have any trace of kindness and remorse. Too many casualties, for the sake of maintaining the positions. Bad mouthing the opponents, punishing the whistle blowers. I guess the passion to reach the top is so strong, it simply overridden the goodness that someone may have - underneath those layers of ugly fats.

In my opinion, all of us works for someone. Unless the Island is yours, then you are actually servicing the people. Unless the company is yours, then you are actually working for someone as any other employee of that company. Unless the house is yours, then you are actually renting it from the bank until you finish off the loan.

If the Island is not yours, if the company is not yours, and if the house is not yours, do you think you are really in a secure position? So secure that it gives you the freedom to do what you damn think right and ran the money as though it belongs to you?

Sometime or many time you said to hell with others who are appointed to do their job. Instead you want them to do what you ask them to do. Not what they are designed to do. You want them to become your puppet, and expect them to jump only when you ask them to. Not before. If they answer you back, you will destroy them. They become useless to you. You don't need a puppet who can answer you back. So you find a way to get rid of this useless puppet. They are your failed project because you failed to turn them to be your puppet.

You ignore the simple basis of check-and-balance. You totally turn blind and deaf to any meaning of transparency and trust. Your motto "if they don't do my way, they are in a wrong way". Simple. Pure. Basic. Hell!

History proves that this sort of people won't last in the regime.

When the country is not yours, then the people has more say than you. You work for the people, you do your job, to keep you job. The money is not yours to spend as you like. One day, you will be discovered, and your downfall will be much harder than the normal folk like me.

When the company is not yours, then you are expected to focus on your job, and let other people do what they are hired for. Not because you asked them to.

Don't rule based on fear. We are not in a country where dictactor can exist or allow to exist. Fear is a fragile weapon. You need to instill and enforce fear all the times to get things running, and you are no longer focus on the job your are hired for. You are too busy to ensure your fence are not penetrated and forgot to do what you are paid for. You are too arrogant and too scared to hire anyone better. When fear is the rule of the game, you only have mouse in your regime. Those whose job is to nod their head, for they know if they shake it, they will be beheaded. I also think you spend all of your spare time thinking your next move to bring down your opponents. Instead of doing your job.

And remember - when the fear factor is gone - you are gone too. The mice you hired will be roasted along.

I don't have to name the country leaders who felt at the hand of their own fellow country men.

I don't have to list down name of corporate leaders who faced the same fate.

You can escape now, you can think you are invisible and untouchable. But I always believe the truth will prevail, and you will fall disgracefully. Your name will be tainted for good, your family and children will be disgraced for the rest of their lives.

I don't know. Maybe I am too naive that I can live in a country where fair play and honesty exist. Maybe I am too dumb to expect people work ethic only based on good values, trustworthy, transparency, genuine passion to grow one's people, and the drive to grow one's business and country.

I think if all of us do our job as expected, then our lives will be better, and we will move to higher level of quality life.

I am in the mood to write tonight.. the ideas flow through my fingers.. and I keep on writing..

The above articles has no relation to those who are dead or alive. It is only my general observation and some has become my source of amusement. Until it remains something I observe, I will fight it with kind. But if it touches me personally, I will fight it with my blood!

Adios.. and good night...

Signed off with vengeance..

Linda :)