Singapore

The day was 9 Aug, 1965. That was the day Singapore gained its independence. It was a day in which we celebrated. But if we looked back then, the critics said that Singapore would not be able to survive. It was a small island, with no natural resources. As backward as Malaysia then, it comprises mainly of migrants who came from all over the world. There were coolies from India, labourers from China and businessmen from England.

But that was probably its greatest strength too. For these people wanted to make Singapore not just their home, but their best home to live in. 44 years has passed since then. Today, Singapore is one of the most developed countries in the world. Singapore has surpassed what critics have ever have imagined.
I asked myself - can I turn my weakness into a strength? Years from now, would I stay the same or would I have transformed into someone so polished and defined? The answer lies within me. How about U?

Leaders make a difference

Recently, my boss give a lashing to several subordinates. It wasn't directed at anyone in particular, as no names were mentioned. However, those harsh comments were meant for a department who hasn't performed well for the past week. There had been a spate of mishandlings and delays. It was coupled with increasing customer complaints.

My boss was harsh, but I felt he did the right thing. Whilst it seemed like open humiliation, it serves as a reminder to all of us that we should be accountable for our own actions. He reminded all of us that we are leaders in our own departments / areas. When there are problems, we should be pro-active to resolve it. Pushing the blame to other people is not what we should do; looking at where we have gone wrong and how we can move on is what we could do. Leaders made a difference.

I read a article a couple of days ago. It states that great leaders empower others. They know that work gives people a sense of identity and therefore ensure that their people believe that the work they do is meaningful and that they have ownership of their jobs. To empower others requires confidence that allows others to be great. Effective leaders empower people by giving them automony, allowing them to demonstrate their competencies, providing them with opportunities to grow, and making them feel that what they do matters to the organisation and the wider community.
I look at myself. I am a leader in my own ways. The question here is how great am I as a leader and and how big a difference I make?