Leadership

Today, I had a big event which involved Prime Minister and 10 other Ministers and many other MPs and big shots. To begin with, the event was quite a nightmare with HUGE changes being made 2 days prior to the event, on a Friday no less. Reaction time was critical. What was originally quite a simple affair became a mammoth monster. To complicate things, Mrs Prime Minister came along.

But it was a good learning process. It taught me alot of things about leadership and how leaders should react esp. in a a crisis.

1. Build an Arsenal of Personal Favours
- Because of the last minute changes, I had to mobilise many people on short notice. It was difficult as the event falls on a Sunday. It did not help that my bosses didn't want to be the bad guys to shoot the arrows. I needed people, and I needed them fast. So I had to call on personal favours. It was a good thing I do not shit in the place that feeds me. :) In times like this, you could tell who your allies are.

2. Equal Misery is BAD
- Who ever invented the logic of equal misery doesn't work in the corporate world. This is a selfish theory. More work can be done if someone can be a little more self-sacrificial and get something unpleasant done, rather than dragging 2-3 other people through the mud just so he has company. It is a sheer waste of time and effort.

3. Don't Act Smart (aka Mia Gei Kiang)
- I witness how some leaders love to claim the credit and tries to sound intelligent only to have their bluff called. If you are already not very bright, don't act bright because when the switch if flipped, it will obvious you are not just dim, but there isn't even a tungsten within.

4. Be at least Nice or Smart
- Leaders should be nice... and if not nice, then better be smart. The worse combination is one who is not nice and not smart. You lose the respect and you make people pissed with you. At least if you are nice, even if you are not too clever, people will help you because they felt obliged too.

5. Admit Mistakes
- The worst trait a leader can have is to be too egoistical and insist on being correct when proven wrong. This has huge repurcussions. If you are wrong, admit it, apologise and get on with life.

6. Trust your subordinates
- Most subordinates have best intentions and will try their best to get the job done to the best of their abilities. Their own reputation is at stake so trust them. And when mistakes occur, don't be too quick to point the finger. It could be someone else's fault or even your own.

7. Respect
- Being a leader doesn't mean you don't have to respect those who work for you. They deserve even more respect precisely because they are working for you. How else will you get things done? Respect them and earn their respect for you.

8. LEAD Wisely
- Leaders are there to lead. What good is a leader who cowers and hides when you need directions to charge? At the same time, it is also not enough to lead blindly. A leader should have the courage to take unprecendented measures, be accountable for them and do so in good time.

Leadership is difficult. But I hope I can build up enough skills so that the people I lead one day, will follow me, but not blindly and will question, but not doubt me. And most of all, respect me because I have earned it.