Watch a sunset

 

Tanjung Aru Beach, Kota Kinabalu. 

Always make time to take a break. To change the scenery.  To recalibrate. To see clearly what's next. To appreciate the beautiful things in life. 

The underrated superpower - listening

 

Often in the workplace people talk over one another, trying hard to push their agenda and present their points. However if we truly want to influence, we must seek to understand. Only then we can craft the right message to influence. If we don't understand what motivates and what is important to the other party, how do we present a solution that works for them, that they can accept? Listening gives us tremendous power. Not only by understanding, but also by building trust. One thing I have trained myself to do - when the other party has something to say, I stop talking and encourage them to speak up. One word which creates impact is worth more than ten which fall on deaf ears.

Who do you speak to first?

 

You are a department head. An employee was transferred to your department a month ago, and is performing poorly. He's been in the company for 10 years and you've known him just as long. You don't know how he managed to survive that long in other departments. He is certainly not a good fit in yours. You don't intend to keep him because he is affecting the productivity of your team. You want to ask his previous department head (your peer) to take him back. Who should you speak to, and in what order? (a) the other department head, (b) the employee himself, (c) your boss to whom the other department head also report, (d) others?