MASAGA Conference 2024

 

Great fun to showcase my business simulation activity at the MASAGA Conference 2024.

https://youtu.be/sYKYFVTxqrc?si=TTmmIDJbsytLVVEh

What does business have to do with dragons?

 

Business is like fighting dragons. You win, or you die. Business is merciless. Not necessarily evil, but if you don't have what it takes, it doesn't play nice just because you underestimate it.

Do you take on a dragon alone? Or do you form a party? Do you have a vanguard? Do you have a tank? A healer? Range support? I have a party of 110 business partners. We take on huge dragons. If you want to do dragon hunting together, let me know. We have a Business Open Day on 6 August 2024, and we are looking for serious business partners.

Training is not fun and games

 

If you are to write a caption for this photo, what would you write? This photo is from one of my training sessions. Yes, they are fun and engaging, and I specialise in giant business simulation activities, but ultimately training is not about fun and games. It is about change. One client whom I did training for in December shared that after the training, they saw a change in behaviour in their team. This is what we aim to do through training. We learn to be better people. We learn to operate better as a team. We become a more productive organisation.

Why work multiple businesses / jobs?

 

Sometimes people ask me - why do you make yourself so busy? I do leadership training and coaching as my main business. I also run a board game design and publishing studio. I am actively involved in BNI Lighthouse, a community of business leaders. People ask me - doesn't this tire you out?  

It does exactly the opposite. When I choose what I want to work on, I am thrilled. It is certainly challenging to manage my time and resources, but by forcing myself to prioritise, I am able to focus on the most rewarding and meaningful work. When I get stuck with problems in one business, switching to work on another helps me recharge, and I can later come back with a fresh mind. 

I'm having fun. Are you having fun? 

Bringing 200 businesses together

If you want to talk business, find people who take it seriously, people who are committed, people who are consistent, rain or shine. Thank you Lightkeepers, for always leading the way.

https://www.facebook.com/bnilighthouse

 

Hello Melaka

 

I was at Swiss Garden Hotel Melaka on the weekend, conducting a team-building event for a diverse group - from Russia, Kazakhstan, Cyprus, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam and Cambodia. In one of the activities one team managed to make a poker hand of five of a kind! Impressive! I said I've only seen such in Stephen Chow movies. 

Reel: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1337049553518713

An entrepreneurs tribe

The power of 100 entrepreneurs in a room. And this is not just a touch and go networking event or social gathering. This is a dedicated group, committed to help one another grow business. Thank you Lightkeepers!

Club Med Cherating

 

When my office is Club Med Cherating, I don't mind working on a Sunday. :-) This was my Power Sunday with the Build Great team from Melaka.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/243399108219293

How To Enjoy Your Work

 

I was recently invited to be a keynote speaker at a KK High School event. It was in Sabah and initially I thought the timing would be perfect because I would be back in my hometown for Chinese New Year. Unfortunately due to some last minute changes I had to return to KL the day before the event. So I could only conduct the session virtually. 

I shared with all staff of the school a topic which is close to my heart - how to enjoy and be happy at our work. One important perspective is it is sometimes not so much about finding work that we love. It is about finding love in our work. The grass always looks greener on the other side. If we never learn to find love in our work, we will never be happy no matter what work we find ourselves doing. 

Organisation culture in a merger

 

I was invited to be speak on organisation culture at Avante Hotel by a Vistage group of entrepreneurs. One very interesting topic that came up during discussion was how to synchronise the culture of two companies A and B, when B has just been acquired by A. Is it a good idea to deliberately restructure teams so that employees from the two companies mix and integrate? Management wants to shift the culture of B to be closer to A. Will mixing employees cause the culture of A to shift towards B instead, i.e. having the opposite effect from intended? When the teacher seats a naughty pupil next to an obedient pupil, there is no guarantee the naughty pupil will become more compliant. Things can go the other way. Ultimately it is the teacher who needs to communicate expectations and enforce principles. That is how culture is built.

An effective team-building exercise challenges you to ask yourselves difficult questions

 

Many organisations run team-building exercises like a chore, or people attend just for the joy of escaping work for a day. Truly effective team-building sets a clear goal and forces you to think deep about what it means to be a team and what you need to do to become a better team. It is MORE work than your day-to-day work. When you make good use of team-building, it transforms your organisation, starting with what you do differently on Monday. 

Over the weekend, I had the honour of conducting a team-building event together with Captain Fuaad from VUCA Warriors. It was an inspiring and energising experience working with the Arcadia team. Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines! 

Hello Johor Bahru

I made a day trip to Johor Bahru to conduct training for a group of company directors and business owners. One thing that I had not anticipated was I conducted the whole session in Chinese. The session was booked a few months ago and I was asked to conduct the session in English. All my materials were prepared in English - the slides, the handouts, the case studies, the activities. I did my rehearsals in English. On the day itself before my session started, I noticed the attendees were all speaking Mandarin privately, despite presentations being in English. So right before my session started, I asked whether they would be more comfortable if I did the session in Mandarin.

Now that might not have been a good idea. Although I am a native speaker, I had not conducted this particular training in Mandarin before. All my preparation had been in English. This was like asking Jacky Cheung to change all the songs five minutes before the concert starts. He probably can do it but it will likely be disruptive. Was I going to shoot myself in the foot?

The group said yes, let's do it in Mandarin. They explained that normally they had non-Mandarin-speaking attendees. It was coincidence that all present that day were Mandarin-speaking. So okay, here we go. I certainly stumbled over a few terms and what the best Chinese equivalents would be. However the overall session was much more impactful and engaging. The attendees eagerly opened up to discuss issues they faced. We had deep and meaningful discussions on the topic. I had a great connection with the audience. I could deliver the messages and concepts powerfully.

In the end it's about doing what's best for your clients through understanding their needs. Some risks are worth taking and some prices worth paying, when you can give the best value to your customers.

Virtual Team-Building?

Can team-building be done online? Does it even work?

Now that I have done it together with Captain Fuaad, for a huge group of 109 participants, I know it is not only possible, it can be amazingly fun!

Training 20 locations in China

I am currently conducting a training for 20 locations across China, from Shanghai to Wuhan, Shenzhen to Beijing. Biggest challenges? 

#1 - Developing all materials in Chinese. E.g. how do you say "stakeholder" in Chinese? Google Translate is not always your best friend. 

#2 - Not to let slip the Malaysian "la"

UAcademy Facebook Live session on leadership

Recording of my Facebook Live session with UAcademy: https://fb.watch/8CCXUeM5Xn/

Facebook Live session with UAcademy

 

Event link: https://www.facebook.com/107159484360983/posts/404522214624707/ 

Too old for new tricks?

Have you heard a 40-year-old complain "I'm too old to learn this new stuff"?

I had the great pleasure to teach a short course to a group of senior citizens, most of whom are in their 60's and above. They are among the most curious and hungry students I have ever worked with. We really have no excuse to be not continuously learning. 

If you have friends or relatives of 55+ and enjoy learning, recommend to them the University of the 3rd Age - https://www.facebook.com/U3AMalaysia 

The Great Resignation

 

This is a movement encouraging people to quit their jobs en masse in autumn of 2021, after enjoying the benefits of a full-time job through summer. The worldwide pandemic has shaken the beliefs of many people, making them rethink their life choices. I believe it is a good thing that people have more clarity on their priorities and goals, and take action to align their lives accordingly. 

For business organisations, job security and a pay cheque is no longer enough to retain talent. What purpose does your organisation serve? What values do you stand for? Are your goals aligned with those of your employees? Do you communicate them to your employees? 

Seminar panellist: What Industry Should I Be Preparing My Child For

 

I have been invited by Aspiration International School to be a panellist for their online seminar for parents - What Industry Should I Be Preparing My Child For? Come listen if this is of interest to you. It is open to public. 

360 Degree Change Leadership with BJC Foods

Had a great training session with the team that brought us Wise Cottage Fries - 360 Degree Change Leadership. The module which resonated most and had the most participation: Managing Conflicts.