Saturday 24 November 2012

YOUR ULTIMATE CAREER

& TALENT RESOURCE
Do what you love

T: 03 7966 8388

F: 03 7955 3355

Get uP
aNd Start

WaLKING

SIttING too much caN harm

your heaLth aNd career
PaGeS 8-9

Number
plate
making
Is this a worthwhile career?
Get an insight into a typical
day and the challenges
faced by a number plate
maker
Pg 3

Pg 6

Pg 7

Pg 13

MANAGE TOUGH
CLIENTS

SIGNIFICANT
PURPOSE

BEING
PROACTIVE

through these
methods

is needed when
building good teamwork

will improve
your career

mystarjob.com, saturday 24 November 2012

roshan says

sTop

siTTing
geT Up and embraCe Life!

Conflict & communication

George Kohlrieser shares on the
importance of dialogue when a
conflict arises. Pg 5

Y first boss, Mike Petrucelli, used to keep telling

me to stop sitting around and just do something. As I have progressed through various
roles, I have begun to realise how profound his
advice has been. There is a place to reflect and
rejuvenate oneself but nothing gets done if you do not do things.
Sitting around and hoping for your career to soar to spectacular
heights is something we all do at times but it is just wishful
thinking. Your career needs to be action-oriented.
In this issue, we explore how sitting for prolonged periods can
not only harm your physical and mental health, but also affect
your career and life in general. According to researchers, we
sleep an average of 7.7 hours but spend 9.3 hours sitting per day.
Apparently, our bodies were not meant for sitting all day. In this
issue, we explore the perils of sitting too much.
Last week, I spent a day with hostage negotiator George
Kohlrieser while he was in Malaysia for a holiday. He constantly
reminds me not to sit and become a hostage in so many other
areas of our lives. Isaac Newtons first law of motion states,
An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion, stays in
motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless
acted upon by an unbalanced force. Objects tend to keep on
doing what theyre doing. In fact, it is the natural tendency of
objects to resist changes in their state of motion. This tendency to
resist changes in their state of motion is described as inertia.
It is almost the end of another year. How many of us are wishing that we had done all those things on our to-do list at the
beginning of the year? How many of those resolutions have we
skirted around so many times, waiting for a more opportune
moment to start gym, stop smoking, or start being more proactive in our career?
Inertia is so easy. We allow ourselves to fall into this safe,
comfortable trap that protects us from all the challenges and
hardships out there. It also ensures that we miss out on all the
wonderful opportunities too. This is true in both our personal and
our professional lives. Career inertia refers to all of those things
that slow you down as you try to reach your goals: not obstacles
that stop you in your tracks, but your own tendency to sit down
instead of getting up on your feet and executing the dreams you
envision.
Remember, nothing will change until we take action. In fact,
sitting kills. Further research shows that sitting more than six
hours a day increases your likelihood to die by 40%, within 15
years. Scary proposition. But the same death is inflicted on your
career if you are sitting and waiting for things to happen.
In this weeks issue of this career guide, we explore some of the
ways you can start being proactive and action-oriented. Sheela Chandran expounds ways to being
proactive in your career. We also look at ways
you can sit less in your work so that you can live
longer and be more productive. The cover story by
a new writer in our team, Prema Jayabalan delves
into the details of how sitting kills and what you
can do to overcome this disease.
And this issue is filled with other exciting
articles that will help you grow and
develop your career. We do hope
that you have been enjoying our
weekly career guide these past few
months. As always, you can download our amazing Top 10 and other
videos from www.leaderonomics.
tv and we wish you all the best in
your career journey!
Have fun learning! Carpe diem!
Warm regards,
Roshan Thiran
Editor, myStarjob.com & CEO,
Leaderonomics

Top 10

Fussy customers

Learn how to handle

customers who are
demanding. Pg 6

Solid teamwork

The basic ingredients needed to

produce a good team. Pg 7

Starting young

Meaningful experiences abroad

with AIESEC. Pg 11

Comprehension & the mind

Find out the secret to better reading
comprehension and retention. Pg 11

Idea, plan, action

How to be a proactive
person at work. Pg 13

Career Tips
yoUr Career Can sTagnaTe if yoU are noT proaCTive.
if yoU feeL ThaT yoUr Career is noT going in The righT
direCTion or ThaT yoU are noT progressing fasT enoUgh,
here are some poinTs To ponder
yoU are noT aLone Everyone stagnates at some point or another in their careers. Realising

that you are not alone in this challenge makes it easier to deal with. Instead of trying to fight it,
acknowledge it and tell yourself that its going to be alright. Only then, will you be able to focus on more
important things.

Keep Learning There is a great deal of material online regarding career enhancement. Keep on

reading and learning new things to improve your career. Do not fall prey to obsolescence especially in our
current fast paced, technology-driven society.

TaKe a breaK If you already feel weighed down by a career that you believe is not moving well,

take a break. By doing this, you will be able to re-evaluate and reconsider some of your goals. You may
also spend some time engaged in recreation which can restore your vigour and enthusiasm at work.

breaK oUTside yoUr ComforT zone One of the best ways to avoid stagnation in your

career is by interacting with new people and trying new things. You may even learn a new skill and
make some new connections. Break out of the mould - try switching some things, try a new routine and
experience something different and fresh.

sTarT smaLL The more you think about it, the more it grows. Stagnation is actually a part of

growth and more often than not, it is a sign that something in your life is not growing anymore. Hence,
be keen and observant to your surroundings as they might just open you up to more opportunities than
you ever imagined possible.

EDITORIAL

Editor
RoshanThiRan

pRemaJayabaLan
ContributingEditors
LiLyCheah
SubEditor
evangeLiaChRisTodouLou LeeKaRyean
debbiepozzobon

l Editorial | mystarjob@leaderonomics.com

Layout,Art&Design
Tungenghwa
mohdizudinismaiL
zuLhaimibahaRuddin

ahmadfadzuL
adznamsabRi
mohdKhaiRuL
KaLaiseLvi

muhdhafeez
Razziah
shawnng
Lisanneyeoh

l Advertising | imran.hashim@leaderonomics.com

Writers&Contributors
angieng
JessiCaong
JamesLee

RiCKngu
ReshanpiLLai
SalesManager
imRanhashim

mystarjob.com, saturday 24 November 2012

The possibility
of injuries is
very real in
this working
environment.

a
Number
Plate
maker
a day iN tHe life of

Hard work,
PatieNce, aNd
Humility - tHe mark
of a remarkable maN

By DEBBIE POZZOBON
debbie.pozzobon@leaderonmoics.com

S a child, it never occurred to Chiang

Chen Seng that he would choose
number plate making as his profession. Born in Ipoh, Chiang obtained his
primary and secondary education at
ACS Ipoh. He loves to listen to music, mostly oldies and sentimental tunes.
It wasnt out of passion that I first started
this business. I got into number plate-making because I got tired of the pressure I went
through working for other people. It came to a
point where being an employee did not appeal
to me anymore and I wanted out. Furthermore,
my brother was already in this profession, so
even though I had no knowledge about this
business, I decided to give it a try. I was jobless
anyway, reminisces Chiang.
Number plate making is Chiangs first and
only business and he has been at it for a long
time. The reason he has been doing this for
more than two decades is because of the
satisfaction he gets when he sees his customers pleased and satisfied with his work. What
started off as a trial venture bloomed into a
passion. He works about 12 hours a day, six
days in a week. He says that the number of
plates he makes is quite limited. A typical day
in Chiangs life as a number plate-maker goes
like this.
The incessant beeping of an alarm clock
echoes around the bedroom. It is 7am, and the
start of new day for Chiang. He has his own shop
Honsen Trading in Ipoh which he opens for
business promptly at 8.30am every day. The roller
door opens to reveal his shop which is packed
with tools, number plates, saws and other cutting equipment. It seems full to overflowing. To
Chiang though, this is his passion, and he knows
where everything is.
My job is to meet my customers needs,
says Chiang. I help them to decide on what
type of number plates they want, and assist in
the choosing of the various fonts and styles that
I think will make them happy. There are essentially three different types of number plates:
Ready-made: These are the most common
plates. The letters and numbers are all white and

All you need is passion to be a number plate maker.

You dont need a high level of education or degrees to be a number plate maker.
All you need are sawing skills, passion and interest for the job
they are ready for application to the black plate
surface.
Stickers: These number plates are only for
motor cycles. They also comprise of white lettering and numerals but they are all stickers. These
stickers are then affixed to a larger black sticker,
which in turn is stuck on to the motorbike.
Customised plates: These are unique plates
that Chiang has on offer, and they are very popular with his customers. Some people may have
their own ideas, or they may choose from the
many designs on display. Once the choice is made,
he sets about cutting each letter and number
according to the design and fonts chosen.
Of course my job also has its challenges,
Chiang contends. The first of these is undoubtedly the weather. When it rains, customers,
especially motorcyclists, dont come to the shop.
The second obstacle that he has to deal with are
small injuries. He works with cutters and saws all
day long, and has to be very careful not to hurt
himself. The last of the challenges that he faces
is the growing number of competitors. He has to
constantly check that his prices are competitive,
and that he treats his loyal customers well. Ipoh
is a small town, and maintaining relationships
with his customers is of utmost importance.
Judging from his interpersonal skills and the
warm relationships that he has developed over
time with his customers, it is doubtful that this
will pose much of a threat. Nevertheless, Chiang
is aware of the competition and of the issues
that are posed in terms of his business, and
works tirelessly to ensure that he maintains a
competitive advantage.
Chiang believes that number plate-making
is slowly becoming a dying art. This is due to
the fact that this skill will soon be replaced by
machines, in this technology-infused era. He
further explains that currently there are not
many people doing this, especially custom-made
numbers. This is probably because it is time consuming and does not generate quick income. The
current generation is more into businesses that
produce instant money.
This hardworking man advises those who
want to venture into this business to be ready to
make sacrifices when it comes to their time. This
is after all, a time consuming job. He also adds
that this profession is not a number one money

Customers can choose the font they want for their number plates from samples in the shop.
making business, but if you have the passion to
do this, then you will enjoy your work. Number
plate-making does generate a relative amount
of income besides being fulfilling. If you are one
who places importance on job satisfaction and
want to be happy with what you do, then you
could give this profession a try.
All you need are sawing skills and a passion
and interest for the job, says Chiang. He enjoys
seeing the satisfied expressions on the faces of
his customers. But more than this, he is proud of
his two children who have both completed their
tertiary education, thanks to the dedication and
hard work of this honest, humble man. He has
provided for his customers and family for over
21 years, and it seems that he is on track for 21
more. Honsen Trading and this unassuming, diligent man is surely one of the prides of Ipoh.

iSnap me
for a video

http://thestar.com.my/isnap

To view the video, visit www.leaderonomics.

tv/adil

tHis storys video woN first Prize

for tHe leaderoNomics a day iN
tHe life comPetitioN last year.
For this and other videos that
made it to the final,
visit www.leaderonomics.tv/adil
The A Day in the Life Competition
is open again and running in partnershipp with TalentCorp, with
a grand prize of RM10,000. For
more details, visit our website at
www.leaderonomics.tv/adilcontest

myStarjob.com, Saturday 24 November 2012

A Leader
Guides
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, better known as
Mahatma Gandhi, was born of humble beginnings.
From a young age, he had an unquenchable
determination to create a better future for his
people. His policy of pacifism and protest through
civil disobedience eventually succeeded when he
led his country to freedom in 1947.
Like Gandhi, many leaders believe in the power
of teamwork and collaboration. Winston Churhill,
George Washington, and Abraham Lincoln all led
their people through difficult times to a future
based on equality, fairness, and truth. Their
persistence, courage, and belief in their ability to
craft a new destiny are what distinguish them as
great leaders of the past.
Leaders are not born. Everyone can realise their
loftiest dreams by guiding the people around
them in the right direction.

Be A Leader.

We can help your organisation develop leaders. Write in to: people@leaderonomics.com or call 6012.343.7716

www.leaderonomics.com

mystarjob.com, saturday 24 November 2012

confLict
to diaLogue

Learn to have authentic diaLogue using hostage negotiation techniques

red card:o diaLogue

BLocKs t
PriMarY
BLocKs

Passivity
Discounting
Redefinition
Over detailing
Lack of honesty

Over rational
Over emotional

secondarY
BLocKs

Over
generalisation
Abstraction
Lack of
directness
By GEORGE KOHLRIESER
george.kohlrieser@leaderonomics.com

HE chance of being taken hostage with

a weapon is small. However, anyone
can become a metaphorical hostage in
a relationship with a boss, employee,
colleague, or customer without a
physical weapon being involved.
Most people are dissatisfied in their jobs. In
fact, 72% of employees in the United States
(88% in Germany) describe themselves as
emotionally detached in their jobs, primarily
because of poor relationships with their bosses
or colleagues. Employees who feel dissatisfied and powerless to change have, in effect,
become hostages.
The fear of conflict, and ineffective conflict
management strategies cause employees to
settle into a state of helplessness similar to
what hostages feel. Yet there are ways leaders
can influence others to feel empowered. You
tend to avoid conflict because your brain is hard
wired to avoid potential danger. However, you
can learn to do what is counter-intuitive to step
towards conflict, instead of stepping back into
passivity. Conflict must be seen as a challenge,
a problem to be solved, as an opportunity, as
something positive.
The techniques used by hostage negotiators
may provide a powerful framework for managers to use in situations where people are not
functioning at their best. What can managers
learn from hostage negotiators?
l Create and maintain a bond even if there is
not a natural liking of one another.
l Keep a positive state by focusing on constructive outcomes and on common goals regardless
of any desire to defend, attack, or give up. Use
this positive state to influence the other(s) into
a cooperative relationship for finding productive
solutions.
l Manage emotions by focusing the minds eye
in the brain on positive outcomes to see the

benefits beyond the pain, loss, and frustration.

l Use questions rather than telling to overcome
resistance, to invite a change of mindset, and to
focus on the benefits.
l Address problems with honesty, authenticity,
directness and genuine concern for the dignity
of others.
l Use the law of reciprocity and appropriate
concession-making to build trust. Help the
other person save face by offering choices and
encouraging self-regulation.
l Use dialogue to gain understanding, to discover new information and to maintain social
bonding.
l Learn to use yourself as a secure base to create trust and confidence to explore creative
solutions.

Importance of dIalogue

Dialogue is an essential tool to develop a climate of collaboration a powerful combination

of listening and talking. The process of dialogue
starts with an attachment and a bond between
two or more people. The most important sign of
dialogue is how mutual influence occurs in the
process. If I do not let you touch me, influence
me and change me, then I am not in a dialogue.
Dialogue requires a mindset of discovery
where thinking together leads to creating something new seeking of a greater truth beyond
what each participant has alone. Many leaders
find it is easier to get into a debate or an argument. The exchanges usually go on too long
with too many details and end in frustration.
Effective dialogue is measured by the depth of
understanding, the degree of mutual influence
and the quality of new ideas generated rather
than the time spent talking.

prImary blocks to dIalogue

There are four blocks to dialogue:

1. Passivity. This is when a person displays and
uses language of withdrawal or non-responsive
behaviour. The focus of the person is on inhibiting himself or herself rather than engaging in

problem-solving behaviour.
2. Discounting. When people
say something to minimise,
maximise, disrespect, or put
down another person or
themselves, they are discounting.
3. Redefining. This
involves not answering
a question or changing the focus of the
transaction by avoiding something that
may be uncomfortable
or emotional. If this
continues, the dialogue
shifts away from the
point being discussed.
People appear to talk past
each other and not with each other, or they
simply go in circles. The original point may even
be forgotten.
4. Over-detailing. The dialogue does not proceed because the person gives excessive detail,
overwhelming others with too much information, and the important point is lost or hidden.
It can also be recognised by exhaustion in listening to the speaker.

secondary blocks to dIalogue

There are six secondary blocks to dialogue.

These may or may not occur in conjunction with
one of the primary blocks.
1. Appearing too rational. Conversation is conducted too analytically, without any personal
warmth, emotion, or bonding. It discounts the
feelings connected to the topic.
2. Being too emotional. This is when an emotion such as anger, sadness, or fear takes over
in the dialogue and the person stops thinking
clearly about the subject. Emotions drive the
person to say and do things he or she later
regrets.
3. Over-generalising. If someone takes a small
piece of truth and exaggerates it to an extreme

or absurdity, they are over

generalising making statements that are meaningless,
overwhelming, and lacking in
relevance. Such statements often
involve the words always or never.
4. Abstraction. This occurs when
the conversation moves too far
off subject and the focus and core
thoughts are lost. Ideas and concepts are not connected to a specific incident, are disconnected from
reality, or are too philosophical.
5. Lack of directness. This means
avoiding an issue or problem, or
talking around the subject. The
sentences are clear but avoid the
topic.
6. Lack of honesty. When one or both
persons are not honest with the other, then
open dialogue becomes impossible. This may
involve a lack of self-disclosure, distortion of
true feelings, or lack of authenticity that can be
reflected in a simple or a serious lie.
More than one block may exist at the same
time. Be aware when you or others are blocking
dialogue. Most negotiators engage in mutual
monologues and other forms of ineffective
communication, as reflected in meetings that
are too long and boring, adding little value and
making participants exhausted and frustrated.
Hostage negotiators achieve a 95% success
rate. You can achieve similar success rates by
using some of the same techniques effectively.
Doing so will help you significantly in your
career. Have fun by engaging in real dialogues.
n George Kohlrieser is professor of leadership at
IMD in Switzerland and a former hostage negotiator. He spent significant time in Malaysia helping Malaysian organisations to forge authentic
communications within their employees. For
more information on more programmes that
George can deliver for your organisation, email
people@leaderonomics.com

mystarjob.com, saturday 24 November 2012

listeN

The best way to resolve a problem is to listen to what

they are really asking for and not what you think they
need. Use questions like what, who, where, when and
how to clarify customers concerns. You could also
repeat customers complaints to show that you are
aware of what they are saying. Most people become
far more reasonable when they believe that they are
being understood, and when they believe that their
needs are being taken care of.

AlwAys Apologise

As we all know, Customers are always right. It is

best if we assume responsibility for the problems
that our customers point out, because if one customer complains, chances are, there are others
who are facing the same situation too. After you
remedy the situation, make sure that this never
happens again as repeat offences do not go hand
in hand with retaining customers.

smile

Always put on a smile on your face and have a friendly

chat with customers whenever you first speak to
them. This reduces the tensions as you have created a
friendly relationship environment for them to express
their feelings. Customers will then tend to inform you
about their problems in a nice way, which helps you
to prevent a harsh scolding. Moreover, befriending a
difficult customer, and creating a relationship built on
trust, may benefit the company by ensuring that they
remain customers for a long time.

Never tAke thiNgs too persoNAl

If customers are verbally abusive and swearing

during the conversation, just take a deep breath
and pretend that you did not hear anything. Later,
just inform the customers how you can help them.
Bring the conversation back to the issue. Always try
to provide a solution and stay objective. Ignore any
personal comments, as customers are just venting frustrations at you as a representative of your
company.

TOp10

wAyS

TO HANDLE DIFFICULT CUSTOMERS

remember thAt you Are

iNterActiNg with A humAN

As human beings, we all have bad days once in a

while, especially in this busy world that we live in.
With grumpy customers, it is best to try to stay
calm and interact with them in a pleasant, calm
voice, speaking politely and smiling, as this can
make their day slightly better.

thiNk positive ANd thANk

customers

Always accept complaints from customers as a

gift from them. Think of the complaints as gifts
to you and your company as this is a chance to
improve and fix any gaps that you may have. It is
better to know what is going wrong than not being
aware of the problem at all, which can then cause
the loss of more customers in the future. So, whenever there is a complaint, always thank the customers for informing you about it.

show empAthy

To have a win-win situation, there is no need to

defend your own position. Try to be considerate;
understand customers from their point of view and
then validate by saying Thank you for letting me
know about this issue. Nodding while talking with
customers can also help calm the situation as it
shows that you understand their predicament and
that you are honouring their concerns.

reverse psychology by
AgreeiNg with them

Whenever a customer is frustrated and is complaining about a problem, always nod and agree
with what he/she is saying no matter if that person is right or wrong. There can be a rebuttal in
your arguments like Yes, I do agree with you on
this matter and you are right but dont you think....
This way the customer will settle down and at the
same time, they may consider what you say.

coNtrol your toNe

No matter how loud your customers speak to you,

always respond in a proper tone, and be polite while
speaking. Staying calm as well as having a clear mind
helps you dispel the anger and not be affected by a
customers angry tone. This will reflect on the customers and will help them calm down.

iSnap me
for a video

http://thestar.com.my/isnap

To view a full video,

visit www.leaderonomics.
tv/top10

uNderstANd the types

of customers

Every customer has a different personality. Some

may just want attention and some may want to be
in control of things. Understanding customers values is one way to handle them. When a customer
wants to be recognised just ask them if they have
any suggestions about the issue at hand, and if
customers want control, provide them with choices
on how the issues could be resolved.

mystarjob.com, saturday 24 November 2012

BuiLDiNG
TEAMS WiTH
PuRPOSE

LAyiNG THE fOuNDATiONS fOR

AuTHENTiC TEAMBuiLDiNG

By VInesh naIdu
vinesh.naidu@leaderonomics.com

EAMWORK is not always the best

means to an end. There are many areas
where work is better done individually. The most important question is
when it is relevant to have a team and
when to work alone. When is teamwork actually
needed and when will it not degenerate into a
hindrance? As a leader, you need to spend time
identifying where the opportunities are to build
teams, as it can prove to become detrimental if
not done correctly.
Let us look at how we build teams. Or rather,
at how most organisations have jumped on the
team building bandwagon. Does engaging in a
fun team sport really translate to more teamwork back in the office? Firstly, remember that
employees are human beings, and that humans
are social animals. This means that they gravitate to work in groups rather than on their own,
if given the opportunity.
Therefore, employees are already naturally
geared to work in teams, and making them
swing from ropes or building and paddling a raft
across a crocodile infested river will not necessarily enhance group behaviour. This is already
part of their genetic make-up. What it CAN do is
to develop stronger bonds between individuals,
engender or improve trust and allow the group
to feel more enthusiastic about going back to
work together. Harnessing this positive atmosphere is the role of the leader.
Teamwork is neither good nor desirable, it
is a fact. Wherever people work together or play
together they do so as a team. Which team to
use for what purpose is a crucial, difficult and
risky decision that is even harder to unmake.
Management has yet to learn how to make it.
Management guru Peter Drucker.
We now come to the most essential element
of building a successful team - PURPOSE. Can

you, have you as a leader, identified and provided

a broad and compelling purpose for your team?
Have you articulated what the overall desired
outcome of your teams work and effort is? The
defining of purpose is one of the trade secrets
of the worlds most successful teams, be it
sports teams or business management teams.
Successful teams know the companys goals,
objectives and vision at their finger tips; and
they are focused in the pursuit of the companys
objectives.
If you want to build a ship, dont drum up
people together to collect wood and dont assign
them tasks and work, but rather teach them
to long for the endless immensity of the sea.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
People need to know they are making a difference in what they are doing they want to know
that they are contributing to a higher purpose.
Individuals do not want to come to work to complete a spreadsheet or a powerpoint presentation.
They need to understand WHY they are there as
your team. Whats the purpose of the team?
An example of this is in my company
Leaderonomics, where we have a talent management and corporate training arm, a multimedia division, and finally our youth section.
However, we dont come to work because we
want to run training programmes, create leadership videos or perform any task just for the
sake of it. Roshan, our leader, has articulated the
vision and mission of our social enterprise and
the team comes in everyday energised because
we want to create communities of love and
grow people into leaders. The team draws from
our core values and what we stand for and this
motivates them to brave the traffic jams of the
Klang Valley to get to work.
Take a look at big corporations who have
successfully envisioned a powerful statement
of intent for the work at hand. Bill George, an
ex-Chairman of Medtronic has this anecdote to
share, During a visit to a Medtronic heart valve

facility, I stopped to talk to one of the operators. A Laotian immigrant told me, I make heart
valves that save peoples lives. I do my own quality control, because if one of the valves I make
fails, someone will die. At Medtronic 99.9% quality is very good, but I couldnt live with causing
someones death. My satisfaction comes from
the 5,000 people alive today because of heart
valves I made.
Imagine the sense of purpose and responsibility to the teams endeavour that this white collar
worker possesses. As a leader, it is your challenge; no rather, it is your duty, to replicate that
sense of empowerment with all your employees.
In order to achieve all that, communication is
vital. Many leaders, having set about assembling
a team fail to set up a channel of communication. This involves facilitating meetings, and
managing disagreements to reach the best
possible solutions. Is there a channel for the
team to communicate and air grievances? We
have looked at the conflicts that can arise in the
storming stage but have you created an atmosphere and safe-space for these sometimes dark,
but necessary communications to take place?
Does your company have a culture that enables and encourages teamwork? More importantly, does the company culture give a sense of
purpose to your team? And are the top people
of the company living embodiments of this
culture? Building an eco-system where honest
team work can happen and thrive is a utopia
that many strive to achieve.
It is of no use talking about team effort and
spending 50% of an annual budget on mega
team building efforts if you dont have leaders
walking the team talk and creating a culture
that enables people to genuinely want to work
as part of a team. Do you reward honesty or do
you look the other way? Do you reward genuine
team effort or do you celebrate individualistic
wins that have come at the expense of other
employees being undermined?

THE fivE SEPARATE

fiNGERS ARE fivE
iNDEPENDENT uNiTS.
CLOSE THEM AND THE
fiST MuLTiPLiES iN
STRENGTH. THiS iS
ORGANiSATiON.
James Cash Penny- Founder oF
JC Penny stores, usa.

Trust and mutual respect are key ingredients to

a successful team and a lack of trust among team
members will shift the members focus away
from team goals to protecting their individual
positions. Contrary to popular belief, there most
certainly is an I in team. It is the same I that
appears three times in responsibility. When the
individuals trust and have mutual respect for one
another, then the team is enabled to take responsibility and ownership of tasks.
As you start your work team, ask yourself
WHY do you want the team to exist? WHAT do
you want to improve? HOW are you going to do
it? When establishing your team, try using this
simple check list as your guide.

ARE THE TEAMS GOALS:

S SPECifiC
M - MEASuRABLE
A - ACHiEvABLE
R REALiSTiC & RESuLTS ORiENTED
T TiME - BOuND
Working in teams can be challenging, fun and
frustrating all at the same time. Clear definition
of goals and a common purpose serve to align
the energy of the members towards the achievement of personal and organisational success.
Build your teams with authenticity and purpose,
and do what you love!
n Its always bewildering, trying to balance the
hearts agenda and the minds agenda but Vinesh
Naidu believes it just takes a little introspection to
hit the symphonies of teamwork!

mystarjob.com, saturday 24 November 2012

mystarjob.com, saturday 24 November 2012

SIT LESS, MOVE MORE

SITTING OBESITY

Lack Of MOVEMEnT duE TO dESk jObS

aT wORk can SLOwLy kILL yOu

AND

Between

1980
2000

Obese people

and

2
more hours

,
exercise rates
stayed the same,
sitting
increased by
and the level
of obesity

sit

8%

for

a day than
the average
thin person.

doubled
Two
obese
.

out of
five Malaysians are
.

SITTIng affEcTS yOuR caREER dEVELOpMEnT

Did you know that too much sitting can
affect your career? Think about it. When
you sit too long, your body becomes
lethargic and this affects your thinking
process. Coming up with quality ideas,
plans and solutions with regards to work
may be difficult. Not being able to keep
up with the employers expectations can

be a downfall when it comes to your

career advancement.
Besides, too much sitting is hazardous
to your health. It may cause you to be
medically unfit and unable to perform at
work. This affects your performance and
chances for promotion. In fact, it can also
cause you to lose your job.

By PREMA JAYABALAN
prema.jayabalan@leaderonomics.com

T is a fact that the human generation

has always been on its toes. If you go
back in history, you will find that our
ancestors lives comprised a lot of walking, toiling in the fields, and hunting.
All these activities required much usage of
the legs and feet. However, as the decades
passed, the lifestyle of human beings has
taken a drastic change and today almost
all of us are confined to jobs and activities
that have us sitting constantly. Hunting
and extensive walking have become almost
non-existent except certain parts of the
world. Most modern societies have all but
dispensed with the aforementioned.
On average, we are sitting about 10
hours a day, which is more than the time
we sleep (about seven to eight hours a day).
The human body is definitely not built to
sit for such a long duration and slowly this
life-style is starting to take a toll on us. Did
you know that people who sit for about six
hours a day are 40% more likely to die within 15 years compared with someone who
sits for less than three hours? Did you also
know that sitting for at least eight hours a
day, which is what most of us do, harms our
health? Well, it is true.
A recent study in the journal Medicine &
Science in Sports & Exercise found that those
who sit for most of the day were 54% more
likely to die of heart attacks. This study was
found to be true regardless of whether you
were a non-smoker or exercised on a regular
basis.

WHAT CAN SITTING DO?

wayS TO aVOId SITTIng TOO

Much afTER OffIcE hOuRS
Do some non-sitting exercises while
watching your favourite television
show. You could do some squats or
exercise moves with dumbbells to work
the biceps and some stretching whilst standing.
Engage in fun hobbies
which keep you on your feet
such as cycling, jogging, dancing, yoga
and hiking. To avoid succumbing to
boredom, get your friends to join
you.
Cut down eating out and start
cooking more at home. This will
keep you on the move while preparing your dishes and you will find
yourself eating healthier and more
nourishing meals.

Stop getting
other people to
clean your house. Start
tackling those tough chores like
sweeping, mopping, washing the
dishes and dusting all by yourself and
see how fit you get.
Get yourself comfortable shoes and
start enjoying your walks. You can
also get a pedometer to track
your daily progress.

Your body is faced with implications

almost as soon as you pull up a chair and
settle onto it. The electrical activity in the
leg muscles stops as soon as you are in a
seated position. Your calorie burning drops
to one per minute and the enzymes that
help break your fat plunge by 90%. After a
mere two hours of sitting, your good cholesterol is affected and drops by 20%. A good
24 hours later, your risk of diabetes rises
because your insulin effectiveness reduces
by 24%. It may have never occurred to you
that a simple gesture such as sitting for a
prolonged time could be so dangerous to
your health but sadly that is the truth. Here
are some of the hazards due to sitting for a
long time:
l Sitting for a long time causes your
blood flow to become slow and indolent.
This causes it to pool in your larger veins
and automatically increases the risk of
the development of blood clots within
your calf or thigh, known as DVT or
deep vein thrombosis.
l Prolonged sitting causes the muscles of the lower body to simply shut
down and brings health effects such as
a decrease in your metabolic rate which
leads to obesity. Obesity is increasing at an
alarming rate in Malaysia. According to a
World Health Organisation survey in 2010,
Malaysia is ranked the sixth highest country
in Asia when it comes to obesity in adults.
l Sitting also increases your cholesterol
levels, blood sugar and triglycerides which
increase the risk of diabetes and heart
disease especially the incidence of heart
attacks.
l It has also been found that too much
sitting and inactivity could be a risk for certain types of cancers namely breast cancer

and colon cancer. People who are relatively

active can reduce the risks of these cancers
by about 20% to 30%.

WHy yOu SHOulD

STAND MOre

Breaking free from this sitting routine

is actually quite easy. All it takes is adding
movements for a few minutes into each
hour. Take a walk around the office, stand
up and do some stretching, do some pushups and even some jumping jacks. You may
feel that this is not adequate but you are
wrong. An Australian study found that a
few minutes of full body movement each
hour, can actually make a difference in your
health.
The muscles in your lower body are some
of the largest muscles that you have thus,
when you sit, your body goes into a
shutdown mode where most of your
muscles stop contracting. There is a
dramatic decrease in the blood flow
and your metabolism rate decreases
as well. Therefore, a few stretches
and a move or two for a few minutes can counteract this shutdown. Even a small move
plays a part in getting
those muscles going
so make sure to slot
in this routine each
hour when at work.

FAST AND
eASy WAyS
TO MOve
AT WOrk

Get a
stand-up desk
These types of work stations
are fast becoming popular
and are quite trendy. Stand up
for yourself with a stand-up desk.
By standing, you can move easily
and flex your muscles continuously.
Standing also promotes blood circulation
and maintains the regulation of your blood
sugar. It also helps to keep your blood pressure lower. This helps in increasing your life
span.
Talk While You Walk
Take your next discussion at work
on the road. Go for a stroll or stand around
the meeting rooms or work stations whilst
discussing a work project or having a brainstorm session with your colleagues. If it is
permitted, go for a walk in the open to talk
about ideas, tasks and plans for upcoming
projects. A good exercise and some clean,
fresh air will certainly help boost creativity
and cognitive functioning which will help in
producing outstanding and successful ideas
and results.
Add Steps To Your
Communication
This is easy. Forget the email and telephone,
instead, take a stroll to your colleagues
workstation to make your usual lunch plans.
Take the stairs and not the lift when in need
of visiting co-workers from different departments. Refrain from driving to restaurants
for lunch but rather pick eateries which are
within walking distances. A good walk and a
nice chat will certainly be a refreshing treat
for the brain.
Exercise
Take a break from the chair by jogging on the spot. You can do it at your work

station. Slot in a few jogs in between meetings and typing to get yourself re-energised.
You can also do other exercises such as
jumping from side to side, walking around
the office or push ups. If you have a treadmill in your office, then go through your files
and project papers while taking a walk on it.

Stretch Those Limbs

Make it a point to get up and stretch
for a minute or two, every hour. It may not
seem much but it goes a long way in maintaining good health. You need not do much,
just stretch your elbows; turn your body
from side to side and bend to touch your
feet. These are fast and effective methods
to increase your energy level and make you
more productive at work.
If you are someone who sits a lot on
average or who is used to the sedentary
lifestyle, then it is time to sit up and take
notice. These elements could bring about
the destruction of your well-being. However,
it is never too late to make changes. So, the
next time you are in the office, push that
chair away and add on a step or two for a
healthier and happier you.

gET a STandIng dESk InSTEad

Of a SITTIng dESk bEcauSE:
On aVERagE, wE aRE SITTIng
abOuT 10 hOuRS a day,
cOMpaREd wITh SEVEn TO
EIghT hOuRS Of SLEEpIng

You wont sleep off. Thats right!

With a standing desk, you are very
much aware of your body and
your brain is always sharp and
alert. This helps in producing good
work and putting a smile on your
employers face.

You can wave goodbye to that back

pain which has been bugging you
all this while and say hello to a
good posture and strong back and
torso muscles.

You will communicate more with

your colleagues and wont miss
anything important which is happening around you at work.

You dont have to worry

about adding pounds to your
weight. In fact, a standing
desk will actually help you
burn those stubborn fats.
Now you can enjoy a good
meal with colleagues instead
of skipping lunch breaks.

You will always be ready for

action. Being seated, you
take time to move in case
of an emergency. However,
with a standing desk, you
are ready to spring away if
there is an emergency and
even alert the others who
are seated.

10

mystarjob.com, saturday 24 November 2012

s
p
l
e
h
t
A
h
t
l
o
o
h

s
c
s
e
n
As
l
l
u
f
s
t
i
o
t
e
f
i
l
e
v
i
l

s
t
studen

By GOH CHEE LEONG

gohcl@help.edu.my

THE nEw HELP

InTErnaTIonaL ScHooL

The HELP education group, known

for being a leading player in tertiary
education, is establishing the HELP
International School (HIS) and will
begin its first intake of students in
September 2013.
This school, run on the platform of
the British education curriculum, will
cater to students from pre-school level
to secondary school level. HIS will be
housed at a new purposely built campus facility in Subang Delima which is
located next to Kota Damansara and
the Subang airport. HELP International
School is currently looking for teachers
and administrators, who passionately
share her philosophy and ethos.

LIfE In aLL ITS fuLLnESS

The motto Vita ad plenitudinem,

which in English means Life in all
its fullness, captures the essence
of what we hope to achieve at HELP
International School.
As educators and as parents, we
want the best for our children. We
want our children to live life to the
fullest, enjoying all the opportunities
that our world has to offer as well as
finding meaning and fulfilment in all
that they do.
In many cases, schools and education systems focus on the future
success of the child, and the total
emphasis tends to be how we help
you score As in your exams.
What were saying is that whilst
academic excellence and preparing
students for success in their careers is
important, it is just a part of a more
complete package. Beyond just achieving success, we also want our students
to be happy in life and to realise their
fullest potential in all aspects of their
lives.

EducaTIng aLL-roundErS

We believe that to thrive in the global

village of this new millennium, students need to be all-rounders. We are
determined to ensure that we do not
just pay lip-service to this notion of
being all-rounders at our school. As
such, the curriculum will integrate all
aspects and processes within and outside the classroom, needed to nurture
this development.
For example, all students in our
school will be required to participate
in sports, including swimming and
athletics. Similarly, all students will be

trained in the performing arts, such

as music and drama. They will get
to further flex their creative muscles
through art and design. The critical
concept of a nurturing environment
will ensure that our students will feel
emotionally and psychologically safe
when they explore the opportunities
for growth in all their activities.
The purpose built campus ensures
that all the sport and performing arts
facilities required to support this all
inclusive curriculum will be in place.
One of the most exciting elements of
this school is the new Shakespearean
Performing Arts Centre which includes
a black box theatre and a Film
Academy for the budding Spielbergs,
Ang Lees and Yasmin Ahmads.

LovIng THy nEIgHbour

It is part of our school ethos that students develop compassionate hearts,

and more importantly, that they
develop a larger vision of the world
that extends beyond their immediate
sphere of friends and family.
We realise that there is a risk
among some middle-class children,

because of their sheltered lives, to be a little

too inward looking. To
encourage students
to look beyond their own needs to
the needs of others, every year students will be involved in community
development projects that will teach
them how to reach out to marginalised communities in a respectful and
meaningful way.
Leveraging on its partnership with
HELP Universitys department of
psychology (which houses one of the
largest psychology programmes in
South-East Asia), the school will offer
programmes in social skills, emotional
intelligence and insights into being
a top achiever through its highlyacclaimed 10 Keys to 10 As and The
Psychology of Peak Performers programmes. We want to encourage students to be intelligent yet loving and
responsible young men and women
who will be a blessing to their families, friends, and communities.

carPE dIEm

Many teachers and members of our

generation were inspired by the film
The Dead Poets Society. It is the

story about an English

teacher who challenges his
students, through the teaching of English Literature, to
seize the day and engage
fully with life, rather than
being passive spectators of it.
We know many passionate teachers
who want to have the same impact on
their students, who want to go beyond
just covering a classroom curriculum,
to really encouraging and inspiring
young lives, who believe that education must be more than just exam
scores, who feel that teaching is not
just a job but a personal mission and
vocation. Many of these teachers feel
frustrated because they are trapped in
systems and institutions that do not
give them the encouragement and
freedom to do this. Our message to
them is that here at HELP, you will find
a leadership team that shares your
vision and philosophy of education.
That is why our own leadership
and talent development policies will
ensure that HELP International School
will have a work environment that
upholds the dignity of each team
member and ensures they are constantly growing, discovering and finding meaning and fulfilment.

work aS an ExTEnSIon
of wHo wE arE

Too often as working adults, we

are asked to sever the connection
between who we are and what we
do. This creates an emotional disconnect, psychological unease and
cognitive dissonance. People feel
emptiness about their jobs because it
is not a true expression of who they
are. They either stay or just accept
that their work has no meaning, or
they move on, hoping that the next
job will bring them closer to their
ideals and aspirations.
At the HELP International School,
we want to create a work culture
that encourages consistency and
integration of the person and profession. After all, our work should
be extensions of our values, our life
force. We are looking for teachers
and administrators who encapsulate
our motto in their own lives. We
want role models who will show students what living life in all its fullness
means.
n For more information, please visit
www.his.edu.my or email enquiry@
his.edu.my

mystarjob.com, saturday 24 November 2012

11

YouThS going abroad and

making a
difference
wiTh aieSec

Kavidha
making an
impact on
children in
Poland.

By AMY LIM SU YEN

mystarjob@leaderonomics.com

WO words: life changing,

says Jovian Tan, a member of
AIESEC, Malaysia. Unlike hispeers, Tan spent seven weeks
of his holiday abroad. As a
student aged 24 years from Universiti
Utara Malaysia, he travelled to Taiwan
on his own to work on an animal protection project. It was not only a good
working experience abroad but it also
made a difference in his life.
This animal protection project,
organised by Life Welfare and
Environment Quality Association in
collaboration with AIESEC, brought
Tan and his team together to educate
them about animal protection and
create awareness among the community in Taiwan. His team consisted of
international students from the Czech
Republic, Malaysia and Indonesia, all
of whom were youths of similar ages.
The team worked at the only animal shelter in Taiwan and took part
in events such as an animal adoption
campaign, animal protection press
conference, pet expo and many more.
They also had the chance to meet
professor Andrew Chang, a member of
PETA, who provided some insights into

the animal protection act. According

to Tan, We were sent to attend
courses and classes, and were lectured
by prestigious veterinary professors
from the National Taiwan University.
We helped in various animal adoption
campaigns and even had the opportunity to participate in huge events like
the Taipei Pet Expo.
Moreover, they also visited various institutes and shelters in Taiwan
including the National Chung Hsing
University College of Veterinary
Medicine, as well as a private shelter
in Tai Chung. In addition, they also
had meetings with the Agriculture
Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister.
Nothing beats hands on experience.
This was indeed proven to be true for
Tan and it was definitely a life-changing experience.
Tan showed that being young did
not stop him from going abroad and
making a difference. He says, I have
learnt a great sense of tolerance and
perseverance from Aunty Liu (the

person who was in charge

of the project). I accepted
criticisms and improved
myself. She organised this
project by gathering us from
so many different countries.
Her objective was simply to
create an avenue for us to
learn from her experience,
uniting us to plant this seed
in our own countries and
spread this movement to
making a difference for our
society.
Similarly, Kavidha
Natarajan, former president
of AIESEC, Malaysia, went
to Lublin, Poland to work
on a cultural understanding project. She was at a
community in Lublin which
focused on developing childrens
ability to speak the English Language.
It is not only about her experience, it
was also about the impact that she
had on them. What really touched
me was that in the three years they

Tan (middle) with

his team mates in
Taipei.

had been trying to get

the children to actually
speak English on a daily basis.
My team and I managed to accomplish that in six weeks. she shares.
No matter what your age is, you

are never too young

to learn, to give and to
make a difference. Start
defining your future today life
with purpose and make that difference in your own and others lives.

The SecreT of reading

comprehenSion
By TERRY SMALL
terry@terrysmall.com

in facT,
STudieS
Show ThaT
average
reTenTion
iS 2% afTer
30 daYS

EVER get to the bottom of a page and wonder what

you just read? You are not alone! Most peoples reading
comprehension is not very good. Our minds wander.
In fact, studies show that average retention is 2% after
30 days. There is a secret to doing much better. A brain
secret!
Your brain works best from the big picture to the
details. Not the other way around. Ever do a jigsaw
puzzle? That picture on the lid helped! Could you have
put the puzzle together without the picture? Yes, probably. Would it have taken longer? Yes. Is there a greater
chance you would become discouraged and stop working on the puzzle? Most certainly. Again, have you ever
got to the bottom of a page that you just read and
asked, What did I just read? Odds are your brain went
sideways for the same reason... no picture. When you
pick up something and just start reading it is pretty
much the same as trying to put a jigsaw puzzle together without the big picture.
So what is the secret to better reading comprehension and retention?
SCHEMA.
Schema is a word that means mental map. It is what
you know about a topic before you read about it. That
is what determines comprehension. Good schema

equals good comprehension.

Here is a great way to get improved schema when
you read any non-fiction material. Read the first sentence of each paragraph only all the way through the
chapter. This is one of my favorite learning strategies
that I teach people in my speed reading seminars. The
first sentence of each paragraph contains the main
idea or the topic sentence. When you read the first sentence of each paragraph you get the big picture. When
you read the details later they have a place to stick in
your brain.
Try it now. Get a book. Turn to a chapter that you

have not read. Quickly read the first sentence of each

paragraph. I think you will be quite surprised at what
your brain does. Now when you read the chapter,
notice the improvement!
More reading secrets to come in the next Brain
Bulletin!
n Terry Small is a brain researcher who believes that everyone is a genius. He argues that Anyone can learn how
to learn easier, better, faster, and that learning to learn
is the most important skill a person can acquire. To interact with Terry, email mystarjob@leaderonomics.com

12

mystarjob.com, saturday 24 November 2012

Life

afunteexPrecteSd PtwM
iSt

an
eLL
that turned out w

By LIM MAY LEE

maylee@mystarjob.com

HROUGHOUT my secondary school years, it was the

accepted understanding
that after SPM, I, along
with my schoolmates,
would progress to do our A-Levels or
foundations at private colleges nearby before moving on to a university
somewhere overseas to complete
our education.
This expectation came true for
many of my classmates; however,
my own plans were derailed. When
I was nearing the end of my SPM,
my parents told me that the most
cost-effective education option
was to do my A-Levels in the form
of (the dreaded) STPM. Form Six??
I was horrified. Another two years
of school uniforms and waking up
at 6 am? I couldnt bring myself to
demand the cooler alternative of
college, not when my parents were
explicitly telling me that college
was an expenditure that the family
funds could not cover. I note with
some interest, that my immediate
concerns were with school uniforms, not the difficulty of the STPM
course! At 17, I was many things,
but thoughtful and deep were not

amongst them.
The gap between the end of SPM
and the beginning of Form Six
spanned almost half a year, so I
filled it with work experience in the
form of touching up studio portraits
at a photo studio. This temporary
job ensured that I became comfortable with the Photoshop programme,
a familiarity that proved its usefulness many times over during the
course of my university years as well
as later at work.
Eventually, I had put on my school
uniform and headed off to Form Six
where I found, much to my delight,
that I could take English Literature at
STPM level, like I did for SPM! I also
met amazing friends and teachers
(Holla, Puan and Joyce to name but
a few) who shaped my life in ways
that defy definition. The effects of
their influence still resonate today.
Form Six was definitely an experience I wont forget anytime soon.
There really is no such thing as

essed
iversity mates dr
Lim (left) and un orical re-enactment.
up for a hist

dropping a course and switching to

another programme. You can, like I
did, switch from Science stream to
Arts in the beginning of the school
year, but theres really no option like
quitting halfway through and starting fresh with a new intake. With
that in mind, Form Six students
generally take things a little more
seriously, because for many, STPM
is the only way to a tertiary education. There is no safety net in the
form of taking another programme
or just quitting to study privately. If
they fail their STPM and dont get
accepted into a public university, a
degree may just be impossible.
My friends and I soon finished
STPM and moved on to our respective colleges and universities. While
many went on to public universities, many also moved on to private
institutions (STPM is accepted in all
tertiary institutions in Malaysia, and
is generally accepted internationally as well, especially within the
Commonwealth of Nations and
the United States). I was one of
those who went on to a local public
university: Universiti Kebangsaan
Malaysia, or UKM.
The National University of
Malaysia, as it is known in English,
was the second public university to

be established in the country, and

was only one of four universities
in the country to offer an English
Literature degree programme (the
programme is currently not being
offered, sadly). To say I was ecstatic
is an understatement I was over
the moon at the prospect of being
able to delve into Literature and
explore new worlds. The programme
in UKM was quite well-rounded in
the sense that we dabbled in media
studies, with a bit of sociology and
even dramatic arts. There was less
of ye olde English, and more of
contemporary writings by people
like Buchi Emecheta and Shirley
Lim, with some manga to make the
learning fun! In our Performance
Arts module, we produced a play
from scratch, from script-writing
all the way through to managing
costumes and lighting which is, in
all sorts of ways, super awesome.
Until that class, I had no idea I could
write a script, and one that could
make the audience laugh, at that!
My classmates and I suddenly realised that we were actually capable
of putting together a production,
with all it entails, and that experience was an education in itself, I can
tell you.
Since it was quite a distance from

left) and
Lim (third from
rm Six.
classmates in Fo

home, it made more sense to live

on campus. Nothing enforces real
1Malaysia spirit like living in close
quarters with people of every race.
You soon become familiar with subtler cultural nuances you wouldnt
have been privy to had you only
met in the lecture halls. Living with
a Malay roommate ensured that I
soon learnt the importance of not
touching her after she had taken air
wuduk and maintaining absolute
silence while she performed her
prayers. I dare say she also ended up
quite familiar with lots of Chinese
customs and superstitions by the
time we moved on to different
roommates. Hows that for culturesharing?
Honestly speaking, I started off
my journey a little unsure about
my path (Literature is hardly the
doctor/engineer/accountant direction in which most parents want
their child to go) but now that Ive
travelled further down the path and
am doing what I love writing! I am
more sure now than ever that that
this journey of mine has taken me
exactly where I needed to go.
n Lim May Lee hopes that everybody
will be able to do what he or she
loves. Log on to www.mystarjob.com

mystarjob.com, saturday 24 November 2012

13

d
n
a
e
v
i
t
c
a
o
Being pr

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By SHEELA CHANDRAN
mystarjob@leaderonomics.com

ETs just see where this

job takes me, is what
most professionals tell me
when they accept a new
position. Even the greatest of strategists do not have a
clear plan when it comes to their
own careers. Most just accept jobs
or opportunities that come their
way, without ever thinking about
where it will lead them.
Have you done this in your past
or is this you right now? We live
in dynamic times where the old
world of job security and a job
for life is vanishing and is being
replaced by re-organisation, and
downsizing, so stop waiting for
things to get back to normal
as its not an option. Its time
for a mindset change and time
to remove self imposed barriers put
up due to fear, lack of confidence, or
being told youre not good enough.
Stop wallowing and realise that there
is no magic formula to guarantee
career success. So what should we do?
First, you need to understand how
you perceive the world and yourself,
as well as where your career is heading. Ask yourself these questions:
1. Do you have a clear
picture of the future?
Can you imagine where youll be
in five years, in 10 years, where youll
live and where youll be working? Are
you currently on the right path to this
dream future?
2. Do you know what
Drives anD motivates you?
Are you driven by family, monetary
or social recognition (extrinsic) or
do you do what you do because you
cant imagine doing anything more
worthwhile with your life (intrinsic)?
3. what are your
passions in life?
Confucius said, Choose a job you
love, and youll never have to work a
day in your life. So think about things
you love doing even without people
telling you to.

O of
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your life is
your choices

You may have studied for something completely different from what
drives you due to circumstance, peer
pressure or sheer luck. However, that
path has taken you into your current
job so you need to make the most of
it. Know that your life is a product
of your values and not your feelings.
Your life is a product of your decision
not your conditions. You are the programmer of your life.
The best way of driving this point
home is by actively practising a proactive mindset. Proactivity is the realisation that you have the freedom to
choose your response based on your
values rather than your emotions.
The phrase if only, for example,
is the language of reactivity and
reactive people live in the world
of self-pity and wallow. In all the
negative aspects of their career its
always, why me, and its not my
fault. These are the people that feel
stuck in their careers and to them
everything and everyone seems to
be against them. Thus, a person with
a negative attitude views life as an
obstacle course and become their biggest obstacles.
In the same room, you might hear
someone saying, Let me try or

Lets look for alternatives because

in their world, the sun shines and
they choose to be happy and accept
responsibility for their lives. These
people use the language of proactivity and they know they are in the drivers seat of their destiny; they are the
captains of their career. People with a
positive attitude have certain personality traits that are easy to recognise.
They do not allow external forces to
govern their behaviour; rather they
carry their weather within them. They
have high expectations of themselves
and others and always anticipate positive outcomes. This translates into a
happier and balanced individual that
energises the people around them.

Below are some key

guiDelines practiseD By
proactive people:
step 1 // change your
focus

Every time you find yourself thinking a

negative thought, counter it with something positive about the same subject.

step 2 // Do things now

Never do tomorrow what you can

do today; do not procrastinate as this
becomes a habit and is a career and
life killer.

By EVA CHRISTODOULOU
eva.christodoulou@leaderonomics.com

Believe you
can and
youre halfway there

THEODORE Roosevelt has wisdom in his words.

A positive attitude and having faith in oneself
are immensely powerful tools. They are the tools
that will keep us going, no matter what comes
our way. Indeed, those that believe in themselves
and their ideas are the ones that can in the end
achieve something great, despite all the obstacles they may face along the way.
This is so true for all the little things we do
in our daily lives, related and not related to our
career. Whether it is taking exams at school or
university, going for an admissions or job inter-

step 3 // Develop an
attituDe of gratituDe

Appreciate people around and

yourself. Make it a habit to thank at
least three people around you each
day.

step 4 // keep learning

Create a continuous education

programme for yourself. Things are
changing all the time and we need
to keep up or get left behind. Read
one new thing on Wikipedia/online
everyday.

step 5 // you are

awesome

Build self-confidence and do

things that enable you to feel good.
Feeling good within translates
into increased performance and
improved relationships, as there is a
direct correlation between feelings
and behaviour.

step 6 // eliminate
negativity

Stay away from negative influences and people. We often get influenced by our surroundings so either
stay away from such situations or
set boundaries of acceptable language patterns like the language of
proactivity.

view, presenting to our colleagues or top management, turning around that huge loss that our
division is currently making, or even landing that
dream job that seems to be so far from what we
currently do; just prepare very hard for it. Do the
necessary research, and have faith in yourself.
Humans are capable of achieving much more
than we give ourselves credit for. No problem is
insurmountable if we combine faith with a good
and thorough preparation.
The biggest obstacles that people face when
it comes to achieving something are the lack of
self-confidence, and the fear of failure. However,
with the right attitude much can be achieved
that was previously thought unreachable. A per-

step 7 // learn to
like the things that
neeD to Be Done

Start by doing the necessary,

then do what is possible and
suddenly, youll be doing the
impossible.

step 8 // start your

Day with something
positive

Practise positive thoughts

and behaviour daily until they
become a habit. Every morning,
tell yourself one thing you like
about yourself and do something for someone who cannot
repay you at least once a week.
Changing your mindset and
removing your self-imposed
barriers is the first step to
detoxing your life and career.
Adopting the eight step guide
to proactivity will enable you
to understand your current
reality and will help you identify and fill gaps in your career.
After all, if youre going to
move up the ladder, make sure
that your ladder is leaning on
the right wall from get go. Be
proactive NOW!

son that remains static because he or she does

not feel so sure about his or her idea will always
stay mediocre. A person though, that weighs all
options carefully, prepares well, and truly believes
in his or her ability to succeed, will definitely
reach greater heights personally, and careerwise. It is never too late to change just think of
all the wonderful skills you have and how much
you want to get what you are aiming for. By having faith in yourself and self-confidence, you will
reach your goals!
n Eva Christodoulou wishes that everyone will
believe in his or her ability and scale great heights
in their careers and personal lives.

14

mystarjob.com, saturday 24 November 2012

A study by Diabetes UK
done on 800,000 subjects
claims that people with jobs
that require sitting tend to have

twice
cardiovascular

the rate
of

Research by the British

Journal of Sports
Medicine says that
for extended
periods could

sitting down
make bottoms bigger

disease

compared with people who

mostly stand in their jobs.

due to the force exerted on the

body tissues that make fat cells.

Steelcase US
has produced
the Walkstation,

The Exercise and Sports

Science Review published
a study that shows that

which is a
desk with a

treadmill
built into it.

The British Journal of Sports Medicine

claims that as soon as you sit down,
electrical activity in the leg muscles
shut off and calorie
burning drops to

per
oneminute.

Studies by the British

Journal of Sports
Medicine shows that after
two hours of sitting down,

your good
cholesterol
level drops by

20% .

Research done by the The Pan American

Health Organisation reveals that on average,
a working adult is sitting for an average of
even more than
sleeping at

9.3 hours/day;
7.7 hours/day.

muscles
will actually start to subtly

change after
long periods

of inactivity.

Over five large scale

studies were done in
the UK where researchers
have claimed that sitting
down for long hours and
a sedentary lifestyle is
almost as

bad as
smoking.

mystarjob.com, saturday 24 November 2012

15

WE have four experts on career management, HR and

office issues who will address your questions weekly.
We refer to them as Careernomers - experts in career
matters who will help you in your career journey. So
if you have any burning questions to ask, send it to
dearcareernomers@leaderonomics.com and we will get
the panel to answer your questions. This week Ang Hui
Ming, co-founder and head of HR of Leaderonomics, and
Elisa Dass Avin, head of Assessment and Career Growth
at Leaderonomics, answer Ms question.

Dear
CareerNOMerS,

I would like to share my

problem I procrastinate
a lot. I have difficulties in
focusing. Back in school
I did well in science and
mathematics as they were
interesting subjects. Now
in the working life, many
things are less interesting.
Sometimes in the office,
I surf the internet when I
get bored. I read something
interesting such as articles
on cars, world politics and
the economy. So I waste
time instead of being
productive.I am also easily distracted. If I stumble
upon something interesting such as a good article,
I read it eventhough I have
something more important
to do. Even if I do the more
important task, my mind
is still thinking of what I
read. I pretty much dont

have control of myself.

That is why I decided not to
replace my broken laptop.
If I have a laptop, Ill read
many things. I sleep less
because I spend time reading Wikipedia or other sites.
I am also not punctual and
have less sense of time. My
time management is very
bad, eventhough I know
time is the most important
resource.I hope there is
solution to my problem as I
hope to be more productive,
be able to prioritise and do
the important things first.
Your suggestion is highly
appreciated as I really want
to deal with this
before it is too late.
I feel disappointed
because I am unable
to change this bad
behaviour.
Thanks in advance

M.

Dear M,

Thank you for being so honest in sharing your problem. You seem to be self-aware
of your problem with procrastination and
have taken some good, although drastic steps
to help you overcome the problem. In fact, I
believe you must have read a ton of How to
overcome procrastination tips on the web as
you have clearly identified the key actions and
problems of procrastination like time management, distractions, prioritisation and the like. I
actually dont think I need to advise you on the
steps to overcome procrastination as you can
easily find it on the web being an inquisitive
person that you are.
On another note, I actually think you have
strength, in that you have an inquisitive and
curious mind, wanting to learn and find out
more on exciting topics of interest. Never let
that desire to learn and want to know more be
stifled in any way.
Having said that, we need to solve your challenge of being easily distracted. In addition to
all the tips that you can find online (managing
your time, planning ahead, having a to do list,
prioritising), here are three more things that I
can think of that you can try:

Parking Lot is a tool we use very often in

meetings to avoid that protracted meetings when people get distracted with interesting topics. It helps to avoid derailment from
the important stuffs. Have a piece of paper and
put a big P sign on it. Bring it everywhere
you go or paste it right in front of you at your
office desk. While youre doing your main
tasks and think of something interesting or
start getting distracted, pause and quickly jot it
down in your Parking Lot so that you will get
back to it later. Many times, when something
interesting occurs, our minds will keep thinking
about it whether we like it or not (it resides in
our subconscious mind and an invisible alarm
clock will keep reminding you to get to it). This
makes us less productive/distracted. Forcing
yourself to write it down makes it a conscious
effort to take it out of your mind (and not fear
forgetting it later) and allows you to get back
on track instead of constantly thinking about it
and having the desire to get to the interesting
topic straight away.

Challenge yourself Set a goal to

reduce the number of times you procrastinate/get distracted. Have a dashboard

where you can track each time you get distracted from your main task. Put a mark/black
dot/unhappy smiley or anything that will help
you keep count of your bad habit. At the end
of the week, count how many bad markers you
have and set a new goal for the following week
to reduce it. Then go and do what you like
EXPLORE! Explore ways to keep you focused
and try these methods out each week. That
will keep you busy trying out new stuffs each
week. And of course, each time you achieve
your goal, reward yourself.

Track Consequences Another form of

helping you to avoid procrastination is
to have a consequence chart so that you are
reminded of the pain your procrastination can
cause you. Everytime you procrastinate/get
distracted, jot down the consequences. For
example :
l Being late for work Consequence : negative performance review
l Rushed a report with many errors
Consequence : get scolded by my boss
Accumulate these and go through them so
that by the end of the week, you can evaluate
all the consequences that you have to face
because of your bad habit. Hopefully, it would
be painful enough to help you decide to try to
be more proactive the following week to avoid
the embarrassment of these consequences.
Having said all the above, I do believe that
the only way you can overcome this is to set it
in your mind to do so and have the willpower
to see it through. All the steps in the world can
be laid down in front of you, but if you do not
make a commitment to follow through with
them, it will be futile.
All the best M... The choice is in your mind.

ang Hui Ming

Dear M,

Congrats! Self-awareness coupled with the

desire to change is definitely a first step in selfdevelopment. Before I share with you some
thoughts of mine on this subject matter, let me
assure you that you are NOT ALONE in this!
It seems like you have also realise the
consequences if you do not change. To keep
you motivated, put up a picture/phrase that
remind you of why you want to change and
consequences of what if you dont. This will
help to keep you going, especially when you

are tempted to fall back into the current daily

routine.
You shared some behaviours that you wish
to change problems focusing (easily distracted), procrastination (read/surf instead or work)
and time management (always late). What you
described seemed to be more symptomatic
rather than the root problem itself. So, lets try
to understand the why of these behaviours as
we talk about the hows.
Dont attempt to change overnight or over
one week... We are looking at a life-changing
habit and mindset. Lets take it step by step.
Work on one area every one to two weeks.
Once you have gotten a grip of it and made a
habit of that particular area, then move on to
the next.
Get a Life Monitor (LM); i.e. be accountable
to someone. It could be a friend, partner, sibling or even parents. It must be someone who
dares to be direct with you when you fumble
and encourage you when you succeed. Share
with your LM the areas you want to work on
and get him/her to help you. In no particular
order, you can choose which areas you wish to
work on after that.

PrOBLeMS FOCUSING

It may be clich, but we really do need

seven to eight hours of sleep. Getting enough
sleep can help you be more focused, energised
and alert. Make sure you work backwards.
Assuming you have to leave home by 8am to
get to work on time. Give yourself one hour to
get ready. So if you have to wake up by 7am,
that means you should get to bed by 11pm.
Dont deprive yourself of sleep.
So, if you are serious about wanting to make
a change in your life, then sleep. Lets try to get
this right before anything else.
If needbe, set an alarm to remind you to
sleep. And of course, another to remind you to
wake up on time!

PrOCraSTINaTION

We put off the tasks we need today mainly

because we are overwhelmed, not interested/
motivated or just waiting for the right mood.
I suspect your reason for procrastination is
mainly because you are not interested in the
tasks that you have to complete and probably
see no value inthem. If thats the case, then
you should consider a shift in career and move
on to a job you will enjoy. From your sharing,
you seem to have an interest in research, cars

and simply being on the Web. In Malaysia, our

choices for career have grown radically in the
past few years like Social Media Specialists,
automobile reviewers, etc. Look out for jobs
that fit your interests. Knowingly, being in the
right place is not enough. Discipline still plays
a big role in getting things done. Hence, comes
the area of time management.

TIMe MaNaGeMeNT

Until and unless you know what you want

to achieve each day, you cant really manage
your time. Or rather, you have no reason to
plan your time so meticulously. The reason
why many of us dont manage our time well
is because we do not have a daily goal. Whats
yours? If you have a goal, then ask yourself
why is this goal so important to me? You
should understand the importance of achieving this goal or the consequences of not
achieving them to motivate you to manage
your time better.
There are countless sites on how to manage
your time better. I suggest instead of reading
about world politics this week, take time to
Google for the many ways of time management. Dont try to adopt all the steps you
read. Give yourself a deadline for this research
to avoid unending Google-ing. Perhaps take
five to eight hours (spread over two to three
days) to Google. Then at the time of this time
frame, decide on one that resonates the best
with you.
M, there is so much you can do. If you have
someone you can look up to as a role-model,
then go speak to him/her and ask for tips/
advice. Just remember, it takes time and lots of
practice.
I would like to leave you with a good
reminder:
Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habit.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
- Unknown
All the best!

elisa Dass avin

n The opinions expressed are those of the
authors and not necessarily those of myStarjob.
com

mystarjob.com, saturday 24 November 2012

Coming up in next Saturdays issue . . .

DEBUNKING
CAREER MYTHS
AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis

Also next week

Find out how

leadership and
passion steered
McDonalds towards great
heights of success in
Consulting Corner

Imran Hashim shares on

how effective
visual thinking
helps planning and
development

Think
right

to
succeed
in Hard Talk

Lim May Lee

shares her
insight on

how to
set goals
in ones career