A direct quote of wiki, corporal or physical punishments are punishments that inflict physical pain to a person. Corporal punishments come in many various forms, more commonly seen are push-ups in uniformed organisations.
Why need of punishments?
Before we start thinking about corporal punishments, we should understand the need for punishments. Punishments are dished out mainly because of a mistake. In effort of correcting the mistakes, punishments are given. This fundamental reason has not change as people do make mistakes and we would want to correct it to prevent it from happening.
Effect of Corporal Punishments?
Corporal punishments do form a deterrence effect and forces people to change their actions. However this form of change normally is induced or externally driven. Someone would need to imposed punishments to change the person. It is similar to conditioning of animals in circus or lab monkeys in psychology experiments. When these conditions are removed, people may not change their behaviour and be back to their old self. People react to prevent getting the pain only.
Being externally induced, the onus of the problem lies on the corrector and not the person being corrected. The lack of buy in will also make the method ineffective. In addition, habits are not formed and also not directly changing the habits that make the mistakes.
Corrective Punishments
I would suggest using as I called it, Corrective Punishments. The centre to this model is about targeting the mistakes at the root cause, which is the behaviour or habit. Corrective punishments is about doing actions which solve the mistakes. If I am late, I come in 10 mins the next time. If I forgot to bring something, I would be the one reminding the whole group.
Effective Implementation
To make it effective, the generation of the solution must be in the person's court. The person who have made the mistakes must be the one who come out with the solution. This is to create intrinsic buy ins as well as commitment from the person himself.
Supervision or follow up actions are required to ensure the solution is being done. External party has to place trust in believing the first commitment and reinforce it in the beginning.
Caution
This method requires more effort of thinking for the individual and more follow through for the external party. Individuals may also take this method as though freedom is given and not correct their mistakes. This require more intervention at the other side. As long as follow through is done properly, recalcitrant situation may not occur.
With proper guidance and method used, more intrinsic method of correcting mistakes can be done to allow habits to be formed more willingly and naturally. This would require more time, but habits are not built overnight.
Saturday, 14 May 2016
Saturday, 5 July 2014
Connections - Linking the Human Dots
Networking, a familiar habit that people have to master in order to succeed or succeed faster in life. It is about building relationship and rapport with the people around you. However, this is not just merely knowing someone, but understand who they are as a person and forming the deep connections from within.
Do you have a group of friends that you will always have no problem talking to even meeting like once in a blue moon? and talking topics range from work, to family issues, to your common hobby. This are the kind of healthy connections that we are talking about. It is easy to have this when you are with your peers or some groups which you have common interest with. This form of networking creates synergy and power to produce desirable effect.
What about in the work field, or when there is a senior-junior relationship? This form of rapport is highly sort after by the leader. After all, it creates the environment for mutual trust and understanding and produces a highly cohesive and productive work force.
How to go about doing that?
1) Be present. Be present at their toughest time to listen to their worries. Be present at their meal times to talk about things not related to work. Or simply just appear in their daily life. They must know who is their boss, who is the one leading them.
2) Be reasonable with your expectations. Tell them to do the things which you yourself can do. Nothing more than whatever you cannot commit.
3) Be frank. Do not pretend to form this relationship. Pretend can be felt by people. Do it with your heart, care like you really care.
Connections need time and effort to maintain, and open and frank communication can speed it up further. Spare a little of your time being with them and they will eventually open up to you and let you in to their world.
Do you have a group of friends that you will always have no problem talking to even meeting like once in a blue moon? and talking topics range from work, to family issues, to your common hobby. This are the kind of healthy connections that we are talking about. It is easy to have this when you are with your peers or some groups which you have common interest with. This form of networking creates synergy and power to produce desirable effect.
What about in the work field, or when there is a senior-junior relationship? This form of rapport is highly sort after by the leader. After all, it creates the environment for mutual trust and understanding and produces a highly cohesive and productive work force.
How to go about doing that?
1) Be present. Be present at their toughest time to listen to their worries. Be present at their meal times to talk about things not related to work. Or simply just appear in their daily life. They must know who is their boss, who is the one leading them.
2) Be reasonable with your expectations. Tell them to do the things which you yourself can do. Nothing more than whatever you cannot commit.
3) Be frank. Do not pretend to form this relationship. Pretend can be felt by people. Do it with your heart, care like you really care.
Connections need time and effort to maintain, and open and frank communication can speed it up further. Spare a little of your time being with them and they will eventually open up to you and let you in to their world.
Tuesday, 25 February 2014
The BOSS within a LEADER
Seen the boss in your leader before, I believe at one point of your life, you will have seen this side of him before. In all leader, they first be a boss, before becoming a leader. A boss need not necessary become a leader.
Boss takes command and charge and expects things to be done. They set expectations and ensure those expectations are met. They are pushy to get messages across or simply to get things done. The difference between a leader and a boss is about the development of people. Leaders aim to upgrade the people around them whereas the main purpose of a boss is to get things done. Leaders have that in mind as well.
The "BOSS" mode is turned on by leader when they are desperate to get things done. This is usually met with a time constraint or resource constraint. They have to push hard, but normally their followers are able to understand and are willing to give their all to help their leader. This is due to the credit done during peaceful done when the leader takes time to develop them. Leaders have to be mindful they are to lead and not to manage them. But, they must never fail to lose their instinct of getting things done, just in a different way - through other people hands.
Be an efficient boss first before developing your personal style of a leader. All leaders are experts in that "BOSS" mode.
Boss takes command and charge and expects things to be done. They set expectations and ensure those expectations are met. They are pushy to get messages across or simply to get things done. The difference between a leader and a boss is about the development of people. Leaders aim to upgrade the people around them whereas the main purpose of a boss is to get things done. Leaders have that in mind as well.
The "BOSS" mode is turned on by leader when they are desperate to get things done. This is usually met with a time constraint or resource constraint. They have to push hard, but normally their followers are able to understand and are willing to give their all to help their leader. This is due to the credit done during peaceful done when the leader takes time to develop them. Leaders have to be mindful they are to lead and not to manage them. But, they must never fail to lose their instinct of getting things done, just in a different way - through other people hands.
Be an efficient boss first before developing your personal style of a leader. All leaders are experts in that "BOSS" mode.
Wednesday, 22 January 2014
OCS Journey - My Leadership Takeaways
I have just completed Officer Cadet School and graduated as a 2LT on 18 January 2014. Throughout this 9 months course, I found out more about myself and some of the things which make a leader successful.
Mission Focused
Go out unprepared, be prepared to fail. Go out prepared, be prepared for the unexpected. Whatever do, we need to have an objective in mind, which in army terms is mission. Who, What, Where, When, Why, How? When you begin with an end in mind, you will hit where you want to go, or somewhere near it. There is a purpose in doing it and when doing it, do it nothing less than the best.
People Oriented
What drives us to achieve mission success are normally the people behind the scenes, executing those plans. As a leader, never neglect your people. This comes in two forms. Giving tough and realistic training enables the people to spread their wings fully and allow them to achieve independence on their own. This form of education serves to give them the fullest preparation. The other form is giving support and emotional welfare. This may includes simple appreciations to informal talk to your people to truly show appreciation as well as care and concern to the people. Your people must know their leader in order for them to trust. They must believe that you care.
Values Driven
Through any tough times or decisions to make, only true leaders with the right values will shine. As long as the values are morally correct, that decisions based on it will last through time. Whatever we can compromise, values should not be part of that equation. Stand firm to it and it will not fail you. It may be an unpopular decision, but it will certainly earn the respect of your people.
Creed Directed
I am particular inspired by the Officers' Creed which encompasses many aspects of how a leader should lead.
"I am an Officer of the Singapore Armed Forces,
My duty is to lead to excel and to overcome.
I lead my men by example, I answer for their training, morale and discipline.
I excel in everything I do, I serve with pride, honour and integrity.
I will overcome adversity with courage, fortitude, and determination
I dedicate my life to Singapore"
~SAF Officers' Creed
Taking the first and last line out which says the identity of the leader, the remaining of the creed is applicable to anyone out there. If all leader can do this, there is nothing we cannot do, and there is noone that we cannot lead.
Normally I do not speak in my personal experience, but I shall dedicate this post to this training school which has shaped me to who I am now. To lead, To excel, To Overcome.
Saturday, 7 December 2013
Appreciate the Power of Silence
Our society has become increasingly noisy and we are flooded we information where ever we go. This happens to many of our leaders which works under these "noise".
These noises can come in many forms. It can be literal noise made from too many conversations as well as distractions around us. These noises decrease our efficiency as we are unable to focus on the task at hand. It also increases stress to our leaders to sieve our the main points from the irrelevant ones.
Silence is the way to create the discipline and form in a chaotic environment. When there are over flowing environment, create this power of silence. It sets things in place as well as a peaceful mind for the leader. Leader must appreciate and and use the power of silence to get things done.
However, this must first be practiced by the leader himself. Leader must have the self discipline to keep their actions and thoughts in this "silent" mode. He can refrain from talking as well as discipline his thoughts.
When taking over the noise, leader will have to enforce the silence. The delivery of such power may come across as rude or crude, but it is greatly dependent on the leader's influence to get it. When it is achieved, information can be pass down efficiently and accurately. Less noise will be created for further clarification due to the noise without efficient silence.
As leaders, make full use of how silence can help you in getting things done. Talk less, Do more. Remember, effective delivery of instructions will lead to effective doing to get things done.
These noises can come in many forms. It can be literal noise made from too many conversations as well as distractions around us. These noises decrease our efficiency as we are unable to focus on the task at hand. It also increases stress to our leaders to sieve our the main points from the irrelevant ones.
Silence is the way to create the discipline and form in a chaotic environment. When there are over flowing environment, create this power of silence. It sets things in place as well as a peaceful mind for the leader. Leader must appreciate and and use the power of silence to get things done.
However, this must first be practiced by the leader himself. Leader must have the self discipline to keep their actions and thoughts in this "silent" mode. He can refrain from talking as well as discipline his thoughts.
When taking over the noise, leader will have to enforce the silence. The delivery of such power may come across as rude or crude, but it is greatly dependent on the leader's influence to get it. When it is achieved, information can be pass down efficiently and accurately. Less noise will be created for further clarification due to the noise without efficient silence.
As leaders, make full use of how silence can help you in getting things done. Talk less, Do more. Remember, effective delivery of instructions will lead to effective doing to get things done.
Thursday, 12 September 2013
Challenges ~ The Stimulus for Improvements
Leadership is a on going process which requires constant improvements. Leaders do not stop and believe that they have nothing to improve on. When they do so, they stagnate and stoop to lead. Leaders also do not wait for things to happen, which means waiting for opportunities to come to them. They either create or go out and find such opportunities. The level of difficulty of each tasks also grows, to stretch and dvelop themselves.
Why is Challenges so Important?
Leaders can lead effectively because of the fact that they have the ability and skills to lead their followers. If their followers and themselves have the same level of competance, there will be no room for leadership to take place. That is why challenges are important to create the avenue and experience for leaders to stretch themselves which gathers followers. Such experiences are important to form the basis of leadership which is to lead by example. That is doing at least at the minimal level, but more often way beyond what your followers will be doing.
How to find such challenges?
Firstly is to actively search for them. Opportunities are for those who are prepared. Those who wait for things to happen will find themselves either not finding them, or missing the skills needed for the job. Be proactive and prepare yourself sufficiently for it.
Secondly, if all fails, one can always initiate projects and ideas and get people to buy into your ideas. thats when challenges you deem possible actually spins off and take flight.
How to overcome the challenges?
Challenges by nature will be tough and hard. It is mean to push you off your comfort zone and let you improve yourself. Stay positive in the journey and go in with an open mind. This is when your brain will be in the best state to absorb and learn. This expands your attitude towards the challenge and more often will you succeed in overcoming them. When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.
Leading is about making yourself better in order to allow better learning and leading of your followers. It is important to keep learning by finding these stimulus for improvements. When you lose the passion to be challenged, you lose the ability to lead in the end.
Why is Challenges so Important?
Leaders can lead effectively because of the fact that they have the ability and skills to lead their followers. If their followers and themselves have the same level of competance, there will be no room for leadership to take place. That is why challenges are important to create the avenue and experience for leaders to stretch themselves which gathers followers. Such experiences are important to form the basis of leadership which is to lead by example. That is doing at least at the minimal level, but more often way beyond what your followers will be doing.
How to find such challenges?
Firstly is to actively search for them. Opportunities are for those who are prepared. Those who wait for things to happen will find themselves either not finding them, or missing the skills needed for the job. Be proactive and prepare yourself sufficiently for it.
Secondly, if all fails, one can always initiate projects and ideas and get people to buy into your ideas. thats when challenges you deem possible actually spins off and take flight.
How to overcome the challenges?
Challenges by nature will be tough and hard. It is mean to push you off your comfort zone and let you improve yourself. Stay positive in the journey and go in with an open mind. This is when your brain will be in the best state to absorb and learn. This expands your attitude towards the challenge and more often will you succeed in overcoming them. When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.
Leading is about making yourself better in order to allow better learning and leading of your followers. It is important to keep learning by finding these stimulus for improvements. When you lose the passion to be challenged, you lose the ability to lead in the end.
Saturday, 7 September 2013
Leadership Style - Develop your own style
There is a spectrum of leadership style out there. It can be categorized into two main category, one is purpose, the other one is level of aggression.
For purpose, this includes servant leadership, which touches on why you actually want to lead. The other type is based on aggression level, from the minimal, laissez faire leadership (means not doing anything), to total control, dictatorship and the spectrum in between it. All of these leadership styles have their pros and cons and I believe as leaders, it is important to have a mixture of it to make us truly effective.
Mixture of Leadership Styles
One sole leadership style will have weaknesses and it may not be able to be applied in every situation out there. When new at leadership, it is good to develop a leadership style that is close to your personality style. For introverts, they may choose servant leadership or leadership of less assertiveness. It will help to strengthen who you are as a leader.
However, as you proceed on with leading, you will find that there are flaws in just having one. For above example, they will find themselves hard to get things done when they need to be straightforward with their followers.
Therefore, once comfortable with dominant leadership style, explore the other side which complements your weaknesses. It will be uncomfortable and may clash with our personality, but just push on as habits take time to develop. Remember, leadership is developed.
Balancing between Leadership Style
After gaining comfortable with leadership style, be flexible with the approach to things. Try balancing between giving assertion and not, and you might find yourself becoming a more effective leader, who knows how to get things done, with the human factor still taken care of. Sometimes an alternative leadership style may just bring about an unique result.
End State
After learning more styles and able to balancing it, you will then create a leadership style that is unique to you. Mixture of everything and getting the best out of the generic leadership style. This will help to maximise your charactor and shape how people look at you in a different light.
This journey of finding your leadership style is never ending. Take in mind that leadership styles is dependent on the situation. Some are just better than others in a situation, but not quite so in the other. Look for opportunities to explore other side of you to make your leadership style more comprehensive.
For purpose, this includes servant leadership, which touches on why you actually want to lead. The other type is based on aggression level, from the minimal, laissez faire leadership (means not doing anything), to total control, dictatorship and the spectrum in between it. All of these leadership styles have their pros and cons and I believe as leaders, it is important to have a mixture of it to make us truly effective.
Mixture of Leadership Styles
One sole leadership style will have weaknesses and it may not be able to be applied in every situation out there. When new at leadership, it is good to develop a leadership style that is close to your personality style. For introverts, they may choose servant leadership or leadership of less assertiveness. It will help to strengthen who you are as a leader.
However, as you proceed on with leading, you will find that there are flaws in just having one. For above example, they will find themselves hard to get things done when they need to be straightforward with their followers.
Therefore, once comfortable with dominant leadership style, explore the other side which complements your weaknesses. It will be uncomfortable and may clash with our personality, but just push on as habits take time to develop. Remember, leadership is developed.
Balancing between Leadership Style
After gaining comfortable with leadership style, be flexible with the approach to things. Try balancing between giving assertion and not, and you might find yourself becoming a more effective leader, who knows how to get things done, with the human factor still taken care of. Sometimes an alternative leadership style may just bring about an unique result.
End State
After learning more styles and able to balancing it, you will then create a leadership style that is unique to you. Mixture of everything and getting the best out of the generic leadership style. This will help to maximise your charactor and shape how people look at you in a different light.
This journey of finding your leadership style is never ending. Take in mind that leadership styles is dependent on the situation. Some are just better than others in a situation, but not quite so in the other. Look for opportunities to explore other side of you to make your leadership style more comprehensive.
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