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.

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.

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.