Transition

When new things are added to my task or when I am making self-improvements, I have this feeling of uneasiness and my heart also beats differently. I usually go out of office and go to other KKK sites/factory to make myself busy with other things. It takes time before I get a hold of the new situation I am in or new load that is given to me.<> During that period, the main thing I do is keep thinking that I can do it and everything will be OK. I look at it positively as I know I am moving out of my boundary. The criticality of what has to be done depends how long I have to bear the said feeling. Sometimes there are waiting time and I just make sure I focus on other jobs that needs to be finished.

When it is done, things will be at normal again. I may feel uneasy and sometimes gets nervous, but I like that feeling as I know, when it is over, I moved out of my comfort zone. I know that I will have new things coming simply because I look for them and always think about expanding knowledge and gaining more experience on different areas of either work or personal matters.

Continue reading...

Defense-less

In GlaxoSmithKline as a Plant Mechanic for some years, I have faced a lot of problems and had a lot of critics. Some gave constructive criticisms and of course there are more people who always give comments that are very offensive - some true and some are based on their opinions. I also got into arguments/debates because of it exerting all efforts to prove myself right.<> I have to admit I made a lot of mistakes then but hearing cruel words is really not helpful and ruins my day. I had enough of it that I looked for ways not be annoyed by such but found none.

When I had experienced my biggest problem in that company (I was blamed - big time), there was nothing I can do then but to shut my mouth up. While recovering from that misfortune, I continued to stay quiet. Many more problems came and lots more criticism, I then realized that nothing happens when I ignored them. Time passed by and I saw the mistake I had having to protect myself from those type of people.

From then, I promised myself not to be affected by such. I said to myself that if they say something that is not really happening, I’ll ignore it and not argue. If what they say is right, even in an offensive way, I’ll just accept it. Some gave negative comments but I just looked at it as something to improve at or to correct - if what I did is really wrong. Later, as I ignore them they also halted from criticizing my acts.

I have not been very reactive for long time now, and from an email subscription is this quote from Pathways to Perfect Living which I would like to share:

"You need not defend yourself against anything. Whatever is true in you does not need defense, and whatever is false must have no defense. Do not wear yourself out in useless defense, instead, wisely permit the defeat of falseness. What remains will be right."

Continue reading...

Opinions/Suggestions

I have a subordinate who is an idealist. We had lots of discussions/debates already and if it isn’t technical, we usually end up with me saying “I will just take it as an opinion of yours.” He doesn’t like the idea that he wants to continue arguing until I say those magic words. What it really means is that I have been there and most likely I know what the outcome will be.<> One of those days where we had a good chat, he opened it up and asked me why I don’t want to have debate and honestly tell him the reason. I gave him example of the things that transpired from what ever thought he had and was enlightened when he realized that what I said would happen is closer to the ideal idea he has.

This guy also asked me how people can follow him when he is sure of the idea he has and proven effective. He even gave an example as he gave an advice to a friend of ours where he had almost the same experience where he did the right thing. I took me a lunch time; I knew I have an answer from what he said. Finally, when lunch is over, we have to drive to work and asked him, “what if I tell you that the effective way of making people do what you want is study psychology and reading a lot of leadership books, would you read and study?.” His answer is that he may or may not. And that is exactly my point I said. We all have a choice and sometimes most people think differently from us and would have choice different from what we think is the best one. I continued that all we can do is make suggestions and let the individuals decide for themselves. For that specific issue, he pulled out other things that are more realistic than ideal until we got to the factory.

Continue reading...

Solving Problems

I have been telling stories about the progress of my relationship with my superintendent. I came to the factory 14 years after he started so it was not easy for me to slip into their system. We have been doing fine working together. It has gone better now that he already put me into picture of what is happening around the plant and his jobs and in full detail.<>

I never forced him to follow me, instead I showed him that though I am more than 10 years younger than him, I have the capability to make things happen, get root cause faster for machines and solve problems even on personal matters. I am also the mediator when they cannot tell if the main problem is electrical or his division – mechanical.

Now that he is more open to my ideas, I also make sure he grows in terms of management. It is not that easy for him as he was a hands-on person but with the aid of my stories and experiences, he is little by little moving out of it and moving a step higher. We had a lot of chat made especially on how to handle things around the plant, not only problems but also the people around us. We also have chats on what improvements he wants. He also wanted to learn AutoCAD and I helped him with it also.

Every time there are thing(s) that bothers him or problem that he needs answer, he would approach me. I like the way he starts our conversation, that is, he would tell me that he has a problem and he is sure I can solve it in 1, 2 or just 5 minutes.

“The quickest way to gain leadership: problem solving”
- John Maxwell
Developing the leader within you.

Continue reading...

Mind Reading

Some of my friends say I read minds because usually, I would know what their next steps would be or what they think about a certain topic. I told them that I really do not possess any magic but it is just learning how their minds are programmed. Also, I think that it is a product of the wide range of books that I have read.<>

I have been programming (just a hobby) for quite sometime now. Seeing and making just the program, I can easily picture out the end result. My “mind reading” is just the same as reading a program of the mind. Whenever I know the content of the program of the mind and its settings, it is easy to know their judgment will be or what next moves they will make. Though not very accurate, it's a big factor.

One thing to know how they think and how they would react on certain things is being keen on the things that they treasure most and how they are raised. I would usually be keen on listening on things, events, people and stuff that are most significant to them. Reading books, especially on the topic of psychology, also helped me a lot as they provide good guides on how to know people. With it, I can tell what decisions they will make or just what on their minds are.

Continue reading...

Chess

One of the games that I love playing is Chess and I have been playing it since high school. I am not very good at it but have won few games with the tough ones. At work, I see some parts of it kind of like playing chess. Like each piece has its importance and has its main use. The board is filled with characters that need each other to reach the main goal.<>

In a factory set-up, we have these apprentices which are those with can later be promoted to something should he persevere in getting it but of course, it needs my push also for him to get it. I also have tradesmen that help these pawns and protect them. The superintendents are my right hand personnel that make sure all subordinates work fine and they are also the main persons that I can count on when needed. I would delegate thing to them that they can do most and where critical matters are. My main task is to put them where they will needed most; make sure that they have resources to accomplish jobs and that they are motivated enough to face the challenges ahead. Like chess, we do not know when opponent e.g breakdowns, will attack us so the best we can do is to prepare for it. With the randomness of the events, I sometimes would find myself taking off my personnel from one job to another that I know have much importance compared to what they are already working at.

Behind the board, I would prepare more as I do not know other challenges that may come, but with experience, I can tell what we can check to prevent future damages. Planning is everything. Always at least a step ahead, keeps me calmer in facing each day. I really have a great deal of battling with procrastination and I always think that not doing so will cause me more problems. Troubles are inevitable, but handling them is what I am mastering.

Continue reading...

Listen/Observe

Below is a fable that I have read and this one clings to me simply because I can relate to it:

A little bird was flying south for the winter.
It was so cold, the bird froze and fell to the ground in a large field.
While it was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on it.

As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow dung, it began to realize how warm it was. The dung was actually thawing him out!
He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy.

A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate.
Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and promptly dug him out and ate him!

Management Lessons:
1) Not everyone who drops sh*t on you is your enemy.
2) Not everyone who gets you out of sh*t is your friend.
3) And when you're in deep sh*t, keep your mouth shut!

Lesson number 1 defines me that is why I can still remember this even if I have read this long time ago. Some people find me cruel that I mock at the people. When I speak differently or harshly to a person, it only means that he/she is a close friend. I am not sure if they already observed it but I am a person who will be there when they need me and would give all that I can give to help. My advice sometimes may sound cruel, but if they are listening attentively, they will see that it is for their own good and I am trying to help. This applies not only to my friends but also my relatives and co-workers. I tried to be gentler but after some time, it still bursts out.

Continue reading...