On empowerment.

Ok, i am not a CEO. Probably not going to be, as it is not in my domain of interest. Whatever.

But i believe im a born leader. I can initiate, plan things, make decisions, execute, see results then give feedbacks. Half of the people i know cannot do those things, or maybe they can, they prefer not to. But thats not an issue. A good leader can also be a follower, as long as the people they suppose to follow MAKE SENSE to them.

When i first started working, my mentor told me to remember 2 rules. Which are:

1.    Your boss is always right

2.    If your boss is wrong, refer to number one.

Hmm. Ok.

But (my generation and) I beg to differ.

We should stop using the rules. Here, i propose a new one.

1.    Your boss is always right

2.    If your boss is wrong, try to correct him. But make sure you’ve done all your research and prepare well. Dont do it alone, Do it in groups of trusting people.

3.    If your boss still thinks he is right, take out that resignation letter and RESIGNED.

If you are an intelligent and resourceful worker, know your value. Do not stay in a company that does not appreciate your existance.

Most successful companies encourage employees to make decisions, providing an environment of open communication and acceptance of new ideas. That is EMPOWERMENT.

You dont have to be in C-level, to be in control.  If you are in such condition, that is soooo SAD. Refer to my third rule. There are thousands of other companies out there that might suit you. REALLY.

The Revelation of Y

This entry is a continuation from the previous entry, The Generation Next To You.

Although my intention of this mini-research was actually to further understand the preceding generations of which I am currently working with, my focus had shifted as I get deeper into it.

From my readings and observations, Gen Y is quite lucky. Their entrance into the workforce have been anticipated and welcomed by Boomers and X-ers. There is not much crisis or chaos, only some challenging situations.

Although many articles brought the idea that Boomers and X-ers are (in a way) threatened by Y. Something about fear of having to work with younger bosses.

That’s bullshit. I beg to differ.

The way I see it, Gen Y is a product of Boomers and older X-ers. Although the two generations may have their disparity, they were brought together when Y started emerging in the workforce.

Two straight facts that we all agree upon are, Gen Y is armed with technology and is the most educated generation in history just yet.

It’s not just that they have access to more information and teaching. But also, they were brought up by both Boomers and X-ers trying to get the best out of Y, giving Y everything they never had and wished to have while growing up.

Having the best of both worlds, Gen Y is not so much of ‘thinker’ kind of generation. They were spoon-fed, told what to do and given everything directly (not saying in a silver platter) to them. Their life had been strategically planned by educated Boomers and X-ers.

GO TO SCHOOL, LEARN THIS, SCORE THAT MUCH, DON’T DO THAT, ONLY DO THIS...

So, it is possible that even at the age of 20something, Y is still trying to figure out what they actually want in their life.

Their direction, their desire and how they plan their future changes and fluctuates as they started to learned the truth about life from their own point of view and judgments.

Separate from their X-ers confidant and Boomers consultancy. They starting to live their life based on how they see fit.

Now that they are ready, they have to get back and face X-ers and Boomers at the office. Be it as colleagues, subordinates or bosses.

Gen Y seems to be smarter and better (to some) because they are streamlined and trained to work efficiently and effectively.  Information is at the tip of their fingers.

Even if they look dumber than a dung-beetle, they can figure out and digest anything under the sun with their gadgets.

Boomers and X-ers bowed down to Y slick management and skills does not mean Y is the winning generation. It simply translates that Y have been brought up by Boomers and X-ers who knew the right way, knowing what to do and how to do it.

To conclude, I’ll list down the Y-Type-Management and working habits that have been approved by Boomers and X-ers.

1. Only hold productive meetings. And it should not be more than 40 minutes. Plus meal.

2. Please shorten the working hours or at least introduce flexibility. Or easier, just act like you don’t know or would not care if we are not at the office from 9-6pm as long as we did all our tasks. (Gen Y seems to be able to figure out how to get as much done in 5-6 hours as the average Boomers does with 8)

3. Career development is our obsession. If we are not promoted after 3-4 years working with same company, we’ll resign for a better offer. Or look for a new career path.

4. Your promotions better be based on emotional intelligence and merit. Not seniority.

5. Constant feedback, please. We need to know if our work is acceptable by your standard or not.

6. We need instant responses and answers. We don’t wait. That’s why you have that thing called blackberry, iPhone, broadband and netbook in your bag.

Yes, its bag not briefcase. We don’t have brief case. We never do. (Whoever still carries briefcase must have gotten it from their grandfather who make them swears on their death bed to bring that thing to work for 50 years).

There you go. But remember that i said earlier that my focus got shifted halfway through this mini research? The twist is yet to come. Whoever thinks that Gen Y is the main devil without a cause should shut up and choke themselves to death.

Make way to the latest LITTLE RASCALS of GENERATION Z. The new kids on the block.

No, not that 1985 New Kids On the Block. The real new kids on the block.

Its all in my head, haunting me but I need to find another time to write it down. My one hour lunch is almost up. Better get back with the reports and slides.

I'll Be Seeing You Then. Cheers

The Generation Next To You

I started reading Harvard Business Review a few months back.

Nope, it’s not mine. I borrowed it from my boss. You see, until after I graduated the only books I read were CLEO. Or is it not considered a book? Err...Reading materials? No? I don’t read newspapers because I think it’s a piece of horrid junk. I rather dig a whole and stay there to die rather than letting those people programmed my mind through never-ending biased politics, wars and crimes. Are you freaking kidding me?

Anyways, I figured to meet my work demand I should start some serious reading habit to improve my language, current issues and learn some business terms.

So I picked up HBR just because HARVARD sounds so smart. Maybe the content would stand up to its name and be just as smart.

Browsing through, I noticed that in every issue HBR talks about workforce in the sense of generations, the Baby Boomers, X and Y.

Yes, I’ve heard it a few times before but I thought it only applies to American and never really get what the fuss is all about.

I do now and kind of agree with some of the facts.

You see, American studies this generation thing because they said for the first time in history, three very disparate generations are working together. They anticipate many challenges and crisis in the workplace.

Oh before I go far let me enlighten you with the three disparate generations.

a) Baby Boomers, born in between 1947 and 1963. Ages 47-63. These might be your CEO, VPs, KSUs, etc.

b) Gen X, the children of the Baby Boomers, born between 1964 and 1980. Ages 29-46. These are your immediate bosses, team leader, and head of departments. Right?

c) And Tadaaa...The Gen Y, born between 1981 and 2000. Ages 10-28. It’s us. You and Me.

I don’t want to get into deep with Baby Boomers and Gen Xers but I’ll tell you some obvious characteristics. Not judging or anything. This is what I got from readings and the internet.

The histories of Baby Boomers are very American-centric, and I’m not sure if it is applicable everywhere else. (Maybe not) But they are famous for their unwillingness to leave the workforce. (Eh, same here right?). Oh, they love working so much. Even after retiring, they still sending resumes applying for work. And I believe they agrees with the chain of command system and very loyal to their employee.

Hurmm..I’m starting to see the wacko-ness here. They live to WORK. (Nope, definitely not the same mindsetting)

Ok, next is the Gen X. From what I read, X-ers are
more opportunistic and individualistic. They love their profession, not so much with the boss. And they look for more balanced personal and profesional life, apart from their workaholic fathers. This generation started the whole ‘entrepreneurial’ thingy and making it so famous.

Ok, off to the part that makes sense the most to me. When talking about Gen Y or ‘Milennials’ I tend to see a lot of the characteristics in me and the people around me. I don’t see much American-centricity. Or maybe the fact that globalization happened during our time. The internet booms, the high tech communication gadgets and the satellites make it as though we’re living in the same circle.

Americanized or not, this is how we lived.

We, Millennial are more psychographic rather than demographic. And I reckon we’re going to fill the workforce sooner than later. The mindset and the way Boomers and X-ers do and manage business will and is transforming to fit the younger minds. Not because for the sole purpose of giving way to the young and spoilt, but because unlike any other generations before Y, generations labelling stopped at nation borders. Boomers and X-ers in different part of the world lived differently. Not Y though. It is a global force that has already conquered the world, in a form of technology.

Yep, what makes Y thinks they are so powerful is technology. (Well, for now)

Reading more and more, many said that Gen Y are slackers. We are lazy, too liberal, care-free and job hoppers. I don’t think that’s new. Every generation had a group that was below the norm, just like the hippies for Boomers.

I don’t deny that Gen Y has been pampered, nurtured and spoilt by their parents. Most Boomers and X-ers are very successful career-wise. They make some good living which transferred to how they raised their high performance and high maintenance kids who less likely to respond to the traditional command-and-control type of management. We grew up questioning our parents and I bet we’ll do the same with our superior. The respect is still there of course, but the judging and ‘ARE YOU SURE?’ is sticking with Y.

Speaking for my generation, I don’t think we’re lazy. Unmotivated, YES!. Especially if it doesn’t involves new challenges, wide and deep professional development. We are easily bored and de-motivated in status-quo jobs. Although we don’t necessary be fast learners, most of us are good multi-tasker and we can learn a few things and get better at it at the same time.

And I noticed that travelling since young age is very Y. Our father boomers and brothers X-ers agree that travelling is a learning experience. They even paid for our overseas trip while we’re in Uni or School. We were encouraged to study overseas like them but unfortunately, Y who are hoping to get an oversea scholarship better be damn smart with straight freaking A’s. The competition was getting tougher than ever.

The best thing I like about being a Y is our total comfort with technology. We grew up with technology and really rely on it. Armed with BlackBerrys (and other smart phones), laptops and other gadgets we plugged in 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Facebook? It’s how we keep in touch and even make new friends. Baby Boomers and X-ers went along with social networking sites don’t they? Then comes business networking sites and the rest is history.

Technology manage to conquer generations and Gen Y are doing their best to conquers and control technology. X-ers are not far along and they are just as tech savvy but Gen Y has been computer literate since they were much younger. Am i right or am i right?

Ok I think this entry is too long. I noticed I haven’t stop typing since an hour ago but didn’t realize it has been three pages. Well, at least it’s not pure babbling.

Anyhooo…

I’ll get to the second part of this topic next time. In a nutshell (euww so boomers! I bet they invented this),many thinks that generation is not an issue or it’s not even real. However, speaking for my generation this classification makes sense.

We need to understand why we think and act differently and which way should we follow? and when? It can go a long way towards easing communication and adapting to new challenges of globalization.

I can’t wait to learn more about Generation Z. I bet they are scarier than robots. They started using touch- screen at the age of 3, learning alphabets and coloring from their parents’ iPad, started reading at the age of 4 and playing PS3 at the age of 5. Need I say more?

To be continued..

Dealing with 'aliens'

While many graduates my age struggling to cope with crazy bosses from hell, or weird colleagues from whatever planet they hailed from I'm glad my first few experiences were rather pleasant.

So whenever they talked about how stressful work life is, i just nod along trying to put myself in their shoes.

One of my friends complained that she and her boss speaks different language. (Being my friend speaking Earth language and her female chinese boss speaks planet Zog's)

Either my friend doesn't listen or her boss believes that the way to maximize productivity is to terrify her staff.

She said she'd be better off chatting to an alien who's just dropped from planet Zog than the person whom she's supposed to obey between 9 to 5.

I get her. Although never have I personally experienced anything of that sort, I remember similar situations happened to my colleague while I was doing my internship. We worked in the same company, but under different manager.

The (happen to be female, again) manager communicates by threat and sarcasm. She threw things and smacked her desk. (so often that the building is in danger of collapse)

Viewing from a professional light, she is just totally driven, and she thinks and expects everyone else should be a workoholic too. (with no life especially if you're single. You shouldn't have life outside of work) She found fault with everything her subordinate did. If things weren't done on time, she'd blow up yelling at those fresh graduates about how useless they are.

Yes, she used bad words like 'bodoh'. she even said its her mistakes to bring in fresh graduates who cannot do anything right. By right she means 'her way'.

The whole atmosphere changed. This bunch of enthusiastic, high spirited newbies turned depressed and scared.

There was no friendly chat or laughter, at their side of the wall, mine was totally fine. and people began leaving. My friend managed to stuck it out for a while, but he was extremely relieved when he was offered another job. even it is in Labuan! He left KL and I started working with my current company. I don't know what happen to her now and how many staffs had enter and leave her department.

She is still the boss and she will get what she wants. If i have to deal with those rare species, (oh please please God have mercy and never let that happen to me) I will straighten up my thoughts first. 'Is it really my fault? did i screw up that badly or she is just being her?

After being precise of what to say before I open my mouth and pray hard that she's in a terrrrrific mood and calculate every anticipated risks that might bestowed upon me, I will face up to her. 

We just HAVE to..HAVE! unless you want to be submissive for ages, then swing into aggression or peculiar psychotic act.

Oh that reminds me i have the bestest story to tell about my psycho-crazy-smelly colleague, but that have to wait until next time.

As long as you remember never to challenge her authority in public, or approach her late in the day. (when the veins in her head look like its going to popped or her hair is so messy you can only think of Albert Einstein).

You can yell in your HEAD as loud as you want, "YOU CRAZY BITCH, DO YOU WANT TO KILL US ALL WITH STRESS AND HEART ATTACK?"

but make sure it comes out something like "I respect your opinion but could you consider that when you shout, it makes me nervous and less effective".

Alternatively, if your earthly gestures are not well received by aliens, give her a good slap and resign on the spot.

She wouldn't be THE BOSS forever and ever. Let her be. Karma will come and bite her back in the ass.

Although resigning like that won't look good in your CV, so what? Be carefree once in a while. We are still to young to care that much.

p/s: Not advisable for married people with families and responsibilities. If thats you, just suck it up and sulk while actively look for new job.

cheers.