The Principle of the Golden Egg Paradigm

As I read through Stephen Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People", I particularly liked the story pertaining to the Goose that laid the golden eggs. To give a summary of the story- the poor farmer who owned the goose and discovered that it laid a golden egg each day became very wealthy; and with wealth, came Impatience and Greed to have more wealth. So impatient that he killed the goose to get all the eggs inside it - but found none and lost his opportunity to gain more.

In this example, Covey wanted us to strike the right balance between taking care of the "goose" and the  "golden eggs"; or what he calls the Product/Production Capability (P/PC) Balance. The product or the golden eggs are the desired results and to continue to have the desired results, you want to enhance the Production Capability- in this case, the goose. Many of us tend to have the mindset of rushing through to get spectacular results, but without regards to taking care of ourselves, our employees or even our family. We can always push for greater results and focus on what we can get afterwards, but the focus to ensure that we can still sustain the rigor, the passion, not only from ourselves, is slowly diminishing. 

The paradigm of the Golden Egg shows us that there is indeed a path to effectiveness- we should always think bigger than the results. We need to see beyond the picture of success in achieving our goals- we have to think about how efficient and effective our means towards reaching these goals would be. 

With being a manager or leader, there is pressure in going up the next level and there is a tendency to drive our teams to meeting or exceeding targets or metrics- but the big question is, do we consider if our production capability or team members, will have the sufficient development, motivation, and capacity to be on the journey with you?  Sometimes, we focus too much on delivery, and then find ourselves stuck before the finish line because in the process of working towards it, we drained ourselves and our teams. We forgot that we're dealing with humans; and like machines, they need to be "oiled", or developed, fed well with the right training or coaching. We are way past the age of scolding where people will move faster because the managers are angry or speaking in high tones or they are afraid to lose their jobs. I have  listed down key points of what we need to consider when we aim to strike the right balance of P/PC. 

1. Be Clear. Remove Assumptions

Managing teams is never easy- you have to be very clear on the expectations from the very start, there is no excuse for gray areas. Write it if you must, but have a regular check with your teams to ensure they are able to understand, able to voice out what they think or what they cannot understand. Especially within the cultures or communities where speaking up is not the norm; or there is fear of voicing out an opinion because it could be turned against you.  The common problem that managers do encounter is that they assume the goose knows everything and should just lay eggs as planned; but actually the goose is confused and not aligned with the targets. There are different learning techniques, backgrounds and levels of comprehension that could be factors at play when you're dealing with a team. Always be aware that not every member of the team will be as receptive or as passionate as the other. You have the responsibility to help them develop or keep motivated. 

2.  Listen and Understand. Keep An Open Mind.

Sometimes, you become so overwhelmed with emotions that your mind is clouded and closed to other people's ideas or perspectives. You convince yourself that you're being objective and that is the right thing because you believe it to be. But getting pride out of the way and genuinely listening to what your team members have to say gives that sense of comfort to them that they have a venue to raise their points which may actually turn out to be better. In cultures where speaking up is not the norm, or hierarchies are strictly adhered to, it makes it doubly difficult to encourage them to voice out what's on their minds. As a leader, it is your responsibility to hear them out, listen and be open.

3. Be Strong in Delivering Your Message.

We've been talking about dealing with a balance of Production and Production Capability - but there will be times that in doing so, you will need to show your stronger side in implementing guidelines and principles around this.  Your voice needs to come across as something respectable, meaning, you stick to what you have implemented. Walk the Talk. You cannot give excuses as to why you cannot follow the rules you have laid down with your team. You must not exercise favoritism as well across the members of your teams when it comes to being "exempted" from the guidelines. You are what you SPEAK-- and YOU are the leader that your team will look up to, follow and emulate.

4. Create a Good Back Up Plan.

Ok, so we know the Goose lays Golden Eggs- but do we have enough Geese to sustain our production capability? As a leader, firming up the right structure for back up should be your priority after stabilizing the process and the results you are garnering over a period of time. Remember that the goose will also reach a point when it has to be replaced- in a corporate setting, we are looking at people who will be ready to move on, go up the ladder or simply change career paths. Running an operations line does not guarantee a lifetime of good results, you will need to replace the screws from time to time, and oil the machines. You are not an exception- you will also need to identify a good successor to your role.

As a fitting end to this article, I would like to challenge each one of you to reflect back and assess- "Are we achieving the right balance of Product and Production Capability?" Take care of your geese and you'll be reaping baskets of golden eggs; for your team's success is a trademark or legacy that you can wear as feathers in your leadership hat.


 

Taking On the Challenge: Preservation of Our Culture vs Globalization

Having worked for multinational companies, I have always admired the value of appreciating diversity of cultures, respect for differences and most of all, the thrust of collaboration with the objective of meeting targets despite geographical challenges. For 14 years, I knew working with other cultures besides Chinese and Filipinos have brought out the strong personality in me in terms of being upfront, being able to challenge things that are different from what you believe in regardless of hierarchies, race, and gender. And I'm very proud of what I've become and always look back to the experiences that honed me to be this way.

Last week, I found myself asking a lot of questions that made me feel like I became a foreigner in my own country. I found it hard to go back to being timid, keeping a low profile and having to double check myself if I'm way out of the norm when it comes to the Filipino culture. 

They say Filipinos naturally are submissive because of 300 ++ years of colonization by the Spaniards, followed by the Americans, the Japanese and back to the Americans who gave us "democracy". Filipinos have a high regard for hierarchy, they have a tendency to please everyone as a sign of having done a good job. Another Asian trait that we Filipinos have is the incapability to separate personal feelings from being objective. We feel bad when we are told the things we normally do should be changed so that we can be efficient; we harbor ill feelings towards people who give us constructive feedback and we just cannot see ourselves sharing meals or drinking beer with the people who in fact just wanted to help. 

In my mind, I thought being globalized by the companies I've worked for is a privilege. Well, it still is. But, indeed, going back to the way you were was the hardest part. What made it difficult is when I restrict myself from being the way I was developed, each muscle in my body screamed in silence to be freed, to be let alone and move on to the next task. It actually took a lot of effort for me to blog it eventually. 

So, going to the main meat of my article, I wanted to gauge now how do we really solve the preservation of our culture vs the globalization that the corporate world is demanding? I believe the Filipinos have a long way to go when it comes to really letting go of what we've been used to. I'm not saying it's bad, but there is a massive effort to be done in terms of influencing everyone in this country to cope with the change whilst being proud that we are Filipinos. I'm not convincing everyone to dump your Filipino values and adapt the ways of the stronger countries. I'm just saying, we need to start thinking how to maximize our positive traits and churn it into the globalization machinery. This is where I believe we will win and become acclaimed leaders in any industry.

Filipinos are known to be hardworking, skillful and happy beyond immense pressure. With proper guidance, these are the type of people you want to eventually see to lead, to be the alpha dog in the pack and be at par with every other nationality known or expected to do so. As a manager, I am faced daily with the task of making sure my team learns how to be stronger, more outspoken and open to feedback. I know the best reward that I want to attain is to see them next time as leaders/managers of other teams, easily developing their people with the global mindset. But I believe, everyone not only my team needs to be striving to achieve that level. After all, we do not want high performers to go down the drain. I mean, there will always be water walkers but aren't we putting competitive people in a race that will eventually force them to comply with what the whole pack is doing? Therefore, the art of globalization will now prove to be useless. It's like an experimental rat exposed to extreme variables for it to cope with and then subjecting them to an environment that's totally different. 

I guess the point I'm driving at is we need to rethink how we as a country and culture are coping up with the needs of the world today. It's not just simply following the instructions given- but challenging the way of things that you believe will be beneficial and targets collaboration and partnership with other successful countries.  Easier said than done, yes. But it starts with you.

On Leadership, Patience and Right Timing

Had a good conversation with a mentee last week and it felt very nostalgic, in a way that I saw myself years ago in this person. Don't get me wrong, I am all ears to rants, complaints, frustrations when it comes to work-- but over the years of learning, undergoing painful and happy experiences, I eventually took responsibility to come up with steps to overcome these.

Years ago, I could remember, bearing a heavy luggage of questions on "when will promotion be granted?"  or "I've done this much and much, but when do they notice?" I became restless and tried to do everything that I THOUGHT I could do, instead of assessing what I SHOULD be doing to make it more effective and efficient. Mentors coached me about the perfect timing and how time can further develop me in my chosen field. I can remember how frustrated I was as the young man in front of me last week.

When Paulo Coelho wrote, “And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” - he didn't mean that whenever you wanted it, it will happen IMMEDIATELY.

Looking back over the years, there were a few tips that I shared to my mentee and hopefully via this blog,  share to a wider community on how Patience and the Right Timing mattered.  Here are  some of the tips on the top of my head (take note, I'm no guru, I'm still learning...just thinking out loud!)

1) There's a reason for everything.  You know when you wanted something so bad that sometimes you're too blinded to see all the obstacles on your way and try to do anything you can to get it; and end up feeling defeated because you can't? It's the same logic that applies here. No matter how good you think you are, but not open to feedback that can actually help you, you are only looking at one side of the spectrum. You might have areas of development that you haven't seen yet but visible to your leaders, mentors or coaches.  You are being prepared for something bigger than what you do now - that's why it's very valuable to have a balanced view of what you currently have and what you want to be. 

2) Humility is key. When we emerge from being individual contributors to being team managers or leaders, it is inherent that you have the same expectations on your team members-- that they can do what YOU can DO. But when they fail your expectations, there is something inside you that tells you're a cut above the rest. That's true, but your role now demands that you coach and guide these people to develop their skills further and hopefully achieve what you've achieved. Being humble enough to make them fe  el you once went through what they are currently going through will make a difference on both sides. Besides, humility is free of charge. :) 

3) Never bear a grudge. No matter how hurtful things are being said about you, it only becomes heavier when you bear a grudge on the people who throw it at you. Listen and take notes- why did they say it? Is it an indication of how they see you? Agree that it hurts, but they are entitled to their own opinion, and you cannot influence how they want to say it. It's the uncontrollable factor that you must gear away from- instead, focus on what you can do to develop, learn, and make yourself stronger. You'll need it especially if you want to climb up that corporate ladder! You never know who you meet up there. 

4) Always try to see the good in every bad situation. Sometimes, we tend to focus on the negative because it's so easy to wallow in it. It feels very inviting to think of all the bad vibes about it, create and recreate more negative scenarios in your head. It's really hard to get out of it, I tell you, but look at what good  can it do to you? If you're blindsided about when your desired outcome would happen, know that there's always good things coming out of this experience. That you are blessed with these experiences to make you a better leader. That you are already being developed in ways that you might not understand right now, but would prove really helpful when you get into a higher level. 

5) Roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty too. Being a leader, there are situations that will call for your undivided attention. Lead by doing- this way, your team would see you are one with them in understanding the difficulties of the task, that you can guide them through the issues they face and that what they do are visible to your eyes.  Yes, you may have earned your title as a leader, but it doesn't mean you are exempted from understanding the tasks at hand. It's actually seeing your team in action that can help you apply leadership in the different moments of truth that all of you will encounter. 

6) Know what you really want in life. What I learned over the years, it's not just the short term goals that mattered. When you get promoted to the next level, it's another phase of wondering when you will get to the next and the next...etc. But is it what you really wanted? An endless cycle of wanting and focusing on the wrong goals? My only take on this is- write down your 3 year, 5 year and 10 year goals. Drill down or make a why why analysis - just to be clear why you wanted it. Oftentimes we tend to want things that may be a step or a consequence to the real goal but we just haven't articulated it or thought about it enough. Sometimes, it will surprise you what your ultimate goal in life really is. 

7) Always make it a point to improve yourself.  Change is not the easiest thing to deal with, especially if you feel your working habits have been effective for the past decade. However, things around you are constantly evolving. You always need to level-up your skill sets and make sure you do your part in preparing yourself for the next level. Find workshops or certifications or training that can boost your current skills or build a new one. You will never regret it.

8) Learn to respect differences within the team.  Your team members are composed of different personalities, characters, have different ways of responding to issues; or maybe different when it comes to understanding. Get to know your team members. It never hurts to do so. Oftentimes, it is your gauge to which tasks will bring out the best in each member of your team. Take note, that sometimes, you have to go through a trial and error stage as well, since it takes time to know each person's strengths and development areas. 

9) Pay it forward. I know most of you have watched the film and why do I link it to leadership? From my mentors to the senior leaders I've met, one of the consistent tips was around giving back to the new leaders what they've learned over the years. In my 14 years of corporate life, I have met a lot of inspirational people who were never selfish in helping colleagues, mentees. They impart a legacy that they have also inherited from previous leaders. This, I believe, is because they are grateful for everything that they have achieved and like planting a tree, they nourish the new leaders with all the "nutrients" they have to continue on that legacy. 

10) Work is not the entirety of your life. Always balance out personal and work related events - you will ALWAYS need to recharge and get back in the groove to avoid burning yourself out. I learned to apply this 3 years ago and it was definitely a lighter load I carry on my back ever since. It's always a choice, but a good one when you decide to take it. Work is not everything; there are far more important things in life than this. 

So, there you go... again I'm not an expert but having a conversation around this made me feel happy about the transformation I've undergone through the years. I know I'm still a work in progress; and looking forward to more learnings as I walk along this corporate journey. 

REPOST: A Modern Parable On Leadership

I was preparing a speech for my Leadership Training and I came across this story that I believe carries with it a powerful message especially for new managers. Read on :)

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A business owner once asked a wise man for help in improving an unprofitable business.  The wise man wrote a charm on a piece of paper and sealed it in a box which he gave to the business owner.  "Take this box to every worker in your business every day for a year," he told him.

The business owner did so.  In the morning he carried it into the store and asked the Stores Supervisor about the level of Quality Control on Inwards Goods.  Later, when he carried it into the production area he saw that the Production Manager was in his office reading the newspaper.  They discussed the need to be visible on the factory floor.  During the afternoon he carried it into the Engineering Shop and found the Engineering Supervisor trying to balance his budget.  He helped him by showing an easier way.  Every day, as he took the box around his business, he found things to discuss with the staff and help them to improve their performance.

At the end of the year he returned to the wise man.  "Let me keep the magic charm for another year," he begged.  "My business has been a hundred times more profitable this year than ever before because my people are happy."

The wise man smiled and he took the box. "I'll give you the charm itself," he said.

He broke the seal, lifted out the piece of paper and handed it to the business owner.  On it was written:

"You cannot be a leader by being invisible  Your results are obtained through your People.  By coaching your People, you are treating them with respect and allowing them to grow and develop.  Constant personal communication with your People will help them to develop."

Peter Mitchell

Collaboration is Key to Great Leadership

There's a Swahili proverb that goes: “A boat doesn't go forward if each one is rowing their own way.”

I've spent 13 years of my career working with numerous cultures and my job entailed collaborating virtually and managing project teams on the ground. Collaboration is a major factor in ensuring success in every project and allow me to share with you key points that helped me through my journey.

1) Listen and seek to understand. Sometimes, our minds work faster than our lips and we tend to over think and say a lot of things especially when our emotions are high. We tend to be defensive and we neglect what is being said to us. So, Listen and seek to understand is very important especially in a virtual environment, where 55% of body language is not visible anymore. You tend to judge based on how you interpret the voice, the pitch, the tone. What more an email message? so another 25% is lost to interpretation of how you read it and how you will say it. But if you listen and try to understand, or check back your understanding of what was being said, it is easy to figure out the core of the message. Life would have been more simpler without judgement and biases, right?

2) Appreciate Diversity. They say, everyone has tapes. What are tapes? Any guess? Tapes are referred to as what we've been accustomed to, or the cultural background that each person may have. So in a global environment, you must learn to appreciate that reasonable people can and do differ from each other. And this is where RESPECT comes in. The need to understand why people react that way, or need to analyze where they're coming from during a discussion, what is their purpose or intent. You should not ignore the differences among team members, business partners, stakeholders or colleagues. This also comes with the opportunity that you can learn as much as you can from others. When the discussion goes haywire, this is also where you should focus on attacking the ISSUE/PROBLEM, not the person. Not the differences between the 2 of you.

3) Trust Each Other. In everything that we do here in the company, always keep in mind that there is good intent in what is being done. Being in a company where DOING THE RIGHT THING is a key value, you should always have that assurance that everyone you're working with has the best of intentions. Even if it seems that at first it may go against the original purpose/goal/objective. That is why seeking to understand is very important plus Trust. Don't keep it under the rug if you don't feel comfortable and there are apparent conflicts of interests. Trust your teammates- being a leader, you should be the first one to do so. Do not wait for them to give their trust first because they are just following your lead.

4) Lead by Example. When people see you are effective in collaborating with colleagues, business partners or what have you, they will emulate and look up to you as their motivation to practice this skill. If you need to get your hands dirty in solving an issue, you yourself need to exhibit the characteristics of being a good collaborator. You will be the go to person for them in times when they have difficulties dealing with business partners or colleagues. And it translates to a WIN - WIN solution for both of you.

5) Reward and Recognize. Being team leaders, you should be able to ensure you have time to recognize and reward the efforts of your team members who have shown collaboration- this would result to sustaining the good practice of collaboration. Praise individual effort and allow this motivate the whole team. After all who doesn't want to be recognized?
As a fitting end, a collaborative environment is essential for the team's success. This is very essential in bringing together the team and allowing them to feel that it is very motivating to work in your team because they see that collaboration is not just a simple leadership attribute that's being measured or considered every year in their development plan . It is something tangible, something that they can bring and leverage as they go and build their careers. With that, I leave you with another quote from Vince Lombardi : Individual commitment to a group effort—that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.

Putting On Your Pants One Leg at a Time

I read this in an ad of a book which had this title (Put on Your Pants One Leg at a Time) and it was a book related to stress management. I thought long and hard about my 10 years in P&G--- I did have a lot of experiences when I tried "putting on my pants in one go" and ended up "having no pants at all" or in short, burnt out. :D So I began to trace back my life from now back to when I started- year 2000...and what are the lessons I learned. Here it goes...

1) Be thankful of everything that you already have. Sometimes, we focus on what we WANT that we don't appreciate anymore the things that are in front of us. Many times, we take for granted the blessings that He has given us.

2) There's always someone who can help you. Pride sometimes gets in the way...but there will always come a time that you will need to seek help from someone. Maybe via a form of coaching, or knowledge sharing, etc. It's not a sign of weakness if you reach out for help.

3) One day at a time. I used to think I can rush through the calendar to get to where I want to be...but it isn't so. Sometimes, you really need to stop from all the stress, take a step back, and unwind. Worrying won't get you anywhere but back to the problem. 

4) Never take everything personally. When you're angry or feeling down, you won't be able to see the BIGGER PICTURE. What is the Bigger Picture? Is this a myth? No-- it isn't an excuse for you not to feel bad. If you need to feel that way, give yourself a day to wallow in that awful state, cry out, shout, rant. But after that day, move on. Because this is just one piece in that big web that God is weaving in your life. After all the pain, and you've moved on and attained your goals, when you look back, you'd laugh at why you even cried in the first place. It was a stepping stone to success. It made your success feel a lot MORE fulfilling because you felt the pain, and you felt S-U-C-C-E-S-S in every sense of the word. 

5) If everything else fails, pray. I always felt God gives us challenges because He wants to give us a reminder that He is there. That you have forgotten to pray and ask for His help.

6) Love yourself. I used to "abuse" myself by pushing myself too much, wanting to do everything that comes my way. In the process, I forgot I am only human. That I needed rest, that there's a limit to what I should be doing. Loving yourself can include giving yourself a break by exercising, or learning new skills, etc. 

These are just some points at the top of my head as of the moment...I would love to have a part 2 but for now, I'll definitely take time putting on my pants ONE LEG AT A TIME.