employee engagement & retention

I was reading an article by Roshan Thiran. You can read his article here. He shared that for an employee to be truly engaged with his work; one would need to consider 4 different aspects of his job and they are:-

drum rolls...
1. Purpose
2. Learning
3. Money
4. Fun

Case study 1 - Swiss Re internship, Hong Kong
1. Purpose
I truly enjoyed a sharing session by one of the business experts on how Swiss Re CSR initiatives are linked to its strategy. It got me thinking that the stuffs that Swiss Re does is more than just making $$, it's about making a difference. Only wished that I could have learned more about it.

2. Learning
Honestly, I was learning so much! The exposure to the latest technology and how a global organization works was truly an amazing learning experience. The really cool part is that even interns are trusted with many responsibilities. My managers are always open to listen to ideas, and encourages innovation.

3. Money
The salary was pretty okie, compared to other interns working in other organisations. I had enough to eat, a room to sleep, and had fun at outings! It's an internship, so my expectations are met :)

4. Fun
Of course it was FUN! I was working together with other interns; young people who I learn from as well. It was fun as I get to lead and manage regional projects!!! How cool is that?! :D


Case study 2 - MC CEED, AIESEC in Hong Kong
1. Purpose
Well, there is no doubt that I'm truly engaged with the higher purpose! I decided to do a CEED instead of extending my internship, or working full time in Switzerland. That just shows how much I truly believe in the higher purpose.

2. Learning
Definetely! I've learned so much about myself. And I'm constantly being supported by my peers in making my ceedership a great one ;) Learned a lot from the locals and internationals I'm working with.

3. Money
Sadly, the organisation doesn't have the capacity to pay a minimum salary. But because of the other factors, I felt that this was not a super big deciding factor. However, I wished that if only AIESEC would be able to pay competitively, then more of our members would work full time :)

4. Fun
Never ending!!! It was always fun! I can hardly remember the times that it wasn't fun. Hmm... only tasks that I didn't quite like; but then again it helped me realized what I would want to do in my career.


Case study 3 - current workplace
1. Purpose
I've got no clue! Honestly, no clue after 2 years! Been trying to find out, but haven't found it yet :(

2. Learning
Yup, been learning quite a lot. Especially when I get on projects. The learning curve is very steep indeed. And I get to learn different stuffs all the time. Got access to a really cool learning portal ;)

3. Money
Well, my friends are saying that I'm getting paid more than them. I would say that the amount of time & effort that I've put in, it ain't comparable.

4. Fun
Well, not much :( There might be sometimes, but hardly.


So the question is, where can I find an organisation which offers all 4?? I'm still searching for it! If you have any clue, please do share with me :)

found the facilitators network!

I'm so excited! I just can't hide it :P

I found out that there is a Malaysia Facilitators Network! Cool ah? Never thought that it even existed. Why? Cause only recently, a group have started the processes of setting up the Malaysia Facilitators Association, My FA :)

There was a 1-day training on building our facilitation toolkit. And the main session is on World Cafe! I mean seriously, how many people at my workplace have even heard about this. And it was way way way cool to learn it from an experienced facilitator with her exposure and experience in this art of hosting.

So, I decided to attend this training. And it was good decision though I had to sacrifice my Saturday morning sleep in. I met so many awesome facilitators!!! People who were passionate about facilitating, and have so much exposure & practice. Art of hosting such as World Cafe, Appreciative Inquiry & Open Space Technology are common terms used. Honestly, no one I've met before today's training have even heard of these terms before. Or even if they did, it's very basic understanding. I felt alive, so alive that finally I'm connected with people who share the same passion & interest :)

And what more, I finally met a graphic facilitator! She shared with me tips on getting started, and even showed me her toolkit :) It's just amazing when we started chatting about harvesting conversation through graphic facilitation. I'm definetely getting my own toolkit soon, and start practicing this art.

Also, some shared their experience attending the recent International Association of Facilitators (IAF) conferences in Europe & Taiwan! WOW!!! I didn't even knew that it existed! And it made me wanting to register for the next IAF in Korea next year :D Just imagine, one could learn so much from others at this conference.

And I also found out about the IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator. What made it cool was that there is a list of core competencies for facilitators in which one would be assessed to be a certified facilitator! Am thinking, I should be working towards obtaining this certification.

Wah!!! I'm crazily high right now :) Would definetely take part in the next training, and possibly get more involved with this network of facilitators.

battery & solar panel

"Introverts are like a rechargeable battery. They need to stop expending energy and rest in order to recharge. Extroverts are like solar panels that need the sun to recharge. Extroverts need to be out and about to refuel."
~Marti Olsen Laney

enjoyable ris sunday

After getting off a client project, I finally got a team together to run Reintegration Seminar aka RIS. It has been almost 5 months after OPS, and close to 2 months that all OPS delegates were back from their 2 months international internship. It has been really good to read their blogs, and browse through their photos of their life changing experiences :)

We did talked about RIS at OPS; but I wouldn't imagine that we did it! It seems that all the delegates are still in euphoria, which is good; and have not gone to reverse culture shock yet. Or even they did, it was just a minor one. I remember mine was really really really bad! And I would say that it took me about 2 years to recover and move on. I guess that when you compare living abroad for 2 months and a year - that makes the difference!

It was really exciting to meet most of the OPS delegates at RIS again ;) It feels like it was a group of friends meeting after we've parted ways for some time. I'm of course happy that everyone remembered everyone else by name; as we've form this little collective of our own - connected because of our exchange experience.

I'm delighted to listen to all their stories. You can really feel their excitement when they're sharing. It felt the same when I just came back from my work abroad experience. It has been great training & meeting all OPS & RIS delegates. Thanks for the opportunity and an enjoyable Sunday ;)

do what you are

Am at a crossroad again. I lose my way, I find my way, I go with it, and I lose it again ;) However, each time I get lost - the way becomes clearer when I manage to find it again ;D

"Do What You Are" - good book based on type ;) It covers personality type, temperament & cognitive processes in brief! It's like a summary if you don't want to go into too much details. And reading it has somewhat helped me find my way again. I can relate very much to the 3 INFP stories, and how these 3 individuals had an opportunity to use their dominant, auxiliary and tertiary functions at work naturally!

I love the list of popular occupations by category (creative/arts, education/counseling, religion, health care, organizational development, and technology) for my type. When I cross check it with my Harrison Assessment Career Guide report - the results are 99% similar! That's somehow a relief knowing that 2 different assessments are pointing to the same direction ;)

Now is to go through a reflection process in creating my personal career plan - there's even a chapter in the book to help me with that! ;)

enthusiasm

"Enthusiastic people are the ones who actually get things done in this world. Enthusiasm is what turns any idea into reality. And enthusiasm is linked closely with happiness. "
— Roy Sheppard

2 years after my Hong Kong adventure

It's exactly 2 years since I left Hong Kong! I still do miss the whole experience very much ;)

new seven wonders of the world

My new seven wonders of the world checklist:
- Great Wall of China, China
- Petra, Jordan
- Christ the Redeemer, Brazil
- Machu Picchu, Peru
- Chichen Itza, Mexico
- Roman Colosseum, Italy
- Taj Mahal, India (done! 2005)


The other Official New 7 Wonders of the World Finalists, which were nominated from hundreds of sites around the world:
- The Acropolis, Greece
- Alhambra, Spain
- Angkor, Cambodia
- Statues of Easter Island, Chile
- Eiffel Tower, France
- Hagia Sophia, Turkey
- Kiyomizu Temple, Japan
- Kremlin/St. Basil, Russia
- Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
- Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
- Statue of Liberty, USA
- Stonehenge, United Kingdom


Source: http://www.new7wonders.com/classic/en/n7w/results/

So far, I've only been to the Taj Mahal in 2005. Hmm... would have to start planning trips to these places ;) Anyone interested?

conferences, seminars & workshops - 2008 till mid 2009

Seminars that I've been involved so far in 2009:
- TUC's Local Leadership Development Seminar (faci)
- Outgoing Preparation Seminar (agenda manager & faci)


Conferences, seminars & workshops to be done (tentative) in 2009:
- Reintegration Seminar (agenda manager & faci)
- Psychological Type (faci)
- Train the Advanced Trainer (agenda manager & faci)


Conferences, seminars & workshops I was part of in 2008:
- Winter National Conference, Hong Kong (chair)
- TUC's Local Leadership Development Seminar (faci)
- Future Lies in You conference (faci)
- Product Development workshop (agenda manager & faci)
- Train the Facilitator workshop (agenda manager & faci)
- Train the Trainer (agenda manager & faci)


Can't believe that I've been involved in so many conferences, seminars & workshops ;) and I'm lovin it so far! My way of giving back...

education in psychology

During the past month, I had quite a lot of conversations with Cheng about enrolling for a masters in psychology. I've always wanted to enroll in the masters of applied positive psychology at Pennsylvania University; but knowing that it'll be some years in the future for me to afford it. The area of positive psychology which I'm most interested in is "strengths".

There are only 3 universities in the world which offers masters in applied positive psychology. Pennsylvania University (Penn) which I've mentioned, Claremont Graduate University (CGU) and a UK university. CGU offers subject in FLOW & Appreciative Inquiry by the authors themselves ;D I've read FLOW & Appreciative Inquiry and find it really interesting. Only downside to studying at CGU is that I would need to take so many credits in statistics; which I'm not that interested in now. At Penn, I get to study character strengths and virtues which I'm really interested. Also, I've read Authentic Happiness and trying get my hands on "Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification" which is written by one of the professors leading in the area of strengths psychology. And best of all, no statistics subjects! The UK uni which offers the masters program doesn't seem to appeal to me.

Anyhow, would be a dream to study at Penn ;D