Last week I told you about how Angela, a news anchorwoman in Hong Kong, faced a no-win situation.
Her boss wanted her to charge companies hefty ad fees for featuring the companies on her TV show. That appeared to be a highly unethical move for a top journalist such as Angela. Should she draw the line (and risk killing her meteoric career) or should she kow tow to the boss (and kill her credibility)?
Amazingly enough, Angela did neither. She proposed that companies featured on her current show would be asked to provide sponsorship for the next company that would appear next. She came out with a win-win-win solution.
Her boss was pleased with the additional revenues; Angela was given a free hand to uphold journalistic integrity; and the companies were motivated to ensure their hefty sponsorship dollars were spent on deserving companies -- which created a virtuous spiral.
Brilliant, huh?
Leadership gurus such as Roger Martin, author of the Opposable Mind, offer decision-making tools to help us raise our thinking to a higher level. Roger's power tip: "Whenever you face a decision between two options, don't think that your job is to choose; think that your job is to create a better option."
But here's the thing. Angela didn't know about Roger Martin's work. She didn't turn to McKinsey or BCG either.
And Angela insists that she didn't use her wits. In fact, she was at wits' end. She had really wanted to quit.
So what did Angela do -- when pushed to sheer desperation, and forced to make an important decision?
She prayed. That is the singular and most important thing she did throughout her crisis, as Angela tells me. She is completely unapologetic about it.
Most people I know divorce religion from work. But in my research on extraordinary leaders in Malaysia, I've discovered that most extraordinary leaders possess a deep faith in God -- and they bring their faith to work. Here are three examples:
a) Idris Jala, who successfully turned around a failing airline, told McKinsey in an interview that one of his six leadership principles is a deep belief in divine intervention. Idris' principle, stated simply, says that we are not in control of life. Only God is in control. So we'd better pray!
b) Tan Sri Jemilah Mahmood, the founder of MERCY Malaysia, told me that prayer connects her with God and deepens her awareness of God's love. This awareness, that she is deeply held by God, has sustained her in her dangerous work of saving lives in Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Aceh and North Korea.
c) Phua Seng Tiong, a former Tokoh Guru and Pengetua Cemerlang, told me that he prays every time he talks to a student or a teacher. He attributes prayer and his relationship with God as the secret to his success in transforming bottom-ranked SMK Jinjang high school into an academic powerhouse.
So what did Angela pray about -- and what are some tips we can learn from her on how to seek divine intervention?
1. Pray for your people. In the midst of the crisis, Angela continued praying for her TV viewers, her staff, and even her boss. Angela had a deep trust that God loves and cares for His people.
2. Turn to the Sacred Texts for inspiration. Angela, who's a Christian, read her Bible an hour everyday before being plunged into the crazy vortex of work. Meditating on the Bible anchored her. Everyday, she's reminded that she's safe in God's care.
3. Ask God for help. Specifically, Angela asked for God's Spirit to raise her spirit to a higher level. Her prayer protected her from self-pity, misery and anger -- especially toward her abrasive boss. Instead of discouragement, she focused on courage.
4. Keep on going. Praying isn't passive. Angela persisted in using her wits to find solutions and persuade clients to give sponsorships and encourage her staff. She didn't do nothing because God was doing everything. Instead she saw herself as God's active coworker and partner.
Here's one of her prayers to Lord Jesus Christ which she shared with me: "Lord, thank you for letting me know that I am your child -- a child of God. I'm sorry that I complain and felt like giving in to pressure and wanting to quit. In my weakness you show me your strength. I dare not think of anything profound or lofty. I am like a weaned child in a mother's arms -- no panic and anxiety. Through these challenges, you have led me into close encounter with you."
Are you struck by how Angela, who dare not think of anything profound or lofty, ended up coming up with a brilliant business decision?
Do you believe prayer really makes a difference in how she leads her life and leads others?
One thing i know: I am simply amazed by how this highly successful news anchor -- who has thrived in Hong Kong's dog-eat-dog media world -- finds herself so utterly dependent on divine providence. Angela's a rare gem!
Monday 20 June 2011
Thursday 16 June 2011
In a do-or-die situation with your boss, what should you do?
Angela, a former beauty queen and anchorwoman, was in a terrible fix. Should see obey her boss or stand up against him?
Click here to learn more about Angela's dilemma before you read on.
Quick recap. Angela's boss, the company chairman, has demanded Angela to charge companies top advertising dollars whenever she interviews the CEOs who appear as guests on her TV show. The ad dollars would turn her program into a revenue generating machine. The media company would be back in the black. And Angela's division would get a huge bonus which she can parcel out as she wishes (wink-wink).
Should Angela fight for journalistic ethics (and kill her career) or should she charge her guests ad dollars (and kill her credibility)?
Three days later, Angela bolted straight up in bed. Lightbulb moment! She realized she could do both.
Next morning, she marched up to the chairman's office.
"Let's ask the CEOs of each company to sponsor the next company that would be featured on my show," she said. "This way, the companies wouldn't be paying ad money to appear. And I am still free to choose which company I want to interview regardless of whether they pay for ads. We can create a virtuous cycle for making money."
That aroused the curiosity of her boss, who cared only for the bottom line. "Please explain," he said.
"Imagine you're CEO of a steel factory. You'd feel insulted if I were to ask you to pay advertising dollars just to appear on my show. Whereas you'd be delighted to come to my show if I invited you to talk about, say, corporate excellence in the steel industry. And you'd be even more flattered if you learned that a previous company has offered to sponsor the cost of your appearance on this show," Angela explained.
Then Angela would explain that one condition for appearing on her show would be for the CEO to sponsor the next company. Bing bada boom.
When Angela told me her solution over dinner, I was blown away. It was brilliant. Angela was now free to choose the best companies to appear on her show because the previous guest-CEOs would want to ensure that their sponsorship dollars were spent on deserving companies.
Roger Martin, a leadership professor, says that integrative leaders "have the predisposition and the capacity to hold in their heads two opposing ideas at once. And then, without panicking or simply settling for one alternative or the other, they're able to creatively resolve the tension between those two ideas by generating a new one that contains elements of the others but is superior to both."
Angela is an integrative thinker. Are you? Do share with me any personal examples or stories of how people were able to solve a no-win issue through integrative thinking.
And come back tomorrow to learn five great tips from Angela on how she took her soul to work during this crisis.
Click here to learn more about Angela's dilemma before you read on.
Quick recap. Angela's boss, the company chairman, has demanded Angela to charge companies top advertising dollars whenever she interviews the CEOs who appear as guests on her TV show. The ad dollars would turn her program into a revenue generating machine. The media company would be back in the black. And Angela's division would get a huge bonus which she can parcel out as she wishes (wink-wink).
Should Angela fight for journalistic ethics (and kill her career) or should she charge her guests ad dollars (and kill her credibility)?
Three days later, Angela bolted straight up in bed. Lightbulb moment! She realized she could do both.
Next morning, she marched up to the chairman's office.
"Let's ask the CEOs of each company to sponsor the next company that would be featured on my show," she said. "This way, the companies wouldn't be paying ad money to appear. And I am still free to choose which company I want to interview regardless of whether they pay for ads. We can create a virtuous cycle for making money."
That aroused the curiosity of her boss, who cared only for the bottom line. "Please explain," he said.
"Imagine you're CEO of a steel factory. You'd feel insulted if I were to ask you to pay advertising dollars just to appear on my show. Whereas you'd be delighted to come to my show if I invited you to talk about, say, corporate excellence in the steel industry. And you'd be even more flattered if you learned that a previous company has offered to sponsor the cost of your appearance on this show," Angela explained.
Then Angela would explain that one condition for appearing on her show would be for the CEO to sponsor the next company. Bing bada boom.
When Angela told me her solution over dinner, I was blown away. It was brilliant. Angela was now free to choose the best companies to appear on her show because the previous guest-CEOs would want to ensure that their sponsorship dollars were spent on deserving companies.
Roger Martin, a leadership professor, says that integrative leaders "have the predisposition and the capacity to hold in their heads two opposing ideas at once. And then, without panicking or simply settling for one alternative or the other, they're able to creatively resolve the tension between those two ideas by generating a new one that contains elements of the others but is superior to both."
Angela is an integrative thinker. Are you? Do share with me any personal examples or stories of how people were able to solve a no-win issue through integrative thinking.
And come back tomorrow to learn five great tips from Angela on how she took her soul to work during this crisis.
Wednesday 15 June 2011
Do I stand up and defy my boss or do I keel over and die?
Last week, my wife and I had dinner with a TV anchorwoman from Hong Kong. Let's call her Angela.
Angela trained in journalism at one of the top J-schools in the US. Her fierce ambition led her to win a HK beauty pageant, work at CNN and she eventually landed a plum job as anchor and lead reporter of a widely-watched weekly financial show -- which featured CEOs from Hong Kong and China.
Then came the phone call.
"I've been eyeing you," the company chairman said. "I'm putting you in charge of marketing, production and editorial. Plus, you can still anchor that show. And I'm giving you a raise, of couse."
Angela was blown away by the extraordinary favor. The chairman from China had just taken over the top spot. It was almost too good to be true. And it was.
"The company's been bleeding money for years," he growled. "When you host your show, I want you to charge the companies advertising fees for appearing on your show. If four CEOs show up in your show, you'll be making big bucks. You'll save the company. And your division will get a huge bonus -- it's up to you how to distribute it. What do you think?"
That night Angela couldn't sleep. It was simply appalling that the chairman was trying to destroy journalistic integrity. He was basically enlisting her to destroy the invisible wall between editorial and advertising. All the credibility and viewer trust would be gone -- in a second. No right-minded journalist would allow this to happen on her watch!
At the same time, Angela felt the chairman had a point. Media companies in Hong Kong were all bleeding. If nothing was done she'd be out of a job one day. It was a slow and inevitable death. And why should prissy journalists stand above the fray of hard choices in business?
Angela felt trapped between a rock and a hard place. She considered her responses:
a) Quit. After all she's not hard up for money. And yet she felt called to her job - to make a difference in her viewers' lives by providing sound financial advice
b) Give in. It's only a job. And she would be given so much power that she could make a difference in other ways. What's so bad about asking companies to pay to appear on TV?
c) Protest and hope for the best. Boy, she wanted to do that real bad. But that would just offend the chairman. Plus she had no other better alternative. So how?
What would you do?
I'll tell you more about Angela's response in the next post.
Angela trained in journalism at one of the top J-schools in the US. Her fierce ambition led her to win a HK beauty pageant, work at CNN and she eventually landed a plum job as anchor and lead reporter of a widely-watched weekly financial show -- which featured CEOs from Hong Kong and China.
Then came the phone call.
"I've been eyeing you," the company chairman said. "I'm putting you in charge of marketing, production and editorial. Plus, you can still anchor that show. And I'm giving you a raise, of couse."
Angela was blown away by the extraordinary favor. The chairman from China had just taken over the top spot. It was almost too good to be true. And it was.
"The company's been bleeding money for years," he growled. "When you host your show, I want you to charge the companies advertising fees for appearing on your show. If four CEOs show up in your show, you'll be making big bucks. You'll save the company. And your division will get a huge bonus -- it's up to you how to distribute it. What do you think?"
That night Angela couldn't sleep. It was simply appalling that the chairman was trying to destroy journalistic integrity. He was basically enlisting her to destroy the invisible wall between editorial and advertising. All the credibility and viewer trust would be gone -- in a second. No right-minded journalist would allow this to happen on her watch!
At the same time, Angela felt the chairman had a point. Media companies in Hong Kong were all bleeding. If nothing was done she'd be out of a job one day. It was a slow and inevitable death. And why should prissy journalists stand above the fray of hard choices in business?
Angela felt trapped between a rock and a hard place. She considered her responses:
a) Quit. After all she's not hard up for money. And yet she felt called to her job - to make a difference in her viewers' lives by providing sound financial advice
b) Give in. It's only a job. And she would be given so much power that she could make a difference in other ways. What's so bad about asking companies to pay to appear on TV?
c) Protest and hope for the best. Boy, she wanted to do that real bad. But that would just offend the chairman. Plus she had no other better alternative. So how?
What would you do?
I'll tell you more about Angela's response in the next post.
Sunday 12 June 2011
Should I drink three glasses of water before buying a house?
Pop quiz. You are about to buy a house. Will you make a better decision on an empty or full bladder?
While you're busy figuring that one out, here are five latest scientific insights on how you make decisions:
1. Your ability to make decisions is is a muscle. It can be worn out from over use.
2. When you lack sleep, you become too optimistic while making decisions.
3. What you touch with your hands at that moment will affect how you make decisions.
4. Trivial things have a huge influence on how you make decisions.
5. You aren't really self-aware while making decisions. You're just good at rationalizing decisions that have been made.
Read more at Intelligent Life.
You may not agree with everything said in it -- I don't either -- but it's fascinating.
p.s. Scientists say you make better decisions when your bladder is ... full. OK, please excuse me while I go drink my third glass of water.
While you're busy figuring that one out, here are five latest scientific insights on how you make decisions:
1. Your ability to make decisions is is a muscle. It can be worn out from over use.
2. When you lack sleep, you become too optimistic while making decisions.
3. What you touch with your hands at that moment will affect how you make decisions.
4. Trivial things have a huge influence on how you make decisions.
5. You aren't really self-aware while making decisions. You're just good at rationalizing decisions that have been made.
Read more at Intelligent Life.
You may not agree with everything said in it -- I don't either -- but it's fascinating.
p.s. Scientists say you make better decisions when your bladder is ... full. OK, please excuse me while I go drink my third glass of water.
Thursday 9 June 2011
The mystery of Gandhi's lost sandal
One day, Gandhi ran to catch a train. As he clambered aboard the last coach, he noticed he was wearing only one sandal. The other sandal had been left behind on the platform. The train was gathering speed.
If you were Gandhi, what would you do? Think of answer before reading on.
I’ve told this story to hundreds of people. People usually respond in one of three ways:
a) The risk takers try to retrieve the sandal. "I've got to get my sandal back!"
b) The risk averse resign themselves to getting a new pair. "Oh well. That's life."
c) Other people are paralyzed. They're still thinking of what to do hours later.
Everyday, we face mini-dilemmas like Gandhi's lost sandal. Should I reply to the email or should I wait? Do I shout back or do I keep quiet? Do I do this or that? Quite often, we respond in one of those three ways.
Is there a better way to respond? And what did Gandhi do?
He threw his other sandal on the platform.
In that simple action, Gandhi demonstrated his extraordinary ability to think on his, errr, feet.
So when we face mini-dilemmas, here are three great tips on how to think like Gandhi:
1. Think practical. Don't philosophize. The train is leaving. So use your common sense.
2. Think speed. Gandhi demonstrated phenomenal speed to the point of intuition. This takes a lifetime of practice.
3. Think greater good. Make a decision that benefits more people, rather than just yourself.
What else struck you about Gandhi's extraordinary little gesture? Write your comments below.
If you were Gandhi, what would you do? Think of answer before reading on.
I’ve told this story to hundreds of people. People usually respond in one of three ways:
a) The risk takers try to retrieve the sandal. "I've got to get my sandal back!"
b) The risk averse resign themselves to getting a new pair. "Oh well. That's life."
c) Other people are paralyzed. They're still thinking of what to do hours later.
Everyday, we face mini-dilemmas like Gandhi's lost sandal. Should I reply to the email or should I wait? Do I shout back or do I keep quiet? Do I do this or that? Quite often, we respond in one of those three ways.
Is there a better way to respond? And what did Gandhi do?
He threw his other sandal on the platform.
In that simple action, Gandhi demonstrated his extraordinary ability to think on his, errr, feet.
So when we face mini-dilemmas, here are three great tips on how to think like Gandhi:
1. Think practical. Don't philosophize. The train is leaving. So use your common sense.
2. Think speed. Gandhi demonstrated phenomenal speed to the point of intuition. This takes a lifetime of practice.
3. Think greater good. Make a decision that benefits more people, rather than just yourself.
What else struck you about Gandhi's extraordinary little gesture? Write your comments below.
Wednesday 8 June 2011
What would you do if you lost your shoe? What would Gandhi do?
One day, Gandhi ran to catch a train. As he clambered aboard the last coach, he noticed he was wearing only one sandal. The other sandal had been left behind on the platform. The train was gathering speed. If you were Gandhi, what would you do?
Pause for a moment here to quickly consider your next course of action.
Would you run after the lost sandal ... and risk being left behind by the train? Or would you remain where you are and resign yourself to buying a new pair?
Or would you think of other solutions ... but what is it? (Be quick. The train's not going to wait for you to come up with the perfect solution. Hurry.)
Come back in two days' time to learn what Gandhi did.
Pause for a moment here to quickly consider your next course of action.
Would you run after the lost sandal ... and risk being left behind by the train? Or would you remain where you are and resign yourself to buying a new pair?
Or would you think of other solutions ... but what is it? (Be quick. The train's not going to wait for you to come up with the perfect solution. Hurry.)
Come back in two days' time to learn what Gandhi did.
Thursday 2 June 2011
Five lessons on how to work with love
1. Do what you love... and don't settle for less. Don't just work for money or survival. Find something you love doing. When you do what you love, you'll be so fired up by it that you'll be an extraordinary contribution no matter where you go. To work at Pixar, you have to love telling stories. What do you love doing at your current job?
2. Love what you do... while you look for what you love doing. There's no ideal job. Every job has a certain percentage of shit-shoveling. So, in the words of Mother Teresa, do small things with great love. Pour your love and heart out on humble tasks - like washing dishes, doing the laundry, writing that memo for your boss.
3. Tell someone at work: "I love you." Okay, wait! Before you do this... If you think you'll be sued or hauled before the Risk Management Committee, try this instead. From the bottom of your heart, tell a colleague, "I value your friendship." Or declare to your coworker at the completion of a project, "Dude, you're fabulous." And watch their faces light up.
4. Always respond with love. Love is not merely about romance. Love is tough. "Love," says 1st century philosopher Paul of Tarsus, "never gives up, always trusts, always hopes, and always endures." Key word: always. So make a decision today that you will never betray, manipulate or write anyone off. Remember this decision when you face bad bosses or backstabbing colleagues.
5. Accept being loved. Last week, I met my mentor and co-author, Paul Stevens. He'd flown from Canada to Singapore, and from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, just to see me and my wife. For one day. And he insisted on paying for lunch. And he hugged us when we said goodbye. "I love you," he said. I felt deeply accepted. Paul's powerful words of affirmation made me strong and gave me courage to keep on writing.
2. Love what you do... while you look for what you love doing. There's no ideal job. Every job has a certain percentage of shit-shoveling. So, in the words of Mother Teresa, do small things with great love. Pour your love and heart out on humble tasks - like washing dishes, doing the laundry, writing that memo for your boss.
3. Tell someone at work: "I love you." Okay, wait! Before you do this... If you think you'll be sued or hauled before the Risk Management Committee, try this instead. From the bottom of your heart, tell a colleague, "I value your friendship." Or declare to your coworker at the completion of a project, "Dude, you're fabulous." And watch their faces light up.
4. Always respond with love. Love is not merely about romance. Love is tough. "Love," says 1st century philosopher Paul of Tarsus, "never gives up, always trusts, always hopes, and always endures." Key word: always. So make a decision today that you will never betray, manipulate or write anyone off. Remember this decision when you face bad bosses or backstabbing colleagues.
5. Accept being loved. Last week, I met my mentor and co-author, Paul Stevens. He'd flown from Canada to Singapore, and from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, just to see me and my wife. For one day. And he insisted on paying for lunch. And he hugged us when we said goodbye. "I love you," he said. I felt deeply accepted. Paul's powerful words of affirmation made me strong and gave me courage to keep on writing.
Wednesday 1 June 2011
How Love Transformed Pixar into a Seven-Billion Dollar Company
"What has love got to do with work?" Hansen, the TV host, asked me during The Breakfast Show televised live yesterday. "How can love exist in a dog-eat-dog world?"
If we had more time on the show, I'd have told Hansen about how love thrives at Pixar.
Unless you live under a coconut husk, you'll know that Pixar is the world's greatest animation company, maybe the world's greatest company, period. They've produced hits such as Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Wall-E, Cars and Ratatouille (my favorite). In 1986 it was valued at US$10 million. Twenty years later, Disney bought Pixar for US$7.4 billion.
John Lasseter is the founder-CEO. Here's how he congratulated his young and talented staff for completing Cars 2: "You're the most talented group of animators I've ever worked with. You guys are remarkable and I'm so thankful you're here at Pixar. Thank you for one of the greatest experiences in my life and I love you all..."
You guys are remarkable. And I love you all. Wouldn't you want to work for John? I would. I would give my all for John.
John genuinely liked his staff. He has deep affection for them. He meant his words from the bottom of his heart. John's love for his work, and his love for his people, has made Pixar into a world-class company that produces the best movies -- which, when you think about it, is all about how love triumphs over adversity.
Love has everything to do with work. If you work with love -- for God and for others -- you will thrive. Like Pixar.
If we had more time on the show, I'd have told Hansen about how love thrives at Pixar.
Unless you live under a coconut husk, you'll know that Pixar is the world's greatest animation company, maybe the world's greatest company, period. They've produced hits such as Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Wall-E, Cars and Ratatouille (my favorite). In 1986 it was valued at US$10 million. Twenty years later, Disney bought Pixar for US$7.4 billion.
John Lasseter is the founder-CEO. Here's how he congratulated his young and talented staff for completing Cars 2: "You're the most talented group of animators I've ever worked with. You guys are remarkable and I'm so thankful you're here at Pixar. Thank you for one of the greatest experiences in my life and I love you all..."
You guys are remarkable. And I love you all. Wouldn't you want to work for John? I would. I would give my all for John.
John genuinely liked his staff. He has deep affection for them. He meant his words from the bottom of his heart. John's love for his work, and his love for his people, has made Pixar into a world-class company that produces the best movies -- which, when you think about it, is all about how love triumphs over adversity.
Love has everything to do with work. If you work with love -- for God and for others -- you will thrive. Like Pixar.
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