Program words of wisdom:-
Always think twice before you say something, because sometimes accident do happen.
One of the company I had worked with did a personally evaluation on Introvert and Extrovert. Briefly, Introvert are rather careful of their actions and took some seconds to process their thoughts before speaking out. Extrovert, on the other hand,are more daring and shoots out immediately what they wants to say. Company having many customers does not share one customer's information to the other and would prefer Introvert to manage confidentiality when dealing with other client.
My jaw drops when a brave extrovert executive says, "we had proven capable of giving 15% discount to one customer Z so this should not be a problem". FYI, customer B usually give 3~5% annual discount was equally surprised.
Here's another joke.
There were these 4 guys --- Mr. Russian, Mr. German, Mr. Kkkkkkkk (not to offend any nationality & Mr. French, who together found this small genie bottle. When they rubbed the bottle, a genie appeared.
Thankful that the 4 guys had released him out of the bottle, he said : " Next to you all are 4 swimming pools, I will give each of you a wish. When you run towards the pool and jump, you shout what you want the pool of water to become, then your wish will come true. "
Mr. French wanted to start. He ran towards the pool, jumped and shouted : " Wine ! " The pool immediately changed into a pool of wine. Mr. Frenchman was very happy, swimming and drinking from the pool.
Next is the Mr. Russian's turn. He did the same and shouted : " Vodka ! " and immersed himself into a pool of vodka.
The Mr. German was next and he jumped and shouted : " Beer ! " He was likewise very contented with his beer-filled pool.
The last is the Kkkkkk (not to offend any nationality). He was running towards the pool when suddenly he steps on a banana peel. He slipped towards the pool and shouted, " Shit !!!!!!!........."
Kacak5 Management
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Monday, 16 November 2009
Project a confident image
Program words of wisdom:-
"Self confidence is the requisite to great undertakings."
We do know most of the works done by the Program Management team in the Electronics Manufacturing Services environment are to service the existing client. I do emphasise it further as to grow the business with positive referrals instead. We have to project a positive confident professional image regardless if there are some screw-up happening to indicate we are still in control of the storm.
Successful people are usually people with confident to spurs them on despite the obstacles before them. Here are the 5 tips
1. Be positive
Believe in your abilities and talent to do anything you want and engage in positive talk. Start with a positive attitude daily like assume . " today is going to be a great day for me. I am going to do my best."
2.Visualise success
Visualising the various successes you had achieved previously do motivate you to move on to the next level and gives the exhilaration victory. Just like a video game, even if you failed, the previous success factor will spurs you to find winning ways
3. Improve your image
The way you dress, posture, voice and body language speaks volumes.
Avoid vocalised pauses like "er", "um", "uh" or "well" , as these indicate you are not sure of the situation. Even qualifiers like, " maybe", " I can't". Avoid hidden nervous action like fiddling your pen or ring, arm crossing, and looking away from your client.
Dress appropriately adopting a relaxed posture & poise, walk tall, sit confidently do project you are in control. Eye contact do establishes confidence Sit in front or nearer to where the action is to participate by asking questions. When someone is speaking, lean forward, nod and smile indicating your interest and respect.
4. Prepare well for an event
When you are well prepare, you exude confidence with organised thoughts and could enthusiastically present clearly. Do your research ensuring your facts are right, rehearse the points and arguments using words and phrases familiar to you.
5. Leave your comfort zone
Offer your service to work on something new ensuring yourself, "I can succeed".
If you can have confidence in your self, you generate positive energy. great determination and drive within you helping you to face the challenges, overcome the odds, the hurdles, the hiccups and bumps. Your client will have great confidence knowing anything they provided is in proper control.
Kacak5 Management
"Self confidence is the requisite to great undertakings."
We do know most of the works done by the Program Management team in the Electronics Manufacturing Services environment are to service the existing client. I do emphasise it further as to grow the business with positive referrals instead. We have to project a positive confident professional image regardless if there are some screw-up happening to indicate we are still in control of the storm.
Successful people are usually people with confident to spurs them on despite the obstacles before them. Here are the 5 tips
1. Be positive
Believe in your abilities and talent to do anything you want and engage in positive talk. Start with a positive attitude daily like assume . " today is going to be a great day for me. I am going to do my best."
2.Visualise success
Visualising the various successes you had achieved previously do motivate you to move on to the next level and gives the exhilaration victory. Just like a video game, even if you failed, the previous success factor will spurs you to find winning ways
3. Improve your image
The way you dress, posture, voice and body language speaks volumes.
Avoid vocalised pauses like "er", "um", "uh" or "well" , as these indicate you are not sure of the situation. Even qualifiers like, " maybe", " I can't". Avoid hidden nervous action like fiddling your pen or ring, arm crossing, and looking away from your client.
Dress appropriately adopting a relaxed posture & poise, walk tall, sit confidently do project you are in control. Eye contact do establishes confidence Sit in front or nearer to where the action is to participate by asking questions. When someone is speaking, lean forward, nod and smile indicating your interest and respect.
4. Prepare well for an event
When you are well prepare, you exude confidence with organised thoughts and could enthusiastically present clearly. Do your research ensuring your facts are right, rehearse the points and arguments using words and phrases familiar to you.
5. Leave your comfort zone
Offer your service to work on something new ensuring yourself, "I can succeed".
If you can have confidence in your self, you generate positive energy. great determination and drive within you helping you to face the challenges, overcome the odds, the hurdles, the hiccups and bumps. Your client will have great confidence knowing anything they provided is in proper control.
Kacak5 Management
Friday, 13 November 2009
Never assume anything
Program words of wisdom:-
Never assume you knows everything without checking first
Standing in front of a shredder with a piece of paper in his hand, " Listen," said the CEO, " this is a very sensitive and important document, and my secretary has left. Can you make this thing work?"
"Certainly," said the young executive.
He turned the machine on, inserted the paper, and pressed the start button.
"Excellent, excellent! " said the CEO as his paper disappeared inside the shredder machine. " I just need one copy. "
MORAL OF THE STORY: NEVER, NEVER ASSUME THAT YOUR BOSS KNOWS EVERYTHING
Kacak5 Management
Never assume you knows everything without checking first
Standing in front of a shredder with a piece of paper in his hand, " Listen," said the CEO, " this is a very sensitive and important document, and my secretary has left. Can you make this thing work?"
"Certainly," said the young executive.
He turned the machine on, inserted the paper, and pressed the start button.
"Excellent, excellent! " said the CEO as his paper disappeared inside the shredder machine. " I just need one copy. "
MORAL OF THE STORY: NEVER, NEVER ASSUME THAT YOUR BOSS KNOWS EVERYTHING
Kacak5 Management
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
Convince your boss
Program words of wisdom:-
If Program’s Gantt Chart content is allowed to change freely the rate of change will exceed the rate of progress.
Program Management needs lots of senior management support and bosses and without it, we often rant and rave telling colleague negative stories. But think again, "did you present in a right way?" to sell your ideas more effectively to your boss?
1. Start off on a positive note
Bringing positive attitude will put your boss at ease to be receptive to your message. Check the "weather" for clues about your boss's mood. Even greeting him "Can I take up some of your time?" and listen to how he replies. Make an excuse to defer the meeting if the "weather" is not good.
2.Present facts and figures, not just opinions.
Opinion can easily be challenged while valid facts and figures will be tough to question. Being unprepared will make you look incompetent and unprofessional. A very high risk to decide to your favour.
3. Empathise with your boss
Imagine this scenario. Your boss receive news from HQ to drastically cut cost. You approach him and say "The old machine is slow while I had quotes for a new machine at US$200K". I am sure the approval is slim.
If you say, "We have confirm orders for 15K pcs for the next 5 months. The old machine is producing 5 pcs/ hour and running 24 hours x 7 days on overtime. The new machine costing US$200K is capable of 30 pcs/ hour on 7 hours x 5 days, without overtime, we will recover our cost of investment within 3 months or 10K pieces and it will be clean profits from there onwards." By providing facts and figures and emphasizing cost effectiveness, you are likely to get your boss approval as he could present the expenses logically.
4. Don't raise problems walkout possible solutions.
Aways have some possible solutions in mind when presenting a problem to your boss. Influence him into agreeing with a likely positive outcome to your solution. Say "Do you think we should.....?". If he says yes, it becomes his idea & you get the commitment, never mind it's your idea in the first place.
5. Get commitment by fixing specifics
Agreement without commitment are wasted efforts! Set your boss a date, time for next meeting, dateline to accomplish, or budget deadline. If it's a big project, make a gantt chart for commitment.
Remember to speak with confidence and conviction projecting yourself as a problem solver to your boss.
Kacak5 Management
If Program’s Gantt Chart content is allowed to change freely the rate of change will exceed the rate of progress.
Program Management needs lots of senior management support and bosses and without it, we often rant and rave telling colleague negative stories. But think again, "did you present in a right way?" to sell your ideas more effectively to your boss?
1. Start off on a positive note
Bringing positive attitude will put your boss at ease to be receptive to your message. Check the "weather" for clues about your boss's mood. Even greeting him "Can I take up some of your time?" and listen to how he replies. Make an excuse to defer the meeting if the "weather" is not good.
2.Present facts and figures, not just opinions.
Opinion can easily be challenged while valid facts and figures will be tough to question. Being unprepared will make you look incompetent and unprofessional. A very high risk to decide to your favour.
3. Empathise with your boss
Imagine this scenario. Your boss receive news from HQ to drastically cut cost. You approach him and say "The old machine is slow while I had quotes for a new machine at US$200K". I am sure the approval is slim.
If you say, "We have confirm orders for 15K pcs for the next 5 months. The old machine is producing 5 pcs/ hour and running 24 hours x 7 days on overtime. The new machine costing US$200K is capable of 30 pcs/ hour on 7 hours x 5 days, without overtime, we will recover our cost of investment within 3 months or 10K pieces and it will be clean profits from there onwards." By providing facts and figures and emphasizing cost effectiveness, you are likely to get your boss approval as he could present the expenses logically.
4. Don't raise problems walkout possible solutions.
Aways have some possible solutions in mind when presenting a problem to your boss. Influence him into agreeing with a likely positive outcome to your solution. Say "Do you think we should.....?". If he says yes, it becomes his idea & you get the commitment, never mind it's your idea in the first place.
5. Get commitment by fixing specifics
Agreement without commitment are wasted efforts! Set your boss a date, time for next meeting, dateline to accomplish, or budget deadline. If it's a big project, make a gantt chart for commitment.
Remember to speak with confidence and conviction projecting yourself as a problem solver to your boss.
Kacak5 Management
Monday, 9 November 2009
Perform better, sell more!
Program words of wisdom:-
Program’s right answers to wrong questions are just as wrong as Program’s wrong answers to right questions.
1. Impact
We learn faster if we are interested and curious about the subject matter. It help if employees are in the best environment to support learning when the mentors are well prepared and in sync. The impact of new material should have an emotional appeal that can be transferred into a new application and skill.
2. Repetition
Repeat anything often enough with conviction and it becomes part of you. After learning strategies and statements that worked and adapting them, we could use these knowledge at the right time to bring benefits to our customers and company.
3. Utilisation
Basic law of possession, "use it or lose it". Meeting decision makers about your products/ services and being prepared at the right time is vital to sales success. Learning all your company offering and presenting in an organised manner utilising the "golden hour" to schedule meeting as many people as possible.
A Factory experience.
A medical customer came to visit while a Process Engineer ask what kind of quality level would be required. The customer replied " IPC Class 3". The surprised Engineer asked, "what's that?"
I suggested a separate internal discussion and explain the Process Engineer needs to read more.
In the electronics manufacturing environment, IPC Class 3 would meant "IPC-A-610-D, Class 3". This is an international workmanship quality level documented limit where we refers to in case of dispute. Ranging from Class 1 (lowest level) to Class 3 (highest level), even the Class 3 have their minimum quality tolerance.
The Quality Manager knows the customer is satisfied with our workmanship quality but was surprised by the poor product knowledge of new staff member. Now we have frequent written pop quizzes with pictures of acceptable limits until the staff learnt all of them.
Kacak5 Management
Program’s right answers to wrong questions are just as wrong as Program’s wrong answers to right questions.
To perform well in business, core business teams and leaders must learn the basic fundamentals of their industry, to out-think and out-perform competitors.
Knowing how to acquire information and transferring it into knowledge is vital to Program and Business Managers. Here are the 3 insights to boosting your sales.1. Impact
We learn faster if we are interested and curious about the subject matter. It help if employees are in the best environment to support learning when the mentors are well prepared and in sync. The impact of new material should have an emotional appeal that can be transferred into a new application and skill.
2. Repetition
Repeat anything often enough with conviction and it becomes part of you. After learning strategies and statements that worked and adapting them, we could use these knowledge at the right time to bring benefits to our customers and company.
3. Utilisation
Basic law of possession, "use it or lose it". Meeting decision makers about your products/ services and being prepared at the right time is vital to sales success. Learning all your company offering and presenting in an organised manner utilising the "golden hour" to schedule meeting as many people as possible.
A Factory experience.
A medical customer came to visit while a Process Engineer ask what kind of quality level would be required. The customer replied " IPC Class 3". The surprised Engineer asked, "what's that?"
I suggested a separate internal discussion and explain the Process Engineer needs to read more.
In the electronics manufacturing environment, IPC Class 3 would meant "IPC-A-610-D, Class 3". This is an international workmanship quality level documented limit where we refers to in case of dispute. Ranging from Class 1 (lowest level) to Class 3 (highest level), even the Class 3 have their minimum quality tolerance.
The Quality Manager knows the customer is satisfied with our workmanship quality but was surprised by the poor product knowledge of new staff member. Now we have frequent written pop quizzes with pictures of acceptable limits until the staff learnt all of them.
Kacak5 Management
Saturday, 7 November 2009
Hiring overqualified staffs
Program words of wisdom:-
If it can go wrong it will - Murphy's law.
If it can't possibly go wrong, it will - O'Malley's corollary to Murphy's law.
It will go wrong in the worst possible way - Sod's law.
If there is a 50% chance of something going wrong then 9 times out of 10 it will.
In the mid '80s, I had a guy Mr Z (same age as me) reporting to me at work who did the extra one year secondary "Remove Class" while I went straight to "Form 1" hence I had graduated earlier, 1 year lead start working experience to be his boss. After a few years, he left for another organisation. The Plant is closing down, so I moved on attending job interview with another organisation CEO. I got the new job and was surprisingly introduced to Mr Z as my new boss! Respecting each other's role, we work fine for over 3 years having him as my boss, knowing I could be overqualified to be his subordinate.
Back to 2009, I do prefer having overqualified staff reporting to me. Overqualified could range from the amount of experience, education or credentials, was a more senior role or title or highly paid previously.
Here are the 3 key benefits of having them on board my team.
Overqualified candidates
1.usually have a better capabilities to do the job immediately and quickly add value with very short learning curve, and many contingency ideas on how to resolve issues.
2. add value beyond role. Approaching task differently, they thinks beyond the role and foresee other issues and possibilities, seeing broader perspective on other stakeholders.
3. provide build-in-bench strength to the organisation, ability to expand his responsibilities.
Conventional wisdom suggest otherwise, while not every situation are ideal, overqualified candidates may prove to be huge and unexpected assets to our organisation.
Kacak5 Management
If it can go wrong it will - Murphy's law.
If it can't possibly go wrong, it will - O'Malley's corollary to Murphy's law.
It will go wrong in the worst possible way - Sod's law.
If there is a 50% chance of something going wrong then 9 times out of 10 it will.
In the mid '80s, I had a guy Mr Z (same age as me) reporting to me at work who did the extra one year secondary "Remove Class" while I went straight to "Form 1" hence I had graduated earlier, 1 year lead start working experience to be his boss. After a few years, he left for another organisation. The Plant is closing down, so I moved on attending job interview with another organisation CEO. I got the new job and was surprisingly introduced to Mr Z as my new boss! Respecting each other's role, we work fine for over 3 years having him as my boss, knowing I could be overqualified to be his subordinate.
Back to 2009, I do prefer having overqualified staff reporting to me. Overqualified could range from the amount of experience, education or credentials, was a more senior role or title or highly paid previously.
Here are the 3 key benefits of having them on board my team.
Overqualified candidates
1.usually have a better capabilities to do the job immediately and quickly add value with very short learning curve, and many contingency ideas on how to resolve issues.
2. add value beyond role. Approaching task differently, they thinks beyond the role and foresee other issues and possibilities, seeing broader perspective on other stakeholders.
3. provide build-in-bench strength to the organisation, ability to expand his responsibilities.
Conventional wisdom suggest otherwise, while not every situation are ideal, overqualified candidates may prove to be huge and unexpected assets to our organisation.
Kacak5 Management
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
High Flying Program Manager
Program words of wisdom:-
The most successful Program Managers have perfected the skill of being comfortable when being uncomfortable.
A man is flying in a hot air balloon and realizes he is lost. He reduces height and spots a man down below. He lowers the balloon further and shouts: "Excuse me, can you help me? I promised my friend. I would meet him half an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."
The man below says, "Yes, you are in a hot air balloon, hovering approximately 30 feet above this field. You are between 40 and 42 degrees North latitude, and between 58 and 60 degrees West longitude."
"You must be a programmer," says the balloonist.
"I am," replies the man. "How did you know?"
"Well," says the balloonist, "everything you have told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information, and the fact is I am still lost."
The man below says, "You must be a Program manager"
"I am," replies the balloonist, "but how did you know?"
"Well," says the man, "you don't know where you are or where you are going. You have made a promise which you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. The fact is you are in the exact same position you were in before we met, but now it is somehow my fault."
Ha! Ha! Ha!
Kacak5 Management
The most successful Program Managers have perfected the skill of being comfortable when being uncomfortable.
A man is flying in a hot air balloon and realizes he is lost. He reduces height and spots a man down below. He lowers the balloon further and shouts: "Excuse me, can you help me? I promised my friend. I would meet him half an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."
The man below says, "Yes, you are in a hot air balloon, hovering approximately 30 feet above this field. You are between 40 and 42 degrees North latitude, and between 58 and 60 degrees West longitude."
"You must be a programmer," says the balloonist.
"I am," replies the man. "How did you know?"
"Well," says the balloonist, "everything you have told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information, and the fact is I am still lost."
The man below says, "You must be a Program manager"
"I am," replies the balloonist, "but how did you know?"
"Well," says the man, "you don't know where you are or where you are going. You have made a promise which you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. The fact is you are in the exact same position you were in before we met, but now it is somehow my fault."
Ha! Ha! Ha!
Kacak5 Management
Monday, 2 November 2009
Get to know your staff better
Program words of wisdom:-
Management is getting work done through other.
We spent most of our waking hours at work. Work should give meaning to our life even as it gives us an identity. Employee are happy when we find our work "meaningful" or more than"just a job". Key contributing factors Program Managers should know are good work environment and positive relationships with colleagues and managers who respect, recognise and acknowledge them and their values.
Know your teammates
Try checking if you know if your team mates are married? how many kids? where do they stay? It drove home a point- these are people you work with everyday and their families and loved ones are as important to them as your loved one are to you.
Make small talk
Make a mental note of what they say, sometimes, it's the little thing that matter. Hold a "not about work" tea-break discussion. It's amazing the number of things you can find out about the people you work with. It like opening a secret door to your people's hearts.
Break down barriers
We will become entwined with the lives of the people we work closely with, spending more time with your colleague than with your families. Understand peoples lives and giving them some leeway at times build bonds--it does not mean that we, as their leader, lose our objectivity.
Letting go
Leaders do feel resentful when someone they held close, leave the company. People also rally around good bosses and stay with them.
Tough love
A good leader sets things right, meaning " I care about you but I don't like the way you work, and if you don't change, we will have a difficult time working together in the future." A Program Manager need to be firm about what is acceptable behaviour from his team.
An attitude of gratitude
Seeing your team going the extra mile for you is a very humbling experience. What makes people do that for you? Good leaders are the ones who often say complimentary things about their team members, shaping and moulding their behaviour. Leaders see potential, capability and skill in their teams and encourage these aspects to grow.
Program Manager should be optimistically say " I am very blessed; I have a really great team.". Try it and see the results.
Kacak5 Management
Management is getting work done through other.
We spent most of our waking hours at work. Work should give meaning to our life even as it gives us an identity. Employee are happy when we find our work "meaningful" or more than"just a job". Key contributing factors Program Managers should know are good work environment and positive relationships with colleagues and managers who respect, recognise and acknowledge them and their values.
Know your teammates
Try checking if you know if your team mates are married? how many kids? where do they stay? It drove home a point- these are people you work with everyday and their families and loved ones are as important to them as your loved one are to you.
Make small talk
Make a mental note of what they say, sometimes, it's the little thing that matter. Hold a "not about work" tea-break discussion. It's amazing the number of things you can find out about the people you work with. It like opening a secret door to your people's hearts.
Break down barriers
We will become entwined with the lives of the people we work closely with, spending more time with your colleague than with your families. Understand peoples lives and giving them some leeway at times build bonds--it does not mean that we, as their leader, lose our objectivity.
Letting go
Leaders do feel resentful when someone they held close, leave the company. People also rally around good bosses and stay with them.
Tough love
A good leader sets things right, meaning " I care about you but I don't like the way you work, and if you don't change, we will have a difficult time working together in the future." A Program Manager need to be firm about what is acceptable behaviour from his team.
An attitude of gratitude
Seeing your team going the extra mile for you is a very humbling experience. What makes people do that for you? Good leaders are the ones who often say complimentary things about their team members, shaping and moulding their behaviour. Leaders see potential, capability and skill in their teams and encourage these aspects to grow.
Program Manager should be optimistically say " I am very blessed; I have a really great team.". Try it and see the results.
Kacak5 Management
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