Psycho-Metric Test ha!

O56 - C94 - E70 - A90 - N8 Big 5!! ...Nah this is not my physical statistics, which seems out of whack if you honestly ask me (I'm NORMAL, wait, do I even need to validate that? Geez!) Rather, following up from my post, Stylo Milo, this is my OCEAN Profile from the Big 5 Personality Test ... Try it, click here to discover your profile :)

After doing other personality tests such as MBIT or Human Metrics (INTJ, just for sanity check), I could pretty much figure out what career suits me - one that deals with human capital management with a strong focus in policies ... and did I tell you that I love research work especially in the areas of Human Psychology and Behavioural Studies? Aahhhh... its all coming together, rather nicely if you ask me :)

Btw, I just finished reading "Becoming Real" By Gail Saltz. It is interesting how multiple approaches to counselling/psychology are pulled together providing a wholistic approach to self-help. Most importantly, I finally unravelled my 'story' ... really nice :)

P.S.: Had an early farewell lunch with the folks who are leaving for Bangkok this weekend... Wow, am humbled by your comments about me - woman with integrity, strong dignity, knowledgable, compassionate, considerate ... are you sure you got the right person? Hehe.. thanks guys and keep in touch...

ROI - Important Stuff!

Today just proved my point - Only visionary leaders understand the importance of ROI. As highlighted by Jane Massy c/o ROI institute this afternoon, most don't understand it (which is a pity, really, at this age?!), hence label ROI as "too hard to do" (ignorance is bliss, eh?) and/or simply refuse to implement change management (let's not rock the boat mentalilty). I hope I will never work for such leaders... Need I say more?

I was privileged to have familiarized myself with Kirkpatrick's Model (view more details here and here) and Phillips' ROI Models during my earlier HRD days and I could follow Jane's arguments without feeling inadequate.

You could also read more about ROI by Jack Phillips. Jane also recommends Knowledge Advisor, a tool used to quantify impact of learning interventions on job performance (note, good stuff is never cheap)

Below are some interesting articles I found as well:
- Decoding value
- Measuring the ROI of elearning
- Five steps for valuing UXD

PS: Gutsy indeed for some people to think that they could master the art of ROI over a short period of time; HRD consultants have taken years to master this (mind you, people in the know could sniff if you are just 'smoking your way through', so don't put yourself in a precarious position and lose all credibility ... Or what's left of it, ha!)

Art of Voice

Studies show that effective communication is a result of 7% the words you use, 38% tone and pitch of voice and 55% body language but over the phone, the words you use account for only 16% and your voice accounts for 84%! - Experts.

You often hear people spending a huge sum of money on power dressing, personal trainers, face and body spa; The moment they talk on the phone, they are not in control of their voice - they just lost the opportunity of making a positive first impression. A pity, isn't it?

Jess and Vern, thank you for 'bringing the point home' - the need to work on owning our voice. Your genuine sincerity showed in the way you share your knowledge and expertise during the Voice Spa, organized by Art of Voice.

Appreciate your constructive feedback... And I discovered a few things about myself that I was unaware of (talk about 'voice hostages', what a revelation). I had a blast. Hmm, tempted to take up 1-2-3 next :)

For those interested to unlock your hidden voice, you should give it a go as well. You may just pick up broadcasters' tip as well! ;)

Say Cheese!

Decided to re-read it. Hmm, simple mantras of "Who Moved My Cheese?" (very effective take on life, indeed!):

Change Happens
They keep moving the cheese so it is safer to search in the maze than remain in a cheeseless situation.

Anticipate Change
Get ready for the cheese to move (stay alert, observer and reflect).

Monitor Change
Smell the cheese often so you know when it is getting old (QA with MI!)

Adapt to Change Quickly
The quicker you let go of old cheese, the sooner you can enjoy new cheese as movement in a new direction helps you find new cheese.

Change
Move with the cheese and when you move beyond your fear, you feel free (this is true!).

Enjoy Change
Imagining yourself enjoying new cheese even before you find it leads you to it so savor the adventure and enjoy the taste of new cheese.

Be Ready to Quickly Change & Enjoy It, Again
They keep moving the cheese (talk about change is constant, rite? I know!).

I've used this mantra before during difficult times and resolved that I should never fear change and that I am in control of my own destiny so long as I have faith. I hope you find this info useful as well! ;)

PS: Happy Birthday, CK (1 April) & Grams (5 April)!

In Search of A Vision...

Life is no straight and easy corridor along which we travel free and unhampered, but a maze of passages through which we must seek our way, lost and confused, now and again, checked in a blind alley. But always, if we have faith, a door will open for us, not perhaps one that we ourselves would ever have thought of, but one that will ultimately prove good for us. - A.J. Cronin

Read: Azzah's personal rambling during her moment of weakness (you've been warned!)

With the departure of great talents before me (I've been warned but no... the optimistic ME simply won't listen and wanted to experience 'it' MYSELF... stupidity/naivety/nobility... depends on how you see thing I guess but to me you won't know if you don't try, right? the opportune time has come to self-reflect on what I truly want in my career (versus just a JOB) while I rejuvenate my soul to a well-deserved break.

To go through the daily routine almost to the point of mindlessness without a broader picture in sight is something that I could not fathom. Its an uncomfortable feeling 'living in stagnation' ("where are we heading to?" keeps playing on my mind and it doesn't help that the company has gone through countless rounds of restructuring a.k.a. symptomatic folks!), wondering if 'the extra hours I put in is worth my while'("hey, if time away from family and loved one is not personal, then I don't know what is!" - Erin Brockovich), if whatever I utter will be used against me (out of context)... yada yada yada :(

As you reach a certain phase in your life, you look up to a visionary leader who could excite and motivate you (not that you are not self-driven) to achieve greatness, someone who believes in equal opportunity (no personal biasness, pls) and mutual respect for domain expertise (encourages you to be the movers and shakers) and takes inputs from the ground up (sanity check is being REAL)...

Someone who believes in human capital management (not juts filling the gaps with who ever is available... talk about optimal utlisation) and staff retention (this no staff is indispensable mindset has to go.... as staff leave, so will IPR), takes the time to plan proper KPIs and appraisal systems (going by gut feel/halo effect/unrealistic statistics is unfavourable); a credible leader who is knowledgeable but at times, is not afraid to say, "I don't know either, let's find the solution together" (well, no human being is PERFECT, right?) ... I miss that...

Its pointless 'fighting fire everyday with no permanent solution in sight'. When organizational symptoms that are pointing to the root cause goes on blind ears (and the fact of the matter is most of the long-serviced staff have been griping about it yet nothing is done; major OSD issue!) *sigh*... don't you think you are fighting a losing battle ALONE? Well, you know when its time to pack up and move on and look for like-minded peers ... R.I.P!

A note to the rest:
It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power. - Alan Cohen