Squad Leader

RESPECT

2009-02-08T07:56:00.000-08:00

It’s another beautiful week here with us. Last week was a crazy week for me. Several assignments at my place of work left me with little breathing space. It was a productive week though
Like many Kenyans, I realized that every time I get to the office, there are a number of things I do, before I settle down to serious business. This is what happens on a typical morning when I walk thru the office door.

Walk around in the office, greet everyone by hand (as a rule!) wearing a smile (I rarely smile, so when u c that smile, its genuine)
Connect my laptop to power, plug in the network cable
Once on, Start browser, logon to FB (yes, FB first, damn! I shud quit FB), log on to Lotus, log on to my three gmail accounts, log on to my two yahoo accounts, log on to Simba, then run wikipedia
Check msgs on FB. No messages on FB!!?? Curse all my friends and decide to log out, but b4 I do, I convince myself to stay on.. I browse a few of my friend’s profiles and walls….. I laugh at some, curse others and admire a few photoz,
then check gmail - reply to mails, check yahoo - delete junk mail, Check Lotus, reply to ones I can and the rest are included in the 2do list for the day.
Scan through the diary for urgent things to do, and get down to business.

The reason why I spelled the sequence of my morning tasks is coz of FB. Facebook has become the in-thing nowadays. We meet new friends on FB, flirt on FB, date on FB, pass time on FB and begin affairs on FB! That’s the reality! I spend almost 30mins on FB everyday, and I kick myself for this, however, I console myself coz I have friends who spend almost 5hours on FB everyday!! I will tell you how, you can cut down on the hours you spend on FB to boost yourself respect among your colleagues.

Action Point: Earn The Respect of Others

I came across an article by Brian Tracy and thought I should share some extracts from it.. .read on…
Being respected by others is very important to all of us. Surveys have found that the most prominent living humans rated respect of others as the most important measure of success in life. They worked hard to earn the respect of their parents, the respect of their spouses and children, the respect of their peers and colleagues, and the respect of mankind at large.
It seems that we truly respect ourselves only when we feel that we are respected by others, and will go to great lengths to earn and keep that respect.
There are two things we can do to put ourselves in a position to be respected by others. This first is to develop our knowledge of our field. The more people perceive you know about your subject, the more they will respect you. The highest-paid people in almost every field are those who know more than the average people
Another way to put ourselves in a position of being respected by others is to develop your expertise. Expertise is closely tied to knowledge, but it is a little different. Expertise is the ability to do, the ability to perform well in your chosen field
There are things you can do to put these ideas into action.

First study you field in detail. Cut down on time spend on FB and dedicate at least an hour per day to reading and studying to become more knowledgeable.
Secondly, continually upgrade you knowledge and skills in your field.

Quote

its not knowing much, but what is useful that makes a wise man

Thomas fuller

I'm back!!

2009-01-23T02:02:00.000-08:00

Its been long!! since August 10th 2008!!! wow....I changed work stations, work multiplied, I went underground, then hibernation, then on leave and back again, 5 months laters. I've done things I have neva done before, been to places I've never been b4 and acquired knowledge that took perseverance and endurance to gain. I had my own share of terrible experiences, uphill tasks, I have been blasted, name called, congratulated, misjudged, rewarded and seen my efforts bear fruits. I've done stuff that amazes me, and stuff that makes me wanna kick my ***. I have sinned, begged for 4giveness, risked my life, risked my finances and stood for what I believe in. All in all, Gods grace and favour have followed me through out!!

I shall be putting down an account of all these experiences here, soon. I penned down resolutions for this year as well, and one of them was to blog regularly, if I lay them down here on the blog, then, it will be easier for me to keep, coz then I will be accountable.

Action Point: ULIMWENGU

Ulimwengu Utauweza Ujifunzapo Kut0 Kata Tamaa

Quote

I rate enthusiasm even above professional skill

Edward Appleton, Physicist

have a relaxed weekend!

Squad Leaders experience

2008-08-10T04:52:00.000-07:00

thi is a continuation of the Squad Leaders experiences narated earlier in this blog... read on
... the second day at APTC was a test of attitude and the will to remain strong in light of adversity. That morning, we realized the importance of working as a team. After the strenuous morning run (we called it ‘morning glory’) and grueling exercises, I could not help but toy around with the idea of quitting!! There was a problem though. Quitting would mean losing my job but more importantly, we were a team and just like a chain, a team is as strong as its weakest member. (The law of the chain: The strength of the team is impacted by its weakest link) Quitting would kill my colleagues’ morale and make the team weak and vulnerable. And of course I had the male ego to guard!!
After dressing up in our military gears, we went to the mess for breakfast. Not without drama though. Our admin Sergeant was hot on our heels backing instructions left, right and upside down! “Soldiers flock in 3’s!”, “Soldiers run or quick-match, no leisure walking”, “Soldiers salute their seniors!”…. After breakfast, we headed straight for the morning parade. This was like one of those primary school assemblies where the teacher inspects your cleanliness, only that this was stricter.

Our boots had to be sparkling clean and shinning, the uniform well pressed to match the shirt and our jersey had to be tacked in…yes tacked in!. We had to stand under the scorching sun for one and half hours, all the while commands flowing:-“kifua mbele!” “kaza kiwiko!” “Angalia mbele kulingana na urefu wako!” By now, I could tell the sun was not doing any favors to my colleague standing in front of me. He relaxed his stand and sighed. “Nani hiyo nasisimama kama match-stick!” thundered the corporal. …then the unthinkable happens, my colleague bends and starts vomiting on the parade ground!! The corporal walks over slowly, bends and counts the pieces of meat in the vomit. “mocha, mbili, tatu” then he thunders, “Hii mutu natapika nyama tatu, na sisi tuna mpatia mbili, atatwambia hiyo ya tatu alitoa wapi?”…..I was dying of laughter…I could not dare laugh though! (The required meat consumption for a recruit is 75g per day… appr. 2pieces of meat, and that’s what is served at the camp)

After the parade, we went back to the drill ground for training. Drill; this is where we were taught how to stand attention, at ease, left turn, right turn, about turn, how to match both quick and slow match. Now this was fun, though not for a lady who had knock-knees! She could not stand attention! And then we had this guy whose coordination of his hands and legs was zero! “kwani miguu yako yote ni ya left?” the corporal used to ask

This is where we got to know why we had written our names and qualifications at the gate when we were reporting. Our drill sergeant made it clear that we had left our degrees, our A’s in Maths and all other qualifications at the gate. While at the camp, the Maths that mattered was 1, 2, 3 and the English that mattered was Yes Sir/Madam. No more!! He said we could always pick our degrees and masters at the gate on our way out after the training!! This guy was dead serious. We matched in Numbers, shook hands in numbers, received our certificates in numbers and shouted in numbers!! One, two salimia, two three kata.. one, two pokea (certificate), two, three kata…that was life. He also made it clear that “YES SIR/MADAM” was the only acceptable answer and all what we had and owned, “ni mali ya serikali”. He made us confess at the top of our voices by asking, “hizo boots ni za nani?”, we replied in unison “ni Za serikali sir!!”, “na hiyo miguu imevaa boots ni ya nani?”…. “na kifua ni ya nani?”, ….“kisigino ni ya nani?”… “kiwiko ni ya nani?”…. “ndevu na nywele ni za nani?”…. you can guess the answer to all those questions. Then came the instructions “Ndevu na nywele za seririkali zinyolewe, kisigino ya serikali ichimbe chini, weka kifua ya serikali mbele, kiwiko ya serikali ikazwe na boots za serikali zing’ae”
I loved drill; this is where the discipline begins. We also leant that every move a soldier makes, he begins with the left foot. That got soo into me that every time I stand to walk, or I’m climbing stairs or boarding the bus, I always begin with my left foot!!
After a heated discussion over tea break, we unanimously vowed that no one would quit however tough the training would be. The 2nd law of teamwork came into the picture. We were recruited in to be change agents; we were determined to serve our employer and our country. The law of the price tag: The team fails to reach its potential when if fails to pay the price. The training was the price we had to pay, and we were willing to pay it.

After tea break, we joined the physical training instructor for PT (Physical Training). This was a no-nonsense session where endurance was instilled. Sit ups with logs on our chests, push ups on tires, crawling on our stomachs and frog jumps so intense that I felt like doing it on my pants!! Sweat is salty while tears are sugary; this is where you get to taste the mixture of the two!
(in the next issue, I unveil the Mt. Kenya experience, the chilly nights, the Long walks, the early morning water dips, the panga walks and the solo camp)

An account of the 'New Year' Resolutions

2008-07-08T22:34:00.000-07:00

It’s been a while now; I had several deadlines to meet. Well, those were met, and new ones set! It’s been a challenging two weeks for me; a lot happened, some life changing moments, heartbreaking moments and heartwarming moments as well. But well, çést là vie mòn amí!

Its mid-year, I know most people have 4gotn all about their new year’s resolutions and diaries are gathering dust at some shelf in the house. Well, as for me, my diary is my companion, take that away, you cripple me. I think its time I upgraded to a PDA (of course, if wishes were horses…yeah tha’ one) Now, last weekend I was reviewing my ‘new’ years resolutions while trying to determine how much I had accomplished and how further ahead I need to go. I must pat my back because for sure, I have done a lot. That’s not to say, I have accomplished, nope. Truth be told, there is much more I need to do. In the beginning of this year, I listed my New Year’s resolution in the happy New Year greetings on Colleague talk. Going through em’, I realized how powerful resolutions can be.

Action Point: My account of the new years resolutions
I had intended to begin a course I had always wanted to… ( I did, I’m takin an online MA..hurrraayyyyy)
I intended to inject new ideas at my work place ( I did bring forth great ideas that were implemented, but as for how well they worked, I will leave that to my boss!!)
I intended to make my work place as enjoyable as possible (I introduced the idea of having lunch fortnightly as an office.... mostly Fridays, its worked, sometimes, we do it weekly!! .... its Fun especially wen we throw ni a few pints!!!)
I intended to put down my personal Vision and Mission Statement (well, I’m not willing to reveal these, coz they are very aggressive, but my motto is ‘its not enough to do your best, you must know what to do, then do your best’)
I intended to learn new skills ( well.. eeeh.. still thinking)
I intended to cultivate a number of virtues – Assertiveness (improved), Time-keeping (50%), Self-respect (on track), Self-confidence(on track), Courage (on track..more), Determination (on track..more needed) and Going the extra mile (on track..more)
I intended to improve my job acumen (I have done this through the online MA)
Pray Until Something Happens (I need to do more of this)

Well, that’s the mid-year account of my resolutions. Feel free to share your account with me!

I’ve just leant that my organization has surpassed the targets set for the previous financial year…. That means I’m pocketing a bonus in two weeks. Phew…. It will come in hardy, I need to clear hizo madeni’z.

Quote

It is not falling in water that makes you drown, it is actually staying under
water that will make you drown

Unknown

The Most excellent way

2008-06-08T20:57:00.000-07:00

Last week I attended a course on Search and Rescue Operations. I thot I knew alot about this world, but hey, I realized I know very little. Do you know what a GMDSS is? I thot so. It is Global Maritime Distress Safety System recommend by International Maritime Organization for all vessels operating in the international waters. Main purpose is to send distress calls wen the personell and vessel is in danger. Kenya has a well equiped Search and Rescue Regional command centre at KPA (Kenya Ports Authority), run by KMA (Kenya Maritime Authority)

ACTION POINT : The Most Excellent Way
We all fall in love, sometimes, our lovers disappoint us, things don't seem to be the way we wud like em to be. But hey, 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 has The Most Excellent Way... if only we can try
" The Most Excellent way
Love is patient
Love is kind
it does not envy
it does not boast
it is not proud
it is not rude
it is not self-seeking
it is not easily angered
it keeps no record of wrongs
love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth
it always protects
always hopes
always perseveres
Love Neve Fails. "

That got me emotional ....

Successful People

2008-05-28T22:23:00.000-07:00

The past two weeks have been very challenging for me. I’ve been juggling books, work load, deadlines, reports and of course, personal relationships. It’s been hectic, to say the least, and I had to go back to my time management manual to get tips on how to utilize my time effectively. Work - family and work - social life balances are challenging acts, very challenging. I feel that my employer needs to do much more in terms of educating staff on especially work-family balance. This is a fundamental aspect of our lives, just like our health, that the organization needs to have a keen look at, as well as train staff on, how to balance the two. Failure in one, may spell doom to the other.

Action point: Successful people
I got this article from a newspaper column and thot it wise to share with you….
Successful people are those who do things when they are supposed to be done whether they like it or not. Discipline and delayed gratification can be achieved through building a system of rewards and punishments for yourself. There should be a price to pay for indulging yourself and a reward for resisting temptation. When you complete something that needs to be done, reward yourself.
Having an accountability partner is also important. The simple human desire to appear competent to someone else is often enough to control your spending.

QUOTE

I learned that we can do anything, but we can’t do everything…atleast not at the sametime. So, think of your priorites not in terms of what activities you do, but when you do them. Timing is everything”

Dan Millman, Author.

Have a fantastic week and a fabulous weekend ahead….

Colleague Talk: Telephone Etiquettes

2008-05-06T01:46:00.001-07:00

I had a fabulous week, I was working out of my office and a different office setting is always welcome. I’m not by any chance implying that I dislike my office, if anything; I missed my immediate colleagues a lot. I had a chance of meeting colleagues in other sections as well and it was interesting. The other week I attended Customer care training at my organizations training institute. It was da bomb! I leant soo much that it would take me four Colleague Talk (CT) columns to capture quarter of what we leant. But just to mention, I leant that I am Customer number one, you my colleague, are my Most important customer and the taxpayer is my most critical/essential customer, how about that, huh?

ACTION POINT: TELEPHONE ETIQUETTE
I have made a number of calls internally and the response on the other end of the line makes me think my organizations family lacks Telephone Etiquettes!! This true for many organizatons, even yours!! You doubt? Pick a phone and call your colleagues’ extension and listen to how they respond. In upholding professionalism, the small things taken for granted speak volumes. How you answer the phone says a great deal about you and your business. I think this should be included in all customer care trainings.

Phone answering tips

Answer all incoming phone calls before the third ring
be warm and enthusiastic when you answer the phone and welcome the caller courteously
There are four parts of a proper greeting

Proper greetings of the hour
Section name
Your name
How May I help you?

Good morning, KPLC supplies, this is James, how may I help you?Or Good morning, Customs KPA maintenance section, Kilindini, James speaking, how may I help you?(You don’t say ‘yo man’..NO!, because you don’t know who is on the other end!)

There are 4 parts to a proper greeting:

Proper greeting of the hour…
Section name
Your name
How may I help you?

Take notes regarding calls

Write down the callers name
Let them know if you can’t hear them
Include their name when talking to them
Always repeat the message
Wear your smile!

Wearing a smile makes you feel happier and will also brighten up the whole room. Smiling will also make you feel more positive and have a feeling of well being.

On Hold Techniques

Ask them if they could please hold and wait for their answer.
Give them an option….Hold or leave a message.
If holding, check back with them every 30 – 60 seconds.
Don’t leave them wondering.
Don’t forget to include their name when thanking them for holding

Types of Transferring

Guided Transfer – Let the caller know who they are being transferred to.
Description Transfer – Announcing the call to inform your staff the reason they are calling and their name.

Speak slowly and clearly, Enunciate your words and stay away from sounding monotone.
Don’t have a lazy tongue.
Try some tongue twisters to get you moving in the morning.
Sally sells seashells by the seashore
Rubber baby buggy bumpers
Peter Piper picked a pack of pickled peppers

Positive speech

He’s currently out of the office, May I take a message?
I’ll be happy to…..
I’ll transfer you now….
Thank you for holding Ms. Blah…..
One moment please….
Not a problem at all, thank you…..

effective listening skills

Prepare yourself to listen
Concentrate on what is being said
Visualize the speaker
Hold your tongue, don’t interrupt
Take notes
Use summarizing statements
Use conversation cues if the caller is getting long winded
Listen between the lines
Be open minded
Practice positive listening habits

Next time someone calls, please don't say "yo man"

Colleague Talk - The Paradox of Our Time

2008-04-21T05:54:00.000-07:00

It’s been almost two years since I joined my current employer. So much has happened in those months that I have been around, and after months of being told what to do, I now feel I have slight exposure to also suggest some slight changes that would make operations in my office better. I have been given a responsibility, and I intend to give my all. It might not improve my chances of promotion, or earn me any recognition, but hey, I will have done my best and in the process, I will learn valuable lessons that will come in handy someday.

Action Point: The Paradox of Our Time
I enjoy reading articles by Carol Mandi, this is one of the classic collections I have. From Carol Mandi… enjoy…

From the time when we learn that babies don’t come from the supermarket, a baby factory or off the streets to now, most of use have sort of figured life out pretty much.
This isn’t to say that we know all there is to know about life or that we understand everything. It is to say though, that we know that we don’t always know, and we kow that we don’t always understand. However, it is also to say that we are using the knowledge we have accrued over the years through experience, observation and learning to guide us in this risky business of living.
One just has to speak to several people who have attained some measure of success in business, civil service and even in the eyes of peers and the public, to realise that for most of us, success is a one-dimension activity. It is the norm that one is recognised and feted for success in the in their profession. Unfortunately, much of this success is a one time event, a point in time, a certificate on a wall or a trophy on display.
Some successful people today are unable to translate their achievement into future success. And even worse, we are unable to translate professional success into other dimensions of our lives or personal success. We are inadequate at becoming successful human beings.
As Georgwe Carlin so eloquently put it, “The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower view points. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgement, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness”.

We spend too recklessly
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We’ve added years to life not life to years. We’ve been all the way to mthe moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour.
We conquered outer space but not inner space. We’ve sone larger things, but not better things. We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, over-weight bodies, and pills that do everything form cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom.
A very sad indictment of our generation but nonetheless, a very true picture. We are perhaps the most successful human beings (in terms of technological advancement) to have ever walked the earth but perhaps the least fulfilled. So what to do? How do we go about finding the soul of success? And once we have found it, how do we maintain it? Allow me to submit that while there is some reward in pursuing success for its own sake – yes even that trophy and certificate – gains are greater when one makes an effort to become a successful human being.
It goes beyond the trophy to our relationships, where we must expend some energy in making sure that the people we claim are closest to us, know they are treasured. It requires that we pass on some of the fruits of that success to others in society either through mentoring or charitable works. It entails that we learn the art of making a life a and not just a living.
Becoming successful human beings is in the little things that are really the big things – in how we treat others, in how meaningfully we spend our limited time and in the enduring legacy that we eventually leave behind.

By Carol Mandi

Quote:

It does not matter how slowly you go up, so long as you don’t stop

Confucius, Philosopher.

Have a fabulous week

Colleague Talk - Value of a dream

2008-04-14T03:38:00.000-07:00

It has been quite sometime. I was on a well deserved leave. I took time off to be with family and friends. I also took the time to visit the sacred chambers of my soul, reflect on how far I have come and how further ahead I need to go. I realized that the best way to achieve the dreams of your life is to do one thing at a time. I intend to do exactly that. I have narrowed and re-focused my viewpoint as well and aligned my targets accordingly. One thing I have leant of late though is that things and people are not always they way they appear. There is more than meets the eye!!
I’m back in office, regaining my footing again, I feel rejuvenated and ooh… I feel gooodd

Action point: Value of a dream.
A friend sent me this abstract some years back. And every year, I transfer this text to the last page of my new diary.
Without a dream, you will wonder, literally, aimlessly through life. Big houses, nice cars and golden watches are nice, but they are not really dreams.
Dreams are bigger than self; materialism may initially serve as a great motivation. Once you have your dreams your next step is to develop a plan to accomplish those dreams.
What business will you go into? How will you get the capital to start that business? What else do you need to learn in order to make that business successful?
Once you have a plan, you need to set your goals. Goals are like a trail of little gold nuggets that lead right to the goldmine!!
My fellow colleagues, I DARE YOU TO DREAM

Quote:

The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the man
who will win.

Roger Bannister, Runner

Have an energetic week

Leave

2008-04-02T07:27:00.000-07:00

I had to go on leave abruptly... not force leave..hapana.. just taking care of some family business and will be back soon...

come again in mid April... so long

Colleague Talk: Keys of Life

2008-03-10T08:03:00.000-07:00

Last week was a crazy week for us in the office. Towards the end of last year, we had a visit from the Auditors and presented all the documents they required. Come last week, we were summoned by MADAM in her office, only to be met by an ugly report from the Auditors. The guyz were crazy, we were soo cooperative when they around, we joked and laughed with them around and fed them with sausages everyday. Yet the first thing on the report is “Lack of Cooperation from the Officers” kwani? WTF did they want? We gave them all the documents and documentary evidence they wanted, they even carried some documents with them. According to the report, we have not collected Business revenue close to Kshs. 435 milliz!! You can guess we are now burning the midnight oil trying to unravel the puzzle.

Action Point: Keys of Life
One of the resolutions I had written this year was to begin a course I had always wanted to. I commenced the course two weeks ago and I’m thrilled. I’m gathering the Keys to unlock my treasures in life. What keys to life do you have? How many have you collected? I got the following story from a friend and I thought it wise to share with you… read all the way…

Quote:

I learned that we can do anything, but we can’t do everything..,,atleast not at
the some time. So think of your priorities not in terms of what activities you
do, but when you do them. Timing is everything

Dan Millman, Author

Have a productive week

The Game of the Keys to Life

A few years ago, I had to plan an activity for a youth group, followed by a talk. Little did I know that after the game, the true meaning of what happened would come to light.

Wanting to be original, I devised a game where a hamper, filled with chocolate bars and candy, sat on a table. Everybody wanted it. There was only one
problem. It was locked and required a key to open it. I told the participants that their objective was to find the key to open the lock. They had one hour. I supplied them with a sheet with clues and told them that there were twenty keys outside in the neighborhood. Other than that there were no other rules to the game. They could organize themselves in
any way they chose.

When we started, some formed groups with their friends, some chose to search alone and one person decided not to participate. The neighborhood was filled with kids scurrying around.

At the end of the hour, one group had found eight of the keys, another five and the rest were divided among the others. Of course, the person who decided not to participate had none.
The time came to see whose key opened the lock. The group with eight tried all of theirs, but none worked. Those who had five were unsuccessful too. One of the groups who had fewer had the key that opened the lock to the treasure.

The two groups who had gathered the most keys complained that the game was not fair. After all, they had gotten the most keys. I had to agree with them and muttered some cliché that life was often like this. Did they expect life to be fair?

Then I began my talk.
I explained that in life we often set our sights on treasures. They usually take keys to open. The keys may be things like a certain level of education, courses on various subjects, physical strength, an honest character, even good looks. There are many more keys to success that you can imagine.

In life, we can choose to look for keys any way we want. The more we cooperate with others and work with them, the greater our chances of getting more keys. If we work alone though, it is still possible to get keys. However, if we refuse to participate, the chances of getting the key that will open our treasure will be zero.

Although the number of keys that you get doesn't guarantee success, it will increase your chances of opening the treasure. Still, a person with only one key does have a chance of opening the treasure you want. Although it doesn't seem fair, life is like this.

Then it struck me. Right in the middle of my talk, I understood something I had never understood before. The groups that had complained that they had lots of keys, but had lost the treasure had missed the point, and so had I.
Yes, not one of their keys had opened the treasure. But, they still had lots of keys. The game was not over. They still had the keys. There must be locks out there somewhere that contained other treasures that could be unlocked by these keys.

The first part of the game was accumulating as many keys as possible, but that did not guarantee the first lock that was encountered would be opened by one of them. What is important is the second phase. If your treasure isn't opened on the first try, you must look for other locks.

Perhaps the job position you really wanted was given to somebody else. Maybe the girl of your dreams can't return the same affection. What you have to realize is that the gifts that you have been given, have worked for and found, the keys, will eventually open up your treasure as long as you keep looking. Sitting around complaining that your keys didn't open up the first treasure you sought won't do any good. You have to keep looking for the treasures that fit your keys. Otherwise you will live a life full of regret and unfulfilled potential. You will always be looking back at what might have been instead of what will be.

Yes, there is a treasure out there just for you. Just keep looking and keep collecting those keys, then look for the locks they will open.

Colleague Talk - Discovering you life's work

2008-03-03T01:53:00.000-08:00

It was a week that begun on a low note but ended with jubilations and a sigh of relief from Kenyans. I have always admired this man called Koffi Annan ever since he was the Secretary General of the UN. He inspires confidence, diplomacy, respect and peace. He has inspired me to an extent that I have vowed to tell my son, “ My son, be like Koffi Annan” and before my son arrives, I will strive to cultivate the principles and values of this great man. Koffi Anna should be made an elder in Kenya. We should erect a monument of Koffi Annan at Uhuru Park as a symbol of peace to Kenyans. What’s your take?

Work is smooth; we are currently trying to find out why one of the products in the oil industry is taking a slumber. This has really affected our business revenues. Its an uphill task but we hope to come to an understanding after studying the market.

Action Point: Discovering your life’s work
Ever since I was in elementary school, I have always strived to be the best of the best. My mum was (still is) a teacher in the school I was attending. I strived to be the top in my class, not because it meant a lot to me then, but because I enjoyed seeing my mum beaming and being praised by other teachers every time my name was read out at the assembly. That was my motivation then and it set a very solid base for me.
Now, it’s all about me, myself and I. And I have realized that “you have to know where you are going, and plan how to get there, even before you take the step of faith.” (Squad leader)
This is the formula for happiness (Happiness = K * D * L), yes that’s the formula. Read more about it in the attached piece “Discovering your life’s work” from www.lifesignature.com

Quote:

The real tragedy is the tragedy of the man who never in his life braces himself
for his one supreme effort, he never stretches to his full capacity, never
stands up to his full stature

Arnold Bennett, British Novelist

Have an energetic and thoughtful week.

Discovering Your Life's Work
A sprout grows damp under the earth. It pokes through weak mud, following the light, gently leaning toward nourishment. The sprout unfurls. With its flesh, it creates stalks, leaves, flowers and fruits. It flourishes through a growing season and withers with the frost. With each moment, the growth of this plant unfolds, following innate design.Likewise, each of us contains a blueprint for the continual discovery of our true nature and purpose. Our innate signature talents are the tools we can use to accomplish our life purpose. Part of us already knows the secret of our life blueprint but it remains unclear for most of us. However, if we allow our blueprint to unfold in its way, carefully encouraging its movements, time and nourishment, we will foster the development of an exceptional life.

What's Important to You?
At certain times in life, people take stock of where they are and where they want to go. Deciding what is important to us in our life's journey, including where we may be stuck, is the way to begin this life planning. The gift of knowing who you are and your life's work gives you the energy to transform your life.

You Get What You Tolerate
"I'll be happy when...." is the way many people think they are living their lives. Yet, happiness is not something that happens to you. Happiness is inside you now. You are motivated from within. You only have to allow happiness to surface.

Happiness = K (knowing who you are) X D (discovering your life's work) X L (learning not to tolerate what's not important).

That's the formula for happiness--know yourself, your true calling and that you get what you tolerate.Only when you know who you are (your signature talents, your values, assumptions/beliefs, guiding principles, vision and passions) are you able to bring your true self to your professional and personal lives. Your life signature is the tracing of the talents we are given and how we express them in our lives.

In medicine you look at how "well tolerated" a drug will be related to its side effects. At work and at home, many people evaluate new opportunities related to what can be well tolerated. Yet after life, most people don't want their tombstone to read, "He tolerated stuff for other people because they paid him." Especially, when we realize that we can make more money and have more fun doing work that engages our passions. Life is too short for doing work you don't enjoy for people you don't respect.Why not decide today, to live your life to its fullest?

an extract from LifeSignature.com

Colleague Talk - Change

2008-02-25T00:47:00.000-08:00

Last week was one of those weeks that have two days; Monday and before you realize it, it’s Friday! Nothing spectacular, I was a shadow of the energetic me. I woke up today very early in the morning and once again visited the sacred chambers of my soul and discovered a number of things. There are so many things I had hoped for in life that never worked out, so many things in life looking bleak, unfulfilled promises, un-achieved dreams but hey, that’s life. I tell you what; Life is stranger than fiction, that’s what I realized. My pastors did wonders on Sunday though, he drew my attention to Proverbs 3:.. says “Trust the lord with all your heart, and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” I prayed to God for 4giveness and asked him to guide my actions and thoughts.
It’s the same week I realized that change is elusive, and as someone said change cannot occur until something changes. And something, whatever it is, isn’t going to change on its own.

Action Point: Change
I work in a section where one part of my TOR’s is to bring positive change in my section. I have and still am doing everything within my powers. Change is a challenging task but one that, if approached with a positive attitude, determination, courage and commitment, can bring desirable results. Simply put, change requires commitment to commencement and commitment to continuity. Change is the small things we do differently and better. I have strived to bring about positive change in all the stations I have been deployed in my organization. Little recognition has come my way, nevertheless as Abraham Lincoln (16th US president) said “Don’t worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition”
I was going through some change literature and came across the writing below. Source is unknown. Read on….
Too often, changes are stifled by people who cling to familiar turf and job descriptions. One reason that even large organizations wither is that managers won’t challenge old comfortable ways of doing things. But real leaders understand that nowadays, every one of our jobs is becoming obsolete. The proper response is to obsolete our activities before someone else does.
Effective leaders create a climate where people’s worth is determined by their willingness to learn new skills and grab new responsibilities, thus perpetually re-inventing their jobs.
The most important question in performance evaluation becomes NOT “How well did you perform your job since the last time we met?” but “How much did you change it?”

What positive change, however small, have you brought in your work station? None? No worry, I’m sure there is something you can improve now. Go for it, however small.

Quote:

Conflict is inevitable in a team ... in fact, to achieve synergistic solutions, a variety of ideas and approaches are needed. These are the ingredients for conflict.

Susan Gerke, IBM, Leadership Development

Have an energetic and thoughtful week.

Colleague Talk - Journey To the Sacred Chamber of your Soul 18th Feb 2008

2008-02-17T21:50:00.000-08:00

Last week was a very energetic week, my colleagues in office were all in a very jovial mood and so were our clients, work flowed and volumes moved. It was the LOVE week!! Valentine’s Day was on Thursday and boy, how Love changes life!! If Valentine’s Day was every week, then we would double our corporate target, Kenya would be a developed country, women would be the happiest living beings and all men would be flat broke!

I spent most of my Valentine’s day evening taking a moonlight walk. My selected location was peaceful and serene. It reminded me of a year and half ago, when I found myself at the heart of Mt. Kenya, where my colleagues and I had gone for an experiential training on Leadership. An experience that stands out is one night called “Solo night”. Each of us had to spend 24hrs alone in the forest, with only basic items, Bible/Koran, a pen and foolscap. It was a time to reflect on how far you have come, what you have, what you intend to accomplish, who you want to be in life and how to get there. I had a chance to take a journey to the sacred chambers of my soul. Whatever I wrote in that Foolscap remains my road map up-to-date; the only thing that changes is depth of my view points.

Action Point: Journey to the sacred chamber of your soul

I came across one of Carol Mandi’s articles, she encourages creating more of ‘Me’ time and taking time to look within ourselves. If you would like to add meaning to your life, I suggest you read the article below.

Quote:

Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has a purpose. –
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Have an energetic week and purpose to live inside-out, not outside-in!

Journey to the sacred chamber of your soul
There is a place, a sacred chamber inside each one of us that most of us don’t even know exists because we rarely go there. If you thought of your life a s a house, this room would probably be your bedroom.
This private place is what author Gordon MacDonald calls, one’s private world. The reason we ignore, neglect or are simply unaware of our private world is because the public world is more enticing, visible and demanding.
Our public world is what everyone sees and where we are heavily rewarded. It is in this domain where we engage in work, play, network with acquaintances, acquire property, and so on.
According to McDonald, our public world is the part of our existence that is easiest to evaluate in terms of success, popularity, wealth and beauty. It is here where the titles like Ms Got-it-all-together or Mr Self-made count. But when the layers are peeled down and we proceed into our secret chambers, our private world is where we see the truth about ourselves, if we have the courage to be honest.
It is in this place where the wealthy, the famous and the beautiful finally admit, “I’ve failed with my children,” and “I have a problem with drugs/alcohol/smoking” or “I want to add meaning to my life.” It is here where the crucial life issues are weighed and evaluated, adopted or shunned. It is here where the essence of a person is seen, where men and women are made or destroyed.
MacDonald writes ”Our inner world is more spiritual in nature. Here is a centre in which choices and values can be determined, where solitude and reflections might be pursued. It is a place for conducting worship and confession, a quiet spot where the moral and spiritual pollution of the times need not penetrate”

The problem is that most of us live outside-in, where this public world takes ninety percent of our life’s energies and attention. MacDonald adds: “our public world are filed with a seeming infinity of demand upon our time, our loyalities, our money and our energies. And because these public worlds of ours are so visible, so real, we have to struggle to ignore all their seductions and demands”
“They scream for our attention and action. The result is that our private world is often cheated, neglected because it does not shout quiet so loudly. It can be effectively ignored for larger periods of time before it gives way to a sinkhole-like cave-in”
The more fulfilling way, of course, would be to live inside-out. However, by living outside-in, we are effectively choosing breadth over the deeper issues of life. Eventually, the disorder in our private world begins to show up on our work places in the form of clutter or missed deadlines.

In our relationships, we bemoan the lack of time for pursuing friendships. We begin to sense the chaos in our lives due to promises we are unable to meet to others or ourselves. We know that our lives are spiralling out of our control.

Consider the words of Oscar Wilde, quoted by William Barclay in the letters to the Galatians and Ephisians. Wilde confessed, “the gods had given me almost everything. But I let myself be lured into long spells of senseless and sensual ease Tired of being on the heights, I deliberately went to the depths in search of thought, perversity became to me in the sphere of passion. I grew careless of the lives of others.
“I took pleasure where it pleased me, and passed on. I forgot that every little action of the common day makes or unmakes character, and that, therefore, what one has done in the secret chamber, one has some day to cry aloud from the house-top. I ceased to be lord over myself. I was no longer the captain of my soul, and did not know it. “

But how do we avoid this disintegration? By taking time-out to order and evaluate our day? By working smart instead of harder? There is an answer for each one of us but we must seek it by going into the secret chamber and asking the question.

(Journey to the sacred Chamber of your soul is an article by Carol Mandi)

Colleague Talk - Is It all about our MINDSET? 11th Feb 2008

2008-02-10T21:28:00.000-08:00

It was a very interesting week for my colleagues n I in office, we made headways and came up with new ways of strengthening our controls to cut on losses in our organization.
It’s true that there is and will always be room for improvement, but the improvement is like a puzzle you have to unravel. I believe there is room for improvement even at your workplace. All you need to do is pay little more attention to your work process, and think how to improve each step or seal the existing loops holes. It also pays to put yourself in your opponents shoes, you get tips to counter his moves.

Action Point: Is it all about our mindset?
It’s interesting how much we can achieve if we push back our boundaries…. Read on…

It is difficult to swim in shallow water. It is impossible to learn to swim by attending classroom lectures. Learning to swim is all about pushing back the boundaries of your experience, being submerged, getting our head wet. It is also about eliminating some fairly deep-rooted fears and proving to yourself that most things are possible. The limits on achievement are mostly the limits that we artificially construct in our minds in order to protect ourselves.

We should not allow ourselves to paddle in shallow water every day. It is pleasant for a while but it will ultimately become boring. Meanwhile the competition has leant to swim in the deep sea and has reached the other side of the bay. Also many people are happy to paddle through life and achieve little other than a degree of comfort – which can lead to complacency

Dropping ourselves in the deep end from time to time means that we are more likely to survive than if we remained protected in the shallow end. We will have a deeper experience of a wider range of issues and will be more able to cope with the pressures of intensifying competition. The deep-end experience provides many more valuable lessons than the shallow end.

Inevitably there is a high degree of risk in this deep-end experience. To learn effectively people must take risks and gain from pushing back boundaries. When risk is minimized the experience and learning are minimal – and consequently motivation erodes as people become entrenched in their attitudes and set in their ways. In contrast, dropping ourselves in the deep end can prove highly motivational, as it send a clear signal that we believe in ourselves and trust our abilities and strengths.

Effectively it is pushing ourselves to our limits – so that we can exceed them and become much more effective as a result.

Question: Is it all about our mindset?

Quote:

"if money is your hope for independence, you will never have it. The only real security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience and ability"

Henry Ford, Founder of the Ford Motor Company

Have an energetic week

Colleague Talk - Optimize Your Relationship with Your Boss - 4th Feb 2008

2008-02-10T21:15:00.000-08:00

Last week was an interesting week for me. Business is picking up. My colleagues and I have been studying the workflow in our office to see how we can improve on our processes. Having carried out our local simple SWOT analysis, we realized there is always room to improve on our weaknesses as well as strengthen our controls. Of course we have experienced resistant from our clients who are used to doing things in a certain way, we realized that Change, however small, will always be resisted. Nevertheless, we had the backing of the law and the law had to be followed (don’t you love it when you are explaining a point and you have to make reference to the law.. you know “according to the LOK Sec..blah blah.. it is your obligation to.. blah…and failure to which will be a contravention of Sec blah of …blah” ). It pays to know your job, I love it.

Action Point: Optimize Your Relationship with Your Boss

The other day I went to the Head office and walked into one of our senior officers’ office. After greetings and a simple chat, he asked me “what can I do for you?” I said, “I dropped in to say hello”. For a sec he looked perplexed, then his face lit up and he smiled. I had caught him off guard, I had taken his mind away from routine work and the smile said a lot. (I hope next time he offers me tea!)

Find below an article on how to optimize your relationship with your boss. Works for me, it will work for you.

Quote:
“The strongest Oak tree of the forest is not the one that is protected from the storm and hidden from the sun. It’s the one that stands in the open where it is compelled to struggle for its existence against the winds and rains and the scorching sun”
Napoleon Hill, 1883-1970, Author of Think and Grow Rich

Have a productive week

How to Optimize Your Relationship with Your Boss
Make your relationship with your manager a winning one!

Your relationship with your boss can be a wellspring of growth possibilities if nurtured properly or a career minefield if left to go sour. Maintaining a good professional relationship with your manager can make all the difference in the type and quality of projects that get sent your way, in your career advancement, in your relationship with others in the firm and in your overall reputation in the industry even after you leave the firm. Take the time to work on this relationship and follow this simple checklist to keep you on the right track.

Perfect Your Role
Your relationship with your manager will to a very large extent be determined by your overall professional skills, attributes and success at the job you are doing. A manager will take far more pride in the employee who constantly produces quality work, meets deadlines and is pleasant to work with. Perfect your job by knowing exactly what your manager's objectives for the position are and then exceeding his expectations. Always aim to go the extra mile to show that you are truly dedicated to the position and that you take your career very seriously. This can include volunteering to help others when you have time, taking on additional projects when you can afford to, cultivating unique skills and coming up with new ideas to improve performance, win clients or cut costs. Building a reputation for yourself as someone who does the job extremely well, is professional, pleasant and always goes the extra mile will reflect just as positively on your boss.
Communication
The importance of building an open dialogue with your manager cannot be overemphasized. Maintaining an open channel of communication with your boss is one of the key ingredients of a successful long-term relationship. The goal of these communications is to build a professional rapport, gain visibility and ensure an unhampered flow of information about the firm, the unit, your own performance and any problems, concerns, issues, accomplishments on either side.
- Invest in building an open channel of communication early on. Get your boss accustomed to your wandering into his office for a chat or scheduling a meeting for yourself in his diary on a periodic basis. Do not wait for him to schedule these meetings! Do them often and as casually as you can so that your meetings with him become a routine part of his day, week or month. This will ensure you do not end up piling up grievances, complaints and unanswered questions simply because you don't have the guts to face your boss or have never taken the time to build an open dialogue. Always go to these meetings prepared. Try to include the casual and comical occasionally in these meetings to break the ice. Your boss will appreciate it if, in addition to your professional issues, you keep him casually informed of what is going on in the firm at your level, eg. the marketing unit ae going away on a brainstorming weekend, the new temp appears to be running a business of her own from her desk, the traders downstairs smashed a phone at the coffee machine the day before etc. AVOID gossip; the goal of these meetings is not trivialties, it is to build a comfort level and flow of career-related information that promotes your PROFESSIONAL growth.
- Learn to listen to your boss. Listening to your boss means understanding the tone as well as the content. Make sure you really understand both your manager's directions and where he is coming from. Ask questions if you don't. Your boss will generally set the objectives and vision for the unit and you will only understand his philosophy and general business style if you really listen.
- Learn to cope with constructive criticism. Some bosses are psychological bullies and criticism from such manager types is far more difficult to take. However, most managers role out criticism with the territory and you should be prepared to handle the criticism in a professional manner and learn from it. Constructive criticism should be used as a means to steer your professional development and should help you avoid career pitfalls.
Manage His Expectations
Once you have a good grip on the job requirements and have a solid relationship with your boss in place that is built on trust and mutual respect, you can begin to manage your boss's expectations regarding the quality and quantity of your work. This is an essential damage-control tactic if you are to avoid many of the pitfalls that are essentially the result of poor assertiveness skills. Learn to tell your manager that you are overburdened (only when you are of course). Use words like 'we need an additional resource', 'I have to prioritize', 'I have a more urgent deadline', ' I don't want to compromise the quality of the project' to communicate your own time schedule and your existing workload. Always have a list ready of projects you are engaged in and their priority so your manager can more easily plan the projects he sends your way. You should focus on being 'productive' rather than merely 'busy' so your manager learns to respect your prioritization skills and general work aptitude.
Reverse Feedback
Your boss has a boss and deadlines too, so learn to make his life a bit easier by sending some reverse positive feedback his way when you can. Avoid the false superficial kind of schmoozing but DO compliment or thank your boss whenever you can - on something he taught you, a course he sent you to, a project he sent your way, a project he didn't send your way, a tip he gave you or some other form of constructive criticism he made, a resource he assigned you, a deal he landed, a client he made happy, a new idea, a presentation he made etc. He will appreciate the flattery if it is genuine and delivered professionally. He will also be more inclined to help you in the future if you are appreciative of the steps he takes to guide and promote you.

Colleague Talk - Team building Tips - 28st Jan 2008

2008-02-10T20:58:00.001-08:00

I had a productive week last week. Work has picked up and I hope and pray this continues.
I work in an office with a team of six. Last week we held our second office meeting this year (we cultivated the culture of a weekly meeting last year, it works!). It was like a family re-union! Office meetings have a way of rejuvenating our energies.

We deliberated on a number of exciting things. In order to improve efficiency and exceed our customers expectations, we decided to make the office meeting regular (we eventually hope to have it daily) to plan our week as well as work modalities of resolving arising issues. To foster closeness and hence teamwork, we shall be having a joint lunch fortnightly. We shared out responsibilities in our office by having a Stationary Champion, Communications Champion, Community Service Champion and a Team Leader. The champions were given specific responsibilities. This has worked wonders, everyone is in high spirits (I have never seen my boss-our Team Leader-this happy!!), we plan to increase efficiency by reducing our turn around time for serving our clients by ½ (half) this year. Any suggestions on how to improve our relations with our clients are welcome.

Action Point: Team Building Tips
Allow me to share with you insightful team building tips I came across on the internet, especially suited for Team Leaders. Positive office dynamics add great strength to an organization, while strained ones create strife. Team Leaders simply can't afford to leave such an important aspect of the organization to chance.
There are many ways for Team Leaders to bring a team together and foster their ability to work together as a whole. These 10 tips can help unite even the most disparate group of people.
1. Communicate goals clearly
2. Define responsibilities
3. Provide equal training
4. Encourage relationships
5. Empower
6. Provide feedback
7. Reward
8. Set reasonable deadlines
9. Meet regularly
10. Discourage “backdoor” reports
Below is a more detailed extract expounding on the above 10 tips.
(Extracted from www.teambuilding123.com)

We shall be re-visiting team building and teamwork in a later ‘Talk’. If you have any thoughts or tips to add regarding team building, kindly do so.

Quote:
“The difference between two equally talented teams is leadership” Anonymous

Have a very productive week

TEAM BUILDING TIPS FOR TEAM LEADERS

Communicate goals clearly. Employees look to management for basic company goals. When those goals are not clear, disagreements will erupt as employees try to define goals themselves. By clearly laying out goals, everyone begins in the same place and understands where the organization is going.
Define responsibilities. Offices run best when everyone clearly understands their responsibilities. Provide each employee with a distinct definition of his or her own responsibilities, both individually and as it relates to group projects. This eliminates confusion over who is accountable for what and allows employees to relate without struggling over responsibilities.
Provide equal training. Make sure that each member of your staff is trained and equipped to complete the tasks at hand; divisions surface when one member is unable to perform necessary duties. Provide ongoing training -- if additional time is needed, pair two employees to learn from one another. Make sure, though, that it is an equal teaching relationship, where both employees are gaining new skills.
Encourage relationships. Most offices are busy places with many demanding deadlines. But allowing employees an occasional extended lunch to go out together and relax outside of the work environment can build understanding that will transfer back into the office and improve working relationships.
Empower. Give decision-making power to the people working on the project. Give them with the authority necessary to get their jobs done, but observe the process to make sure they are rising to the challenge. Trusted employees can make decisions without fearing consequence, and good employees will value that trust and seek to make the best decisions.
Provide feedback. Don’t make a group second-guess your opinion of their work. Be clear not only in your initial expectations and assignments, but also in your opinion of the work. Open communication, where employees are clear on where they stand, will help them feel more secure and willing to work together.
Reward. Provide rewards to the office as a group. Whether it is an award, a luncheon, or some other treat, providing the whole office with an encouraging reward for hard work will build team spirit and bring your employees back in with renewed enthusiasm for their job.
Set reasonable deadlines. Reasonable deadlines are often subjective, and timelines vary based on need. But you can build a spirit of teamwork by dividing assignments equally, providing compensation to employees who are working additional hours, and reworking less important deadlines to allow for a little more time.
Meet regularly. The best way to understand your employees and to let them know they are not alone is to meet regularly with them. Whether it’s a monthly lunch meeting or an organized meeting with specific agenda items, it is critical to keep the lines of communication open. This allows you to gauge not only their needs and productivity, but will also help you assess if there are team building concerns that need to be addressed.
Discourage “backdoor” reports. Inevitably, there will be at least one employee who will attempt to report to you after every meeting -- giving a play-by-play slanted to their favor. Don't encourage this behavior, and resist the temptation to use them as a fly on the wall. Backdoor tactics can severely undermine an otherwise positive office environment.

Colleague Talk - Passionate Appeal - 21st Jan 2008

2008-02-10T20:55:00.000-08:00

With the current crisis in the country, families have been displaced, children are suffering No food, No shelter and scarce clothing. These are the three basic human needs. Our status in our lives is a blessing; let us extend a hand of giving to our brothers and sisters who are affected.
“The hand that gives is the hand that receives”.
My colleagues in office and I are contributing 2 bundles of Unga, 20kg of beans, 1 box cooking fat, 50pcs sanitary pads and 20kg rice. Please join us and lets help our fellow country men.

Action Point: Passionate appeal
These are the last words of Dr. Geoffrey William Griffin, founder of Starehe Boys Center, to his boys

My dear boys,

I have had a fruitful and happy life, and I have leant one great lesson that I would like to share with you. I hope Starehe will always teach this lesson – for as long as it does so, it will remain a great school.
This world is full of people who do their duty half-heartedly, grudgingly and poorly, DON’T BE LIKE THEM.
Whatever is your duty, do it as fully and perfectly as you possibly can. And, when you have finished your duty, go on to spare sometime and talent in service to less fortunate people, not for any reward at all, but because it is, the right thing to do.

Follow my advice in this and I promise you that your lives will be happy and successful.
May God bless you all..

My dear colleagues, I echo the same words of a man I greatly admire. Let’s focus on the less fortunate this week; I know you know the right thing to do. Will you do it?

Quote:
“Management is doing things right; Leadership is doing the right things” Peter F. Ducker, management consultant and social science university professor.

Have a productive week ahead

Colleague Talk - Happy New Year 14th Jan 2008

2008-02-10T20:48:00.000-08:00

It’s a new year, I’m glad to have made it this far. What with the festive accidents and post-election violence...phew! May God bless Kenya. I join our other Kenyans to give my heart out to all the families and individuals affected.
Last year was a challenging year for me and most of us in many ways. I sat down to review my last year’s resolutions and realized that I had achieved 50%! That’s a fail even in my organizations training college!! I had done better previous years. I had failed, but that’s good, because failure motivates me, it bruises my male ego and that is intolerable. That aggravated me to put my best foot forward this year and I have started doing exactly that.
I intend to begin a course that I have always wanted to do,
I intend to inject new ideas at my work place to improve work-flow, efficiency and increase customer-focus,
I intend to make my workplaces as enjoyable as possible and also enjoy what I do
I have put down my personal Vision and Mission statement (I will share it with you later),
I intend to learn new skills,
I intend to cultivate a number of virtues this year (Assertiveness, Time-keeping, Self-respect, Self-confidence, Courage, Determination and Going the extra mile)
I intend to improve my job acumen
Last but not least, I intend to PUSH in everything I do (PUSH – Pray Until Something Happens

Action Point:
I came across the following calculation and thought I should share it with you;

THE TIME OF MY LIFE CALCULATION
No. of weeks in a year 52
No. of working weeks 48
No. of days in a year 365
No. of working days 240
No. of days that are YOURS 125
So, what does this tell you? Yes, you spend more time with the people in the office, who you DIDN’T choose to be with, vs. the time you spend with your family & friends, people who you DID choose!! So, we need to make our workplaces as enjoyable as possible and also enjoy what we do. So, what are the dreams and aspirations of the people you work with? Do you know? We need to be passionate about people. If we are all happy, we are all working together and doing what we enjoy, then our organization will always exceed expectations.

Quote:
“Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful” (Samuel Johnson 1709 – 1784)

I wish you all the very best in 2008. God bless you all

The Squad Leader 2

2007-08-07T22:57:00.000-07:00

On arrival at the Para-military training College, we were greeted by officers on sentry. The look on their faces was that of curiosity but their eyes were emotionless. At the gate, we wrote our full names, our degree qualifications and any other qualifications (we got to know why later) and signed against our names. We were received by two Corporals, who were later to become our everyday NIGHTMARES! We were directed to our hostels.

The hostels are called Barracks and they are dormitory-like. There are double deck steel beds in a hall that could accommodate up to fifty officers. We were told it was our mandate to keep the barracks and our lavatory clean, and the cleaning, called “Fatigue” was to be done everyday. We were to be scrubbing the floor, the corridor and the pavements leading to the barracks everyday, the lavatory had to be spakling clean, “tumia ulimi au chochote… bora hiyo mahali igue sabi” thundered the fat corporal. We laughed our heads off. “mnanipima? Mimi ni nyama? Officers mimi si nyanya yenyu… na mimi si nyama” he was now getting infuriated. On realizing this, we all kept quite and listened as he spelt out the standing orders of the college.

Everything in the college is done in an orderly manner. We were taught how to do almost everything. How to spread the beds, how to shine our boots, how to arrange our clothes, shoes and beds, how to iron our clothes, How to wear our clothes, how to walk, how to stand, how to sit, how to turn, how to run, how to shout (no kidding), how to sing, how to swing our arms, how to position our heads, how to crawl on our stomachs.. God I can go on and on. But of course there were some we had to teach ourselves like how to cry….. That one just came voluntarily!

After the orientation, we had a meeting with the College Commandant. He gave us a warm welcome and handed over to our administrative Sergeant as well as the drill Chief Inspector.

This was the beginning of our change.

The evening was easy as we unpacked and identified our beds. I was tired and excited, I must have dozed off at midnight.

I’m woken up in the middle of the night by a loud blow of whistle and shouts of “.. watu hii manalala saa hii??…. amkeni…!!” There was a mad man in our barracks! or so I thought. I looked around and there stood the Physical Training Sergeant!! A very well built guy with a no-nonsense look on his face. “.. mimi nagaa kama mama yako gichana… amga na ufall-in” (do I look like your mother young man, wake up and queue) I jumped out of bed and glanced at my watch.. it was 2.45a.m!! I was about to start protesting but the look on the Sergeants face made me change my mind. I looked around at my colleagues and no one was complaining. Everyone was busy spreading their beds.

I slipped into my track suit and after spreading my bed, ran out for a parade before the morning run. Here, we met other recruits who seemed to know what goes on with so much precision; you would think they were robots. “PARADE” the commander thundered. There was a unison reply of “ONE!!!” Now this was interesting, it was like a scene from one of those military movies!! The difference was the fact that I was in the middle of it!! “PARADE, PARAADE SHAWN” This is a command to stand attention, but since this was our first day, we just stood there like logs! “Watu hii mananipima…. Nitawanyambia mavi mbaya!” thundered the commander. I know this is vulgar language but hey, that’s the language they use there! At first we thought it was offensive but its part of their job and we got used to it, needless to say enjoyed as well.

That morning we ran twelve Kilometres (outside the college) in darkness shouting “ONE!” when your left foot hits the ground and “TWO” when your right foot steps down. yeh ONE…TWO… yeh ONE … TWO…. [I remember this guy whose mouth was faster than his feet.. he really made us sweat tryin to catch up with his mouth…] I have never done anything crazier than this…. we complained of stomach stitches, we begged our instructor to slow down; a number of ladies cried but the instructor could hear none of this.

It was survival training, he told us. The idea of stopping to catch a breath crossed my mind. I slowed down and looked around, it was dark and cold, the area looked lifeless, lights could be seen from a distance and no sign of life existed. I changed my mind and caught up with the group!!

We got back to the college and after a few aerobics and pushups, we were released with instruction to be in the mess (dinning hall) by 6a.m. for breakfast. As we ran to our barracks for a shower, so many questions ran through my mind? Is this what this organization is all about? Is this what it takes to be an MT? Did I make the right decision to quit my former job and join my current employer? Do I really deserve this punishment in the name of training? Damn…. I had to do something.. and it has to be done soon…..

[Part 3 of the Tribulations of The SQUAD LEADER continues…]

Quotes makes me think really hard... they teach me alot as we.... I will be sharing a quote with you everytime I post...

"The real tragedy is the tragedy of the man who never in his life braces himself for his one supreme effort- he never stretches to his full capacity, never stands up to his full stature" Arnold Bennett

M-o-n-d-a-y.... Monday

2007-08-05T23:46:00.000-07:00

It’s a Monday once again, my work is customer facing and today in the morning I got into confrontation mode with a customer. Customers can be very stubborn, thank God for my customer care skills and anger control mechanism. The guy hurled insults at me but I did what I do best.. ignore the stupid guy. That served to infuriate him more. However, if I wasn't bound by the company policies, I would have gotn physical with that stupid man.....

Well at the end of the incidence, he was the stupid one.. you knu.. like a dog barking at a stationary tree......

well, thats how I started on my Monday.. wonder how my week will turn out..

The Squad Leader

2007-07-27T04:57:00.000-07:00

My week has been interesting.. I boarded a dhow for the first time eva.. and I tasted shark (meat?) for the first time as well.. It was an interesting experience though dhows are very dirty and stinky.. the crew members are very rough people and they are run by shrewd business men... all the same.. it was an interesting experience. I was at old Town of Mombasa.. the place is good and I will tell you about it later.. for now.. let me share with you some experience... Things I had to go through and why I am a Squad Leader

This is the story of the Squad Leader. The tribulations, the joys, the dark days, the bright days, the long walks, the cold water dips, the chilly nights, the early morning runs, the excitement, the achievements, the growth, the resistance, the thrills, the hurdles and the occupational risks of being a Squad Leader.

The survival tactics and survival instincts: the experience of leading a group of intelligent, energetic, innovative and diverse young men and women. This is the story of a SQUAD, from a Squad Leaders perspective.

The day is 17th July 06, the room is packed with well dressed young men and women, the venue is PanAfric hotel and the occasion is opening ceremony, Management Trainees (MT’s) for a Kenyan organization (referred to herein as The Organization). I look around sizing everyone and trying to read their characters. Everyone looks confined though composed, the first impressions are impressive. I warm up to my seat mate and squeeze out her name and her occupation. She is a lawyer! I’m impressed. Lawyers fascinate me (I’m a Computer Scientist), and now that I will be working with one, it will be an interesting experience.

The opening ceremony is presided over by head of HR, coordinated by two HR officers. The Head of HR articulated the Vision of The organization and the fact that we were the first MT’s to be recruited in this particular section. We were to go through a specialized training. First, para-military training and then a leadership and experiential training in Mt. Kenya. After which, we would go thru a thorough training in The organizations college. (That sounded easy, but events that happened between then and today, still amaze me!!)

At the end of the induction course, we had to choose the leader of the group. I must confess I love challenges and I’m not a spectator. I love being part of the action, if not action itself! I offered my candidature and so did a colleague. I was voted in as the leader (in the military arena, the leader of a squadron is called a Squad Leader) and my colleague as the deputy. The group elected the lady’s leader as well. With the induction course over, it was time to get into real action… it was time, as a group, to begin our first test of endurance, teamwork, physical, psychological and inborn strengths. A week later we all packed our bags and headed for the Paramilitary training and this was the beginning of the making of sharp, intelligent and analytical young leaders……

The second part coming soon….

"The Money Makers"

2007-07-24T06:16:00.000-07:00

“THE MONEY MAKERS” The headlines on Saturday Nation Newspaper captured my attention. I held out a fifty bob to the vendor and grabbed the paper. All the faces on the front page are very familiar to me… these are Kenyans I admire, these are the CEO’s running the show on the corporate scene….and they are youthful. I am a very ambitious person, and I consider myself a leader.. as I read through, I keep telling myself….. “.. I swear I will be like one of these people…” (and I still swear I will!)… These are Kenyans who have been entrusted with responsibilities and proved that integrity and professionalism can do wonders….. I once worked in the business headed by Adan Mohammed and I truly admired his business acumen, he is professional and means business (incidentally, Martin Oduor-Otieno and Julius Kipng’etich-KWS have worked for the same business)

Of interest to me as well was Mr. Titus Naikuni, the man heading Kenya Airways. He joined Magadi Soda as a trainee engineer and rose up the ranks to be its MD in 16years. I joined my current employer as a Management trainee/Graduate Trainee and this gives me hope and the necessary motivation to aspire for the top post as well. …

My First

2007-07-21T04:11:00.000-07:00

I’ve been an on and off reader of ThinkersRoom, Shiroh, Milonare, GND and the rest of the crew blogs, then one day a voice told me.. may be you shud join in.. n a second voice replied.... hey why not… and soo.. here I am…. Alittle about me now, eeehh.. Kenyan ofcourse, currently in coast on an assignment till Dec then back to Nai… Lets just say, I have a paramilitary training experience.. not Kiganjo though…. So I’m not a cop…. and let’s leave it at that…….been in coast for the last seven months now and its alotta fun. I believe ours is a great country......

Soo.... this is the blog of a Squad Leader. The tribulations, the joys, the dark days, the bright days, the long walks, the cold water dips, the chilly nights, the early morning runs, the excitement, the achievements, the growth, the resistance, the thrills, the hurdles and the occupational risks of being a Squad Leader. The survival tactics and survival instincts, from the Squad Leaders Perspective...