My Core Values

Caring about people

Sensitive to surroundings

Knowledge hungry & knowledge sharing

Perfectionist - error free

Striving for something beyond and above the expectation result

If you work hard, don't be worry about success. It will eventually be rewarded for what you have done.

Team work

Apparently, I love the above average standard results

I want to produce "once you fit better at the current workplace, you will be the same best person at other workplace, no matter what!"

Every good deeds you do, you don't need to expect people to thank you for what you did because somehow, somewhere, someone will notice it and they appreciate that without you knowing it. 

Overcoming Obstacles at Work

By Chrissy Scivicque

On a coaching I call awhile back, I heard from a loyal blog reader who was feeling distraught. In a nutshell, her situation was this: after interviewing for almost six months, she thought "it was a sure thing" she would be offered a new position in her department. Then, as if from nowhere, an external candidate was selected for the role. After all the time and energy she had committed to this, she was left feeling frustrated, demotivated and betrayed. This forward thinking professional was looking for a new creative ways to overcome negative feelings as she tried to determine what her next career step should be.

It is never easy to be passed over for a job, more so when it is at your current place for employment. For those of you who are in similar situations, here is what I suggest you:

1. Remove the emotion

I know it is easy to get down on yourself, down on your own company, and down on this person who snagged the role from beneath you, but do not get wrapped up in those emotions. Take a little time to went and wallow in the disappointment, and move on. It is a new day.

This is business, after all. Things can change in a blink of an eye. The situation might look bleak today, but new opportunities are just around the corner. Do not beat yourself, or anyone else up.

2. Get the scoop

Politely and professionally address the situation with the hiring manager. Ask if he or she can share some of the reasons you were not selected. It is perfectly fine to tell this person that you are disappointed; you felt your skills and experience were a match for this role.

However, make sure they understand that you respect the final decision and you are only looking to grow from the experience.

Ask what you can do to be better prepared the next time an opportunity like this comes around. Try to get specifics here; Are you lacking certain skills required for this kind of role? Do you need more education or more hands-on experience? The more you know, the more proactive you can be.

3. Create a plan

Once you know what you need to be better positioned for future growth, create a plan. Outline specific goals and the dates by which you will complete them.

Focusing your attention on this will also help you release any of that negativity that still remains. Nothing feels more satisfying and rewarding than progress.

4. Shift you mindset

Have you ever had an experience where something appeared on the surface to be horrible, negative thing but then after some time passed, you suddenly realised it was a blessing in disguise? What if that is what is happening here? What blessing might be hiding underneath this bad situation?

Look for the opportunity here. Remember, you always find what you are looking for, so focus on the positive potential.

5. Find an advocate

Whether we like it or not, the workplace is full of politics. People trade favours and help make things happen for people they like. It is not always a bad thing, it is just the way the world works. Why not use that to your advantage? Find someone who really believes in you and supports your efforts to grow. As for their help making it happen.

They might not be able to do anything specific now; but perhaps in the future, they will have the ear of a decision-maker. Maybe just knowing they are on your side will help you stay positive.

Having an ally always feels good. Find those people who know your worth and keep them close. Continually reinforce your value and remember to give them support as well. This is two-way street.

Keep your chin up and look to the future. -- The Star, 21 December 2015

Challenges As A Civil Servant

Kala Lupur, 20 December 2015 - Good morning mek, tok we, abe, adik, kakok, pok cik & mok cik and readers. Happy Reading.

What would you do when you are asked to implement a political decision that you consider may anger public and people as a whole?

As a civil servant you just have to do it. You serve the rakyat based on orders, instructions and policies made by the politicians. The politicians, in this context refer to the government of the day elected by the people such as the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Chief Ministers and Excos. They decide what the government plan to do for the country. 

Under the democracy system which our country has been adopting since Independence, lawmakers who won the election and command the majority, form the government. The Parliament, is an institution of highest authority debates, votes and decides laws governing the country and it is part of the democracy system. The Parliament also approves money for the government to spend within the parameters set in the laws. 

There are two sides of group in the parliament. The group that form the government and the other one is the group who are not part of the government. Both members of the groups have won the constituency seats in the general election. It means, the members are the elected representative of the people. The democracy system practically recognises, only the group that forms the government able to carry out responsibilities for and on behalf of the people because the rule "majority wins" is the essence of democracy.

Okeh, merapu banyok pulok aku pasal sistem demokrasi nih. Let's continue...

The civil service is the machinery exists to serve the government which has a mandate from the parliament. The government decides and approves policies, programs, implements projects, activities and renders services for the people because they are chosen and elected to do it. That is the government's responsibilities. Who will execute these things? The civil servants!!!

Back to the question "what would you do when you are asked to implement a political decision that you consider may anger public and people as a whole?

As a civil servant, the above question should not arise at all. The execution of a political decision by the government is the absolute responsibilities of the civil servants. Failing to fulfil its responsibilities will make them deserve for a strongest condemnation by the government. On the other side, the Opposition has no authority rights to call upon the government's civil servants not to obey, comply or follow the governments instructions.

Jeng jeng jeng.....dilema dilema nih....pah nok wat gano nih?

To join the civil service requires certain quality. Among the pre-requites are ability to analyse, critical thinking, decisive and most importantly is the ability to advise the government. Civil servant is the pulse and brain of the government. They are located in villages, districts, states and federal administration capital. Some are posted overseas in the neigbouring countries, the near region and far away of the globe. A significant number of personel are also embedded in the society, community and economy as the government representatives in NGO organisations, universities, institutions, corporations and world bodies. 

Information is in the hands of the civil servants because of their mammoth spread and variety of service they are doing. This is the power that no body should take for granted even the political masters. That is why a civil servant plays important roles in developing and preserving the prosperity of the country. Formulating policies, drafting and enforcing laws, executing programs, fulfilling the needs of the people upon orders by the government, are all placed on the shoulder of the civil servants. Thereafter, they are the ones who monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the outcome post-implementation. How well the people receive, react, respond and determine the future fate of the government.

Should an officer feels that a political decision may cause negative effects to the people or country, he or she must has a sense of responsibility to properly advise the consequence from the implementation of the decision. Do not stop there. The concerned officer should be ready with alternatives to offer to the politicians who give the command. There are many ways and means to complement the politicians make a decision. The officer of course needs to be knowledgeable and experienced on the government's policies, rules, regulations, procedures, contraints and capable to anticipate of the future. Again, it is all about information plus the qualities that have been mentioned in the above paragraphs.

What about if the politicians do not budge? The words "just do it" come out from that politicians. Then, there is no more "multiple" choices like A, B, C, etc. Just Do It. But of cource, it has to follow proper procedures, processes and go through the righful approval authority. At this stage, a civil servant has to fulfill its pledge and responsibility to serve the government of the day.

Consequences? If it turns out that the people get angry, protest and suffer from the implementation of a decision by the politicians, the civil service should not be put in the trial chamber of the people's court. The judge and the prosecutor is only one, The People who determines the future fate of the government and its politicians.

Meanwhile, a civil servant will continue to do their jobs serving the people. Your politics? Just leave it at home. 

-- Ripin Niknah