Driving transformation

Get a Life: Driving transformation
TESSIE LIM





SUDDENLY it hit me. I was a woman alone – starting life over, starting a business from scratch.

I wasn’t even sure who I was. I had always been what other people wanted me to be.

I knew I had to succeed... for my children’s sake, for my daughter especially, and for other women.

I had all this ability, but my self-esteem was in tatters. I had all that experience, but competence soon becomes outdated.

Mediocrity wouldn’t do. I wanted to excel. So I engaged a coach. Michelle Duval didn’t give a damn about my fragile emotional state. She worked me hard and beat me into submission, army sergeant-style.

I can’t remember what hurt more, my bones from fatigue or my heart from missing my family.

I remember a time early in our relationship when I needed to fly to the United States for a meeting. I told her I’d miss one of our sessions. And she told me to take a long walk down a short plank.

I managed that conversation with Michelle via long-distance telephone onboard a Boeing 777 enroute to Portland, Oregon. Lesson one: Commitment.

Two weeks later, we were working on my self-concept. Michelle asked me to describe myself. I finished. No response... 15 minutes of deafening silence.

I feebly asked: “What now?” She replied: “What’s your reason for leaving out what you haven’t said?”

Hot tears streamed down my face. I hadn’t told her how ashamed I was for failing at my marriage, for failing to be a good mom to my children.

My life changed in that instant. That day, I learned to look at myself – face my fear, shame and guilt. I learned to accept and appreciate myself – the good, the bad, the ugly. Michelle’s ability to be present for me – my longing, my needs... her ruthless compassion, her tough love... held me to my hopes, my highest potential. Her resolute refusal to let me give up or take the easy way out allowed me to prove to myself that I was capable of things I never imagined. Many times she showed more faith in me than I had belief in myself.

Nothing gives me more pride in being a coach than when a client honours me with this responsibility. The client’s trust is sacred. Our relationship is a bond that allows us to explore and discover resources within ourselves that leads us to actualise a specific purpose — usually driving peak performance, managing for profitable growth, or developing leadership potential.

I’m distressed. I’m exhausted. I hurt as if my gut has been shredded to ribbons. I’ve spent weeks now, working with individuals and companies who’re suffering uncertainty from the financial chaos.

“RM250,000 a year plus perks... now nothing,” one sighs. Another describes how he’s being bullied. It seems people know times are such that mobility isn’t easy and take advantage. One client suspects there’ll be a takeover, but isn’t sure. All are demoralised.

We work at detecting meaning and managing expectations. We spend time rebuilding confidence. I can’t help thinking all that rhetoric about developing human capital... if only business realises what a tremendous opportunity it has to contribute to a progressive society, to build a harmonious nation.

Enterprise can do this by installing a sense of belonging, ownership, pride and confidence in its people. It can communicate to encourage and empower. It can lead to recognise talent and reward contribution.

This approach fires the spirit. It creates a positive and collaborative environment where people happily stand together to produce an outcome that works to design a better life for all. But business is people and it’s people who operate to devalue, de-motivate and demolish. I say all business problems are personal problems in disguise.

At a time like this, Malaysia needs its people to be fighting fit and focused, poised to perform, ready to engage and be relevant to the task of competing among the best. Are you in the right mind for excellence?

Now, to succeed, one requires clear vision. Then we need a compelling strategy that keeps sharpening our uniqueness so that we stay marketable. Thirdly, we cut the “fat” out, and work to get the most from our best people. A leader is a communicator par excellence. A good leader can produce great success.

With this raging and relentless change, this country needs to groom leadership like never before. What would propel us forward, enable us to add value and build capacity, is the ability to draw out the best in our people.

In the end, it’s all about people — our intellectual and creative capability — that will see us through any challenge and overcome any crisis.