Corporate leadership (and what to do with the rest of the clan ie the followership)

1.       Leadership 101 depicts leaders as autocratic, democratic, laissez faire types… the general biasness is for an adaptive situational needs-based leadership. In truth, however, stepping out from the corporate setting, leadership must be purely based on a supreme truth and high principle-order direction.

2.       Here, this may not be immediately apparent, especially in the organisations I’ve had the experience of being in. Mirroring a feudalism of the eastern cultures, Malays will forego their rights and authorities to question when confronting a Malay leader, the Chinese clan leader or CEO will thus derive omnipotent qualities in strategy setting and negotiating positions as regards to their business undertaking, and for the other one, the Indians I’m afraid I don’t have first hand knowledge to dwell upon.

3.       What of the leader then? The supreme truth can be gleaned from education, from background and other ancillary sources of power, expert, knowledge, charisma and such. But it often negates what the followers can contribute to.

4.       In essence, the only way is through syura, and in management consulting there are ways to gather information and underlying assumptions of where and what we should go to and do that will obtain ownership towards the business and organizational direction. Syura, conducted through rational thought processes will create involvement and participation and enable a more productive organizational setting. It is also in accordance with the Prophet’s Sunnah.

 

 

 

First Steps!

First question is, why would I want to embark on an independent career? What are the resources required? Am I up to this? Can I succeed? What are the risks, and how do I overcome this? What is it that I want to do?

<![if !supportLists]>1.       <![endif]>Why would I want to do this?

Well, I’ve already taken the first steps to sever the umbilical cord with big momma, TNB – and it’s only natural that I look to taking the natural progression towards self-fulfillment and finding my hedgehog.

<![if !supportLists]>2.       <![endif]>But at the place where I am now, isn’t it better to follow Che Khalib and Izzaddin’s steps, ie be charming to the decision makers, appear competent, and then get a juicy C-level job in a GLC somewhere that fulfil’s all of my life’s financial needs and then some?

That sounds good, too, but so far, Alhamdulillah I’ve resisted the connection-type openings, preferring instead to earn things based on merit and capabilities. To be honest, that in itself has not been a very successful approach, as somehow the introductions by acquaintances, familiar and strong-willed people who stand up for their friends, are always needed to open doors. Admittedly, I haven’t been that successful, not getting the breaks in terms of promotions in TNB or the job openings I’ve been eyeing, although on balance, I think I have earned a bit of admiration on stuff I did. Having said that, it is poor judgment to say that I earned it myself, and I owe everything I have to many people- family, friends and colleagues included.

The above is also to say I don’t think I’m equipped to handle the glare of the publicity of a GLC boss, and even at VP-levels in TNB, the job risk vs reward profile is just plain repulsive. If this was a DA – alternatives being, 1. stay quiet and focused, away from high-profile mistakes and earn just enough to cover all primary needs and some savings; 2. be a GLC top-dog,; 3. be autonomous, free-lancing happy shooting from-the-hip corporate wannabe with white hair and full of anxiety, then I would choose the latter… there is this quote though if you shun criticism, do nothing, ask nothing and be nothing. Which is also a problem.

<![if !supportLists]>3.       <![endif]>What are the resources required?

I need to be Ready, Willing and Able. As well as a nice kepuk to setup the family while I go happily trekking this route.

<![if !supportLists]>4.       <![endif]>Am I up to this?

And my assessment of No. 3 is

Ready: Not quite C-level material, performing poorly in terms of networkability, articulation of issues, lacking conviction and inability to make and move decisions quickly enough.

Willing: Not quite willing as the hurdle of leaving this nice, cushy job is relatively high

Able: probably able in terms of speaking the corporate lingo

<![if !supportLists]>5.       <![endif]>Can I succeed? What are the risks, and how do I overcome this?

Being the eternal optimist, insyaAllah. But again, I have a family to provide for, and hence, the motivation of financial security quite clearly overrides other motivations currently. The hurdle rates needs to be negotiated upfront to ensure appropriateness of timing. Again, this relates quite strongly with the Willingness to move now. The solution is of course to begin this now in parallel with current job.

<![if !supportLists]>6.       <![endif]>What is it that I want to do?

Ahhh… this is the million-dollar question that needs to be answered. What is the damned hedgehog? Next blog!

Quick preview: Alternatives –

1. Agri- fruit farm, activity camp incl paintball,

2. Eng Mgt- training, product trading in EE, RE – stuff from Australia

3. L&Tourism- tourism database ala kakijalan

Originally published on 11/10/09, updated on 11/7/13.