Dr Strange in the observatory
The three-month mark is fast approaching and the feelings that I
have about the move have been mixed. Work has been a mix of totally
crazy/ mysterious/ demanding/ irrational/ passive aggressive/ exhilarating. Don’t get me wrong. It’s been mad but fun and
I love challenges and coming up with solutions to tackle them. For me, work is
about pushing the boundaries on things; you have to push to constantly improve
and progress. I am here because the challenge to turn around a company is pretty
thrilling. For someone who is deemed ‘foreign talent’, it is not simply about
doing a job, it is putting your money where your mouth is. Do you deserve the
status and pay?
The pros are that the higher-ups have noted the change and the
hard work we’re putting in. There’s appreciation. However, pushing is not a
something one accomplishes alone or in a duo. There seems to be a bit of a
tug-of-war going on, where on one side, you have people who are keen to band
together to make new breakthroughs. On the other hand, there is a bunch of
people who are so set in their ways and resistant to change or new ideas that it
totally drives you bonkers. It was a harsh reality-check to learn that the
industry was surprised that we are still around. Ouch.
At times I wonder, how the hell will we all survive this? Oftimes,
it feels like people believe that they are irreplaceable. This used to be old
way of thinking in pre-recession Singapore and look at the job fallout from the
financial crisis. Cushy jobs gone in a thrice, long-term service was retired in
favor of hungrier people who performed better, simple jobs were taken by harder
working people who earned far less and the top of the crop became even more
prized. To really implement change, there needs to be some serious ass-kicking
all round!
This is not the first company that I’ve been a part of that has
undergone change. In the past, both of the in-house roles that I’ve worked in
dealt with organizational changes on a global level. The difference is that the
companies chose to handle change more progressively and positively. They brought
in professional consultants and worked really hard to instill the message that change
is essential for growth. Both the messages and management were fundamental
drivers that walked the talk from inside, out. Because of this, the staff
started to embrace the changes positively. There is a feeling in the air that
things will work out and they did.
 |
| Yea, right |
Frustrated?
Yes. Challenged? Yes. But then again, we’re in early days yet. I still have
tricks up my sleeve. Let’s see how far I get before I thwack someone over the
head for being a complete moron. At the rate some people are going, that day
may come sooner than you think ;)
I also came across a few interesting posts that I think somewhat complement this week's nugget:
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