The Straits Times, Front Page, 17 June 09 

The local government is making yet another wise step to lead Singapore towards the next economy. The wireless@sg initiative made use of Singapore’s small physical size to enable wireless surfing at virtually all high traffic areas.

This infrastructure wonder is created in a concerted effort to enable the truly mobile and connected user.

In 2008, the PC penetration rate in Singapore households was about 80% and the Internet accessibility rate was about 76%. (LINK) This was a high number and it set the tone for the growth of social media and a growing netizen community.

Online discussions on local forums ranging from everyday matters to national issues are vibrant and interesting. Valuable points were brought up and that offered local authorities good feedback on ground issues.

Now, with the enhanced speeds of the Wireless@sg, and it is now even more enticing to make use of the infrastructure and get networked.

The scheme to help lower income families get wired up is also a commendable move. In today’s age, the online space cannot be ignored anymore and Singaporean need to catch up. Lower income families can make use of the infrastructure and the scheme to get online, to look for jobs or to engage in self training. Afterall, the net is filled with information and knowledge. Increasing their network via social media can also increase their exposure to ensure that nobody is left behind.

I think that this is a commendable move and it’s the right way to go, for the Singaporean model of the knowledge based economy.

Have you ever had the experience of having your loved ones getting upset with you? How did you handle it?

What seems to be individual experiences can be used for corporate practices and vice-versa.

Here’s some of my suggestions to managing this kind of issues/crisis:

Staying Silent doesn’t help the issue

When you are angry and the other party chooses to ignore or stay silent and not respond to your anger, you don’t recover that easily. Sometimes, you fume at the fact that the other party doesn’t bother.

The same works in corporate situations, when the company is being questioned, and they don’t respond to their publics, the anger doesn’t just go away, it might get escalated.

Do not get defensive, choose the tone and language carefully.

In times when the temper is flaring, every choice of word and tone matters. What you say, creates a chain effect on the angry party.

If you sound defensive, the other party is going to do the same too. To calm the temperaments, you need to be able to communicate your point of view without sounding defensive. Best is to start from common ground and then slowly infuse your messages.

Guide the party through, in a slow and rational way to explain your thoughts.

In the corporate world, when you face an angry crowd, do the same above. The last thing you want to do, is to sound defensive.

Do not brush off the other party, and push to move on, without first acknowledging the concerns and closing the chapter.

Many a times, in the eagerness to move on, we typically brush off the other party. This infuriates the other party who will then think that you are not taking him/her seriously. It’s better to address the issue or communicate how you are going to resolve the issue, then move on.

Injecting fun in everything you do, especially at work.

Not a new concept, but definitely relevant to today’s working culture. Gone are days where executives wear formal and behave formal at work. Today’s worklife has gotten more and more informal.

I recall one of the conversations that The Hour Glass Executive Director, Micheal Tay had with the media where he told the trends in the luxury watch making industry. He said that executives today are more susceptible to wearing watches that are much less formal for work.

Apart from dressing alone that’s getting more creative and fun, the attitude of today’s executive has to shift too.

Injecting the concept of fun at work, motivates the employees and the result is a more positive, forward looking team that’s ready to achieve.

So, are you ready to do that mindset shift, and have fun at work?

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The articles are published in Mypaper on 9 March 2009. Aaron works in the same company as I do. And he has grown a fun-loving reputation at work.

Although he’s not part of the senior management team, he’s made significant contributions to making the workplace more bearable (from the stress) and the office environment more friendly.

When job seekers invade Facebook
by Soumitra Dutta and Matthew Fraser of INSEAD
The increasing popularity of online social networking is changing not only the way people manage their careers but social networking itself.
This short essay is a conversation starter. Read the article, then let us know what you think.

As the economic climate turns for the more challenging, the groundswell shifts towards a more practical, pragmatic tone. ‘Social Capital’, rides on traditional theories of networking for business purposes.

Whether it is on Facebook, LinkedIn or any other social media platforms, the central question is, “what kind of reputation do you want to own?”

Your online image and reputation is build upon your beliefs, actions and expressed through words and your actions online. Types of images posted on your social media page, the content, tone and language that you choose to use, represents yourself.

If your purpose of being in the space takes a casual tone, then stick to it. I don’t advocate a sudden change in tone just to build that ’social capital’. Afterall, people are not stupid and they’ll see through it in no time.

Two good friends of mine got into the the finals of the MyPaper Executive Looks 2009. The annual competition is held by the popular news tabloid, the only in Singapore that publishes in both English and Mandarin.

Their media debut as the finalists of the competition was published today, and I must say they both look fantastic.

Have you ever been in an environment where everyone tries to be smart? What happens when everybody in the organisation tries their best to say smart things and sound intelligent all the time?

Some argue that it’s good motivation to think carefully what comes out of your mouth and it’s good training. Soon, everything that you say will be smart and intelligent.

What’s smart and what’s intelligent? Witty, yes.. unique, yes…

But consider this.. I remember instances where people speak the most silly stuff and it eventually turns into a practical, interesting idea that eventually deliver remarkable results.

So, why impede yourself to say smart stuff? Be yourself.

The Straits Times, 2 March 2009, Home B2

Since the nation’s independence in 1965, Singapore has been mostly managed by the ruling political party PAP. Over the years, there have been more talks within the citizens, particularly the youths and the younger generation for an opposition voice in the government.

The ruling party’s stand has been that with the unified government now, decisions can be made fast and swiftly. PAP MPs are organised into government parliamentary committees (GPCs), and act like opposition parties, giving alternative feedback to the cabinet in their select areas.

With this, the PAP tries to reduce the need for opposition parties in the government. Over the years, some of the comments and inputs that PAP MPs have made in parliament proves the success of the scheme.

I believe that one of the reason why the PAP remains uncontested is also because they have taken loads of proactive steps to stay ahead of the other political parties.

The commitment in grooming youths is an excellent example. The investment in training the next generation of politicians and the grooming of young leaders will eventually give them the head-start against the competitors.

But the nation still believes in the powers of mainstream media vehicles.

25 Feb 2009, The Straits Times, Home Pg B8

Over the past few months to years, the government has indeed warmed up to the advances to new media and concrete steps are taken to get the nation ready to face the tidal wave digital media.

Digital media is widely recognised to be gaining good progress in the cosmopolitan city and it’s expected to make a significant impact in the social and political environment.

Neighbour country Malaysia witnessed a shift in votes against the dominate political party and it’s largely attributed to the awareness and effective online strategy led by the opposition party.

In the US, digital media played an important role in winning President Obama’s popularity and victory too.

The local government had launched the new media champion initiative. The initiative involves getting representatives from grassroots organisations to be new media champions to explore using new media to drive social cohesion and community bonding. Staff from the People’s Association have been attending courses to learn more about new media and how they can tap on them to drive social causes.

On the political front, the government’s feedback arm, REACH, engages the online community on governmental issues.

Whilst critics are saying that these moves are conservative and the government should engage the online community on a more direct and open platform, I think that it is a good start.

Our government has over the years, earned the reputation of being careful, and I attribute that to the success of the nation thus far. There should not be a reason why they should jump on the bandwagon, just because digital is a tidal phenomenon that is sweeping across the world.

I acknowledge that new media is making very significant progress and impact but it’s such a huge and complicated animal that it can lead to one’s success or downfall very quickly. Hence, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Making baby steps could be slower and more conservative but it’s nonetheless, considered steps that I appreciate.

Marketing Guru Seth Godin wrote an excellent piece titled, “Are they ready to listen?”.

In day to day lives, we often come across people who are just interested to get their POVs, messages out. Are they really listening? Is it a right time to make those comments? Is it appropriate?

If my parents are unhappy with you, they’ll lash it out when they feel like it. I’m sure after over XX (insert your age) years of relations, they would know that messages won’t go through this way, but they do it nonetheless.

Not only businesses have to listen, people have to do so too.

On a more casual social media context, the concept of listening is showcased:

I’ve been on twitter for coming a year already. I haven’t had a strong conversation going. I read many posts about the person I’m following but it’s not as conducive a conduit to spur conversations. When you tweet, are there people listening to what you have to say? Are there responses to your comments? Do you then reply to them?

Plurk, on the other hand, takes it the true blue Singaporean way. They incentivise the conversation. “Karma” points are awarded to every plurk entry that spurs responses. So, if you are a “Karma” getter, you’ll make sure you sit up and communicate something that will get people to respond.

Driving down the jam packed Central Expressway in Singapore during the morning peak hour can be quite frustrating.

Every driver is trying to rush through the many ERP gantries before the prices switch to higher rates. With bad weather, the traffic slows down exponentially. Even if you have planned your time to pass the gantries before 8am (where prices change to a higher rate), your schedule gets messed up because of the ridiculous traffic conditions. The driver then grumbles about the additional funds that will be deducted from his CashCard.

To make matters worst, situations like this happen:

You are travelling on lane one, the supposedly overtaking lane. A taxi driver decides to ‘fiercely’ cut into your lane, bordering dangerous / reckless driving classifications, to squeeze himself into the tiny space between you and the car in front. You give way to him and slow down. After getting into the lane, taxi driver decides to be the safest driver in town and practices defensive driving. He leaves a humongous safe driving distance between himself and the car in front.

At least ten cars then flood into that space, and you find yourself travelling a speed that’s way slower.

“Beep” goes your IU. You’re being charged at the higher rate.