Leaders need to listen to the silence

Why hiring similar is not automatically the right answer — A former business associate was lamenting the resignation of his General Manager. My friend was stressed as his GM had been his right-hand man running his business for the past five years, and he had no one in his team who could assume the role of GM. To him, those…

1-Minute Insight: Life Lessons — I recently had coffee with a friend who was in the news a few years back accused of wrongdoing. During coffee, he shared his desire to clear his name and to make those who accused him pay by spilling the beans on them. Before acting on his desire, I suggested…

Thank you for your honesty — I was recently on a job interview panel and, for the first time in a long time, the interviewee was refreshingly totally honest. No puffery, no exaggeration, and no misinformation. The candidate was candid about her experience and her abilities. And, while she did not check all the boxes, the…

The answer will surprise you. — As a young Second Lieutenant, I was held accountable for everything my platoon did and did not do. The platoon’s failures, and their successes, fell squarely on my shoulders. This is a leadership mindset I continue to hold and, if anyone on my team fails a task, the person I…

3 things you need to ask yourself — “Justin, I am troubled. My boss is surrounded by ‘yes men’ and he is about to make a terrible decision. I know it will be unpopular, but I must speak truth to power.” From time to time, in the course of our careers, we will be put in this position…

Are you? Or is this the latest tactic used by scammers …. — A “recruiter” reached out to a senior executive on social media with a job offer. Interested, the executive provided his office email address to the “recruiter” for him to send the job description. Embedded in the email attachment was spyware that enabled the scammer to gain access into the executive’s…

Ranks and titles come with the respect of the Office. This respect, especially in the military, is closely intertwined and often indistinguishable between the individual and the office holder. In the Singapore Armed Forces, a Colonel is a Colonel and high up in the hierarchy. When a Colonel enters a…

Being on social media is stressful. This is because when you share your thoughts on social media, you open yourself up to being criticized, challenged, and ridiculed. The reality of mass communications is: (a) the message is not what I say, but what the recipient understands; (b) there will always…

1-Minute Insight: Strategic Planning — During #CoffeeWithFriends this week, a friend shared her “strategy” to transform her department and how she has embarked on three “strategic” thrusts of people development, digitalization, and innovation. She however added that her “strategy” was not working as her colleagues were still stuck in their old ways. I offered my…