![]() ![]() I don’t go around brandishing HR advice or proclaiming subject matter expertise in performance management, talent review or organisational development.Īt the heart of the matter is my desire to build a culture where people feel valued, and create an environment where they have the opportunity to build meaningful careers. Not a job, but a callingĪs a HR director, I don’t see my job as just doing HR work or leading the HR function. You no longer need to look outside yourself for approval or affirmation and you stop becoming a slave to the opinions of others. When one has a cause, the motivation comes from within. I also discovered eventually, that attributing success to the levels of admiration, fame and money would never be enough. However, after spending much time and effort trying to get myself noticed, I started questioning my cause when I realised I had forgotten why I wanted to be a high-flyer in the first place. While I did not harbour JJ’s aspiration of designing a car that can fly, I did set my sights on becoming a corporate milieu “high-flyer”. The conversation reminded me of my “AHA” moment rather early in my career. Imagine my surprise when I heard he wanted to use nanotechnology to design a flying car which will solve the energy and traffic woes of the world. When I asked him what fuels his ambition, I was expecting “make tons of money, become famous” in a seven-year-old way. In case you were wondering, he is only seven years old and is home schooled by my sister. JJ’s ambition is to become a nanoscientist. I can vouch that Apple has certainly left deep imprints on the social fabric, from the pervasive use of electronic gadgets amongst my friends to my young nephew, JJ, who suffers from iPad withdrawal syndrome whenever his mother institutes an iPad usage quota. The products are created to redefine the way people do business. ![]() Making Apple products is more than just making money. His cause was to “Make a Dent in the Universe” with Apple products. ![]() Take the late Steve Jobs who took corporate evangelism to a fervent height. Of course, there are leaders who promote their company’s cause much better than others. Living and breathing social media, Ayu’s applause was the instant gratification via the many “likes” on the pictures she posted on her Facebook page. While the “Day of Pink” was part and parcel of her company’s corporate initiative, it was nonetheless a cause which resonated with Ayu. Not unexpectedly, the idea was well received, demonstrating a high level of intolerance towards rudeness and incivility at work. Deeming it a worthy cause, she passed the word around to her close friends who duly brought out the “Pink” to their respective offices. ![]() Recently, Ayu’s company celebrated the “Day of Pink” to promote an inclusive environment and community free of discrimination and bullying. The vision and mission statement remains a poster on the wall rather than a heartfelt cause embraced in our day-to-day lives. Yet, the majority of us working in commercial organisations do not have a clue about the cause of the company. When I was headhunted for the top human resources (HR) post, I was inspired by this opportunity to save lives. Personally, I am lucky to work for a healthcare company whose mission is to improve and save lives. It is the raison d’être for a company to be in business. Hold that thought! Not unlike a non-profit organisation, a cause remains the fundamental cornerstone of a profit making company. We talk about pursuing a cause, we immediately conjure up images of working for a non-profit organisation. ![]()
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