Gila talks

After many text messages to align a date/time for a possible meet-up, it finally took place at Thomson Plaza. Have not met Stephanie for years.  Last met whilst attending a course where "completing assignments" was then the order of the day. Guess struggling to meet deadlines whilst working had certainly helped to foster faster friendship.  (adds to the meaning of a "friend in need !!!")

Enjoyed the evening re-collecting all the crazy moments in our working life. There were of course "common celebrities" where we could easily connect with. Not often that "gila talks" could be so easily exchanged. (Perhaps, a sign that we have been badly deprived !!!). Had to end the evening after several hints from the waiters that we are the last to leave the restaurant. Gotta do this a little more often before "wheel-chair race", becomes the more exciting thing to do !!!

The dilemma of Management

One of the many dilemma of any management is the "HIRE & FIRE" process. In HIRING, there are just no guarantees. The interviewee may have the best of criteria among all the applicants, (at that point in time), may be the best behaved staff within the period of probation or deemed to be the "god-sent" solution to meet the manpower gap but when reality checks step-in, after the probation saga is over, the entire scenario can be a daylight nightmare comes true specially when conflicting issues are intertwined in the web of decisions. Its ultimately a gut-fell / judgmental call, even when stars are aligned.

There will always be the complainers and sympathisers (and the few who know alls ...... who sways like bamboos in the wind). The first two groups are not too complicated, to identify and manage .... but its when the complainers and sympathisers are one of the same person/group, then things get mashy !!!. One moment, they are one who shouts inequality and foul play, uses terms like "non-professional", "not ethical" or even "non-religious-like behaviour", to justify their position.... but are 180 deg from their previous  position when actions are finally taken. So cruel, so heartless, so sudden, so inhuman, (I'm sure one can imagine more and the list can go on).... the perfect "angels" emerged.

Somehow, people forget that no organisation hires anyone for charity (so to speak). Salary comes from sources who expects certain type of output, be it products in kind or intangible outcome and the strength of any team sometimes are measured from the weakness link. Should inappropriate attitude or behaviour are permitted to exist, its also seen as a license for others to emulate. No management would stand by it.....  It's akin to letting a cancerous cell grow.

When the threshold for tolerance is finally breached, the inevitable decision to FIRE as a last resort will also be a painful one. There is never any joy in any termination, no matter how dire the situation is, for their are many other side complications/effects that follows. To the sympathisers group, there will be period of numbness/acceptance. The true complainer group may see justice being melted out but to the "bamboo" category, there will be new scenarios depending on the direction of the wind ..... Just some food for thoughts !!! 

ST Coverage

The unplanned interview at the office, some two weeks ago, didn't make the prints. Thought it wouldn't even surface since it has already faded in the wake of other reports popping up since then. 

       This morning drive to the office was somewhat a different one. Lots of messages suddenly kept the mobile phone buzzing. Being on the highway with heavy traffic, didn't manage to get a peep at what's the buzz....zzz were about, till stopping at the breakfast point @ Alexandra Village. Had some 15 messages on the Straits Times Home coverage on "Drop in piracy in Regional waters". By the end of breakfast and stepping into the office, had a total of 22 messages. Only thing that didn't go quite right in that coverage, was the display of my "jolly roger flag" (at the top right corner) which was not suppose to be seen in public.