Performance efficacy does not come easy to officers sitting at higher echelons of the corporate ladder. Key posts definitely entail high work demands in terms of deliverables; needless to say more challenges to face up to. Without having undergone a cumulative series of personal development process, normally spanning over a significant time span, an aspirant for efficacious performance in any coveted role will not surpass the challenges laid at his feet. The process starts with acquisition of a pivotal fundament, i.e. KNOWLEDGE.  Knowledge pertinent to the field of work concerned must first be at hand, otherwise the next stage of development will not materialise - much less eyeing the hope for career progress in the same field.

Take the example of a young aspirant coveting to be an astute fund manager as his objective. Firstly, he must already have attained a foundational academic degree – like finance, economics, accountancy, business administration etc.  An academic foundation may not suffice. The aspirant should also pursue professional accreditations – like Registered Investment Advisor (RIA), or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), or Capital Market Service Representative’s Licence (CMSRL), or Federation of Investment Managers Malaysia (FIMM) licence. Yet attaining professional papers may still not be enough. The next phase of development is to don a keen interest to pursue research on pertinent subjects; such as economic forces, geopolitics which have bearings to the investment climate, market forces, stock market updates, various industry updates, specific corporations’ data etc.

Relevant encompassing knowledge is the key fundament, or also known as the foundation for any coveted career. I use the analogy of constructing a very tall building. The maximum height of a majestic skyscraper depends on the foundation set for it. The deeper and firmer the foundation, the taller and steadier is the construction. Similarly, the more profound the knowledge relevant to a specific job, the firmer is the potential for career advancement of that aspirant.

Having profound pertinent knowledge serves as the primary fundament.  Yet it still requires some vital pillars for supporting performance efficacy. Using the analogy of a skyscraper again, robust pillars are needed to complement the foundation. The foundation holds the pillars; the pillars complement the foundation to support the robust building structure. So, what are the pillars for supporting job performance, then? Answer: DEDICATED HANDS-ON WORK EXPERIENCES! The aspirant must be prepared to stretch his hands into the practical work pile in order to get accustomed to what the real practical feel is.

To hone the capability for executing tasks efficaciously, one must be adequately exposed to all aspects of the role. He ought to assimilate both the micro and the macro elements that either positively or negatively impact results. For example, an aspirant aiming to be an astute fund manager must first learn the hands-on nitty gritty perspectives of fund components design. Apprenticeship under the guidance of a seasoned fund manager invariably is needed. He must pick up the hands-on holistic analysis tasks, gaining hindsight and foresight for curtailing risks on one hand and anticipating fund growth potentials on the other hand.

Acquisition of knowledge may span over some years as diligence to grasp the right academic and technical substance over time is involved. Selecting the pristine ingredients suited to complement the key fundament toward attaining the desired position will be more arduous – this effort rests much on APPTITUDE, which is the propensity to apply effectively what has been learnt (knowledge) into practical work.  Such a “challenge” necessitates resilience (forbearing tenacity) and perseverance (persistent tenacity), both being prime ATTITUDE essences for staying focused on the job.  Notwithstanding the attitude mind-set, yet two supplementary factors are still needed to mould an aspirant’s aptitude realm – the absorption dimension for learning; and the analytical capacity for visualising actualities.

 Holistic comprehension of a work situation relates much with hindsight (taking cues from past experiences) and foresight (projecting the future scenarios, coupled with cognisance of the present scenario). An aspirant being imbued with holism is one who manifests the right technical know-how plus inclusive grasp of the practical work aspects. Obviously, significant time span will be unavoidable in order for any high career aspirant to reach the stage for executing sound discretions.  I reiterate that besides the right foundational academic degree befitting the job, professional qualifications may be required; then due diligence to get entrenched in practical work aspects related to the coveted job role must take place.

Only by completing the entire development process postulated in the narratives above, can an aspirant then attain performance astuteness – there is no short cut to the development process. And only by being equipped with performance efficacy can the aspirant formulate action plans congruent to the job. Finally, I highlight another “truth”, i.e. Astuteness and Prudence co-lever one another. They are inseparable. Astuteness enables perceiving the right perspectives of a subject. Prudence enables executing the right decisions and actions that produce desired results, in support of the perception. In short, an astute cum prudent protagonist in any career field may aptly be termed a wise one.

To recapitulate the sequential key points: (1) Relevant foundational academic degree. (2) Relevant professional papers. (3) Research on pertinent subjects related to the job scopes. (4) Wide hands-on work experiences. (5) Resilience and perseverance (Right Attitude). (6) Absorption dimension for learning and analysis (Right Aptitude). (7) Holism mental frame.

I end my sharing with a few self-coined quotes and a humorous cartoon on wisdom:

# A wise man knows he needs to keep on learning as there is always something new or old to learn.

# A wise man first scans the scenarios in order to decipher the prevailing trends, then forms his opinions thereafter.

# Wisdom does not immediately arrive at a conclusion until all options are considered.

# Wisdom calls for recognition of all related facts linked to an issue, and not just the issue per se.

 

 

 

In my previous (latest) contribution, I shared on RESOLUTENESS POWER, in which I stressed the key enzymes of Faith/Love (self-trust and conviction in a mission), Change (actions befitting changed situations) and Cognizance/Awareness (of new happenings and trends). Indeed the enzymes are imperative for bolstering the resolute thrusts toward achieving coveted objectives.

However, allow me to state a “caveat emptor”. Over-indulgent resoluteness to hit achievements at all costs, if not prudently managed, may instead lead to physical burnout in the longer term which could cause the following negative side effects……..

·         Physical deterioration, secondary to conditions like insomnia, hypertension, anxiety, fatigue etc.

·         Professional mistakes – an over-clouded mind is prone to be less alert for work execution.

·         Moodiness, self-withdrawn behaviour, irritability, disappointment.

Hence, an aspirant bent on fulfilling work commitments must have platforms for restoration in order to avert burnout, which is a prevalent concern in today’s competitive corporate world. “Restoration” means reversion to the normal mental and physical state. In this context, it is to bring back the state of health, soundness and vigour.

I avidly participated in Dr. Steven Covey’s  “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” course quite some years ago. Module 7, entitled “Sharpen the Saw”, casts a culminating advisory tone to all graduating participants. This module highlights four balanced dimensions for personal “renewal”, viz. PHYSICAL, MENTAL, SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL & SPIRITUAL. I believe “renewal” also infers to “re-energise”.  The module recommends avenues for re-energising, which essentially entail ways to avert burnout emanating from work stress. In fact, the entire Steven Covey’s programme lays out the steps for an overall healthy frame to attain sustainability in terms of work efficacy by inculcating a conducive and manageable application approach. (I would recommend readers aspiring to be high performers to sign up for the programme.)

The four dimensions advocate the following habits:

·         PHYSICAL:  Proper nutrition, exercise, recreational activities, enough rest/sleep, relaxation time etc.

·         MENTAL:  Reading, writing, mind-inspiring hobbies, education, seminars, training courses etc.

·         SOCIAL: Establish meaningful fraternities, family relations, network circles, interaction with counterparts/peers to share views, society events etc.

·         SPIRTUAL: Meditating, praying, religious worship, digesting literature that inspires morale, listening to songs that touch the heart etc.

The crux of Dr. Covey’s promulgation is on the vitality of encapsulating all the four essential dimensions as the holistic balance of a pragmatic lifestyle while pursuing career/business/wealth goals. All four constitute vital physiology needs, hence none should be neglected in order to acquire a wholesome well-being.

Allow me to interject. In today’s demanding work environment filled with materialism, concerted time is spent by many aspirants on career or business development at the expense of the other life values. For example, ambitious executives striving to climb up the corporate ladder in the shortest time possible will channel full attention toward this desire. Their unrelenting pursuit may be at the expense of laying aside the four dimensions needed for re-energising. They may be sacrificing their need for enough rest, exercise, proper nutrition, fraternity; in addition, they may feel stressful mentally by trying their utmost to meet pressing job expectations. Without discernment, all resilience to persevere will ultimately falter, resulting in burnout or obsessed anxiety – worst still, facing the risk of becoming depressed.

Effectiveness relating to career or business execution is not a one-time measurement. Rather, it is a measurement of successful achievements over a long tenure. It is a matter of long-term sustainability of coveted objectives. The four dimensions, as emphasised by Dr. Steven Covey, form the life essentials that support effective lasting execution contributing to long term success. This is the key message of his programme in the Sharpen the Saw module (Habit No. 7). I firmly believe he intentionally placed this module as the culminating chapter to impress upon his students the efficacy of having a balanced lifestyle whilst driving hard for work goals. I believe he is implying that efforts of the other 6 habits will be nullified if the 7^th is neglected.

Now, may I touch on the Spiritual Dimension. Many people seem to ignore the spiritual perspective – they treat it as the least essential element in their livelihood because of commercial-centric interests.  Spirituality is equally vital, if not more vital, as the other three dimensions. According to psychotherapist Dr. Fred Toke, the other essential needs may prevail as the concerns of most people, yet many do not realise spirituality plays the key link to supporting the overall well-being of a person. The spiritual essence, he says, is akin to the nucleus that holds the other needs cohesively in good balance. His message in this respect, I believe, portrays spiritual activities as an avenue for a person to reflect on the “truths” of proper life purpose, i.e. a balance of values.

Please note that Dr. Steven Covey’s Spiritual Dimension does not relate only to religious spirituality. Included in the realm are platforms that inspire personal morale, moral values, peace and composure; or simply put – the feel good activities. For example, engaging in good deeds like charity may instill inner sense of joy. Other examples are reading autobiographies of revered historical icons and listening to inspirational songs. Any activity that uplifts moral, morale and intellectual well-being is a spiritual ingredient.

Sum Up:

Resoluteness to achieve a coveted objective is just a noble desire. The ability to persevere without faltering and to stay on course continuously without succumbing to stress is the notable feat. Individual life well-being in today’s upbeat commercial era can only be derived by sustaining a balance of the various need dimensions vis-à-vis work demands.

I end by sharing a few of Dr. Covey’s quotes:

“Our body, mind, and spirit help us accomplish our goals. We must maintain our Production Capability (referring to the four dimensions) to perform well. This, maintaining our personal Production Capability, is the focus of Sharpen the Saw.”

“The idea behind Sharpen the Saw is to make gradual changes from day to day. Taking small, progressive steps consistently has a cumulative effect that is usually more powerful and dynamic than any massive, single effort could ever be.”

“Sharpen the Saw means preserving and enhancing the greatest asset you have – YOU. It means having a balanced, systematic programme for self-renewal in the four areas of our lives……..Without this discipline, the body becomes weak, the mind mechanical, the emotions raw, the spirit insensitive, and the person selfish.”