Meeting Ateneo de Manila University - Part 1

Recently, I was interviewed by a graduate journalism student from Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines. The graduate student works for a broadcasting company in Singapore. Here are some highlights of the interview. For part 2, read here.

MOTIVATION FOR BLOGGING

I started blogging some time last year on the encouragement of Alex Au of Yawning Bread.

Blogging, which is to me the same as writing, has helped to shape my views and also improved my command of the English language.

In fact, some of the postings have either been carried in other publications or led to longer contributions on other platforms.

The blog is also now an archive of what I have published in the past. I realised before setting up the blog that there was no comprehensive resource I could rely on on what I have shared in the past. This process of archiving is still going on.

BLOGS AND EXPRESSION

While blogs have enabled more people to express themselves, it has also come at a cost to some people. For example, the individuals in Singapore who have found themselves in trouble with the law over things they have posted.

It was this concern which led me to propose self-regulation of blogs. There was a mixed response to this proposal by the blogging community in Singapore. In fact, one blog, Singapore Election Watch, even colourfully labelled me.

But I still believe there must still be continuous efforts to educate bloggers and keep them out of trouble. Defamation, for example, is a complex area of law that your ordinary blogger will find difficult to comprehend.

The Nanyang Technological University had one such learning programme recently. The Law Society of Singapore also published an article on responsible blogging in its magazine. There is also now a regular bloggers' convention, which can serve as a useful education platform.

WHO RUNS SINGAPORE ELECTION WATCH BLOG

I am not sure who runs it but it's not important. What is important to me is that its feedback on comment moderation did help me to make improvements to my blog.

ANONYMOUS POSTINGS BY INDIVIDUALS

I have no objections to anonymous postings although my wish is to see more people coming out from this closet of anonymity. I think not being anonymous enables you to take this discourse a step forward.

For example, when I used to contribute to virtual forums some years ago, that was it - contribute. A lot of these discussions eventually degenerated into negative remarks so I stopped contributing to virtual forums. It was not helping me grow.

Instead, I now organise a regular Thinking Talkies session where I bring about 15 people from different walks of life together. And in one night I learn about issues spanning a spectrum of topics that these attendees would like to share. This has helped me as a person and it's something I won't have got as an anonymous poster.

Of course, there are some advantages in anonymous postings. For example, I know a university professor who has an anonymous blog, away from the attention of curious students, which he uses as a platform to experiment with his thoughts. And this has helped him to formulate views which he has later used professionally.

ANONYMOUS POSTINGS BY ORGANISATIONS

Recently, there was a lot of debate in Singapore when it was revealed that the ruling party here has used anonymous postings to help shape a more positive view about it on the Internet. This was not surprising to me since it is a strategy that even companies in Singapore and elsewhere use to pitch their offerings and reputation. Perhaps, an anonymous poster is more credible in sending out an unbiased image. But, in one way and as some have argued, it is also deception or unethical because you are claiming to be something you are clearly not.

It is for this reason in my organisation, we have a policy where we encourage our employees to blog openly and to recognise that, even if they don't tell others, it is possible for people to associate their views with that of the organisation. In fact, my former boss championed this by blogging himself. I strongly believe that such initiatives can help one's corporate image.

PRIVACY AND BLOGS

If you choose not to blog anonymously, you must also recognise that you need to take steps to protect your own privacy. Like it or not, we all have some skeletons in our cupboard and, in the wrong hands, it can land you in very unkind situations.

For example, in a television interview recently, Timothy Go - a Filipino news presenter who works in Singapore and has his own blog - shared there are various aspects of his private life that he would not discuss in the public sphere. And he highlighted it is important to do this in the interest of his professional image.

Happiness,
Dharmendra Yadav

Trust Those You Love

Trust is a very important ingredient of a happy relationship.

I know of someone whose partner wants to know his every movement.

His partner also demands to read the messages he receives on his mobile phone or as part of his personal mail. The partner further dictates that he not keep in touch with his ex-partners.

The partner is often instigated by negative friends to be more questioning of what he does and suspicious of his intentions. The partner has even gone to the extent of doing regular checks to verify his whereabouts and his intentions.

This is really an unfortunate state of affairs.

I have told this person to really reflect about the value of this relationship and to decide if he really wants to be in such a relationship.

But, of course, running away from a relationship is often not an easy solution and there are some relationships that we just cannot run away from.

For example, one between a suspecting parent and a child. I know of someone who often makes negative remarks about her child. As a result, the child often runs away from home to the sanctuary of his grandparent.

I don't think these are positive ways to conduct our relationships; they are full of insecurities.

We can trust those we love to do the right thing. If they get it wrong, it's okay. Let's forgive and help them to learn from it and move on.

And may you be blessed with the power of love on this Saint Valentine's Day!

Happiness,
Dharmendra Yadav

Learning Customer Needs

A colleague recently asked, "How can we learn about our customers' needs other than conducting customer surveys?"

I shared with him four ideas:

1. Invite your most difficult customers for focus group sessions. Buy them a nice meal. You'll automatically get some useful suggestions.

2. Organise a contest inviting ideas from customers. Give cash rewards to customers whose ideas you implement.

3. Commission an independent research company to do this.

4. Buy the top 10% of your sales team a meal and ask them.

I am sure others can think of alternatives.

Happiness,
Dharmendra Yadav

Retain employees using innovative work areas

I read in Think magazine (Issue #26) that a Singapore company, muvee, has found a unique way to keep its employees happy and retain them.

Most companies stick to the traditional approach of paying employees competitively and providing them relevant continuous learning opportunities. muvee, which employs some 80 persons, has gone further by empowering employees to design their workspaces.

Each employee is given a budget and certain rules to follow in customising the individual work area.

Additionally, when muvee moved into its present office space in Bugis, it asked its employees for a wish-list and delivered this list. As a result, its present premises now incorporate "games rooms, cinema, American style diner, many many Fatboy bean bags, steam shower, focus groups suite and a war room, where company strategy is concocted amidst fake guns and camouflage gear". There is even a "kiddy style area with ABC matting and bouncy balls".

This indeed reflects the power of involving your employees proactively in issues that are likely to affect them.

muvee achieved substantial cost-savings in innovatively designing the present premises; it saved 40% of the budget allocated for its new office space.

Its approach has also been welcomed by both its employees and customers.

Now, give your boss the same idea about designing your workspaces, and persuade your employer to visit muvee for inspiration!

Happiness,
Dharmendra Yadav

Redefining How Time Is Told

Until recently, there were only two ways watches displayed time: analog or digital.

This weekend, I learnt about a new way from the Financial Times magazine, How To Spend It.

One patented German innovation, NEOLOG, is attempting to redefine the way one tells time. According to its website, the watch "no longer displays time by hands or numbers".


Instead, "time is shown as what it is - quantity". The time is divided "into intelligible units: hours, units of ten minutes, and units of one minutes which are arranged in vertical blocks".

And so the time now is...



Several press commentaries have lauded this innovation. One commentator notes, "This sleek way of displaying time makes the watch as much as a fashion statement as a convenient and effective way of telling time."

A serious collector of watches is likely to find the price of 200 Euros affordable. It is also a dear and unique present for those you really love!

Unfortunately, for now, one can only buy the watch online.

Meanwhile, anyone wants to buy me a present this year?

Happiness,
Dharmendra Yadav

Give Her A Raise

A friend shared with me last year that people want good service but most do not know how to place a premium value on good service. This has left a lasting impression on me.

Two nights ago, after watching a football match, I was at Starbucks.

I was dead tired and, faced with the daunting task of choosing a drink from such a wide array of beverages, I was absolutely lost!

My plight must have been too obvious to one of their friendly employees, who approached me and offered help.

I told her, "I am superbly thirsty and need something refreshing."

She recommended chilled still water or an icy mango drink. I bought both. She served me the drinks swiftly and she said she hoped that I'd keep coming back.

As I was about to leave, I asked her for a feedback form. I gave her positive ratings and in the comments section I justified my ratings. My final remarks were, "Give her a raise!"

I have done this quite regularly in recent months. I am not sure how far it helps one get a raise but it sure brings a contagious smile to the face of the persons that attend to me!

Sometimes, instead of leaving a feedback form, I also ask if a person needs to share his or her tips. If such persons reply that they get to keep their tips, I make it a point to tip them well.

I hope I am giving good service an apt value.

Happiness,
Dharmendra Yadav