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Interaction of company culture and employee loyalty

(Editor's note: what is corporate culture? In this article, Serene Yap, a Human Resource Practitioner and a certified Master Class Trainer in human capital development, shares her thoughts with us. Her experiences in both multinational and small to medium-size companies include the whole spectrum of Human Resource Management and Development. Serene holds an MBA (Distinction) in General Management and a Diploma in Private Secretaryship. She is also a Competent Communicator certified by Toastmasters International.)

Company or Corporate culture is defined as "the shared basic values, ideologies and assumptions, which guide and fashion the organisational behaviour and action".

Corporate culture can be influenced by the local and global business environment, for example, the telco industry may have to instill an innovative and fast decision-making culture due to the quick evolution of the industry. Corporate culture may also be influenced by the diversity of race or nationality, which creates the needs to be sensitive to differing racial personality and background.

Corporate culture plays a very important 'informal' role in the daily activities of an organization by providing guided practices of company values and behaviour. Therefore, it is imperative to cultivate positive company culture from respectful values which encourage employees loyalty. The key strategy is to create a strong foundation or framework that holds and aligns all employees to ONE direction (it's just like music, when sung together in rhythm, its in harmony), and instill into them from a 'New Born' stage. It is not what's written on the walls or in the offices, but values that change and touch the hearts and minds - values that can be imprinted in the hearts and minds of all employees.

Company culture cannot be cultivated or changed overnight, nor in just a few months. The change is gradual and may take at least one year or more. It is most ideal to introduce the Company culture from the day the employee starts work, and gradually cultivate into them the values to be adopted and expected from all staff.

In a recent overseas study, statistics show that in about 85% of companies, employee morale declines sharply after the first six months of joining, and continues to deteriorate for years after that. This survey from about 1.2 million employees at 52 primarily Fortune 1000 companies, found that the fault lies with the management who diminished or destroyed these employees' enthusiasm. Therefore, it is crucial to MAP the journey of all employees to the right direction and to be in alignment with the organization's direction. These employees need to be guided from 'young' to work together and adapt to the Company culture and environment through a structured orientation program, which will also provide a cushion to any cultural shock.

Top Management plays a significant role in evolving the Company culture. People in the organization tend to look upon the Top Management as their role model, and modify their behaviours to suit the wishes and behaviours of the top people. An autocratic CEO or leader using coercive management will often find people in the organization blaming each other for faults or problems. In such a culture, the first thing that the superior does when things go wrong is to find who is at fault, and not the causes and solutions, and Employees are sometimes dismissed indiscriminately. However, one factor that is often overlooked by the management of such culture is that the way the firing is done can have as much impact on the people who remain. These people who remain in the organization will ask "Could this happen to me?" or "When will this happen to me?" Naturally such culture will instill 'fear' instead of 'loyalty'.

Human Resource practitioners play an important role by assisting the Management in shaping a desired positive company culture through introduction or improvement of appropriate management or HR best practices and tools. Effective implementation of reward systems, training / coaching / counseling, and most importantly, Leading By Example.

Maintaining an emotional bond while you travel

Many of us travel overseas as part of our work and sometimes, these travels take up a lot of time and separates us from our families. Our emotional disconnection from our families and loved ones can often affect us in many ways. Here are some helpful hints to stay connected with your home while you travel.

• If you have small children, take them with you in your mind. Ask them to select one of their small toys for you to keep in your luggage and carry with you. Before you leave, tape record a favorite story or a good night ritual which can be played to your children before they go to sleep.
• Send post cards home to each member of the family. You don't have to write long stories. It's more important to tell you that you are in touch with them - physically and tangibly - through something they can hold in their hands. And don't worry that you may be home before the postcard arrives. It's the thought that counts.
• Leave little endearing notes for your spouse under the pillow, behind the bathroom mirror, pinned to her clothes ... anywhere that they can be found later.
• Email them often from wherever you are.
• Take a photograph of your family with you on your travels.
• And the most obvious hint: call home to your spouse and children. It'll be worth the money spent.

                             

An unlikely recruit

Every now and then, we come across some quirky news from around the world. For example, there's this news that a drawf, standing barely 1.2m in his socks, had been recruited - yes, recruited - by a gang of burglars!

Of course, the recruitment wasn't done in the normal channel that we will expect from every law-abiding company but nonetheless, it set off wide grins here in the office when we read about it. Don't, please don't, use JobStreet.com for such activities, okay? Perish the thought, ha ha!!

Here's the picture of the news report that appeared in the Telegraph:

You can read the full story here.

What do you have to offer?

Dr Lee Kum Tatt was a leading Singapore scientist. Although we had never met, I've heard of him as the creator of the RISIS orchid and a very interesting and philosophical person. Dr Lee passed away on 1 Jun 2008, aged 81. Here are some motivational words from him, which we can all share around:

"I came from an underprivileged background. I was born a British subject, went through the Japanese occupation of S.E.A. and the events that followed after the war in the region. I lost 6 good years of my life. At one time I saw no future for myself. I was a charcoal seller, a farmer planting rice and other crops, a dealer in the “black” market and an odd job man. In the beginning I felt miserable and often cried till I had no more tears. My mother, whom I love very much, told me not to feel sorry for myself. She left me with the following advice: The world does not care for what you lack. It is only interested only in what you have to offer.

"My mother’s advice woke me up. I began to see the good in the things that I had to do. There is plenty for me to learn in what I have to do even as a farmer or charcoal seller. So long as what I do benefits and does no harm to others, my mother would be proud of me. This is what I always wanted for one who has sacrificed so much for me.

'I adopted and promoted this philosophy in my personal, professional life and career. My academic, professional and personal achievements speak for themselves. I hope that this quotation when practiced properly will also motivate others, as it did for me."

Here's where you can read more about him.

Jerry Seinfeld's three rules of life

Jerry Seinfeld, the American stand-up comedian, was featured on a talk show that I was watching briefly yesterday as I darted in and out of my living room. I don't know whether you have heard of his Three Rules Of Life? He was talking about them yesterday and I thought to myself, yes, they make very good sense!

So what are they, Seinfeld's three rules of life, and how can they apply to us in our everyday lives?

First rule: bust your ass. What he was trying to say was, live your life to the fullest. Whatever you do, try your hardest. Just give it your best shot. Be exceptional in what you do. Follow your passion. Just work your darn hardest.

Second rule: pay attention. Pay attention to everything that is going on around you: the details in your work, the way you learn, the way you talk and communicate with others. Understand the bigger picture and how you fit into the grand scheme of things.

Third rule: fall in love. Make the world a better place. Everything that you do, fall in love with them. Fall in love with life - your job, your business, your customers, your services and products, your families. Cause people around you to fall in love with their lives. Fall in love with the environment and bask in the glory of nature.

Overcoming public speaking blues

Hey you! What do you know about public speaking? You know, getting up before a group of people to speak to them? It doesn't matter whether it's a group of 10 persons or an audience of 1,000 in a hall.

Do you enjoy public speaking? I've a confession. I would rather not do it. I'm VERY nervous when I have to get up on the stage. I feel uncomfortable when all eyes are on me. Is the fly undone? Unconsciously, I'll be moving my fingers onto my belt. A quick reassurance that the slider is there, just below the belt buckle. But sometimes, I have to speak in public because it's part of my job.

I've been reading that there is term to describe the fear of public speaking. It's called glossophobia, also known as stage fright, and it's believed to be the single most common phobia — affecting as much as 75 percent of the general population. Some say that the fear of speaking in public may even rank above the fear of dying. Mmm....

However, public speaking is one of the most importantly valued skills that you can possess. This skill can be used for almost anything. One of my colleagues in Indonesia says it's a key success factor in life, career, love and business! He's been trying to persuade job seekers over there to attend a public speaking training programme. If you are in Jakarta this July 18, perhaps you'd want to check this out.

As for me, before I ever even step into the hall for my presentation, I have to prepare myself thoroughly beforehand. For instance, here are some of the preliminary steps I take:

• Understand my audience. Who will I be speaking to?
• Practice! If you can practise in front of the mirror, do so. Watch your mannerisms.
• Dress appropriately because you have to show that visually, you are the star of the moment.
• Arrive early to familiarise yourself with the venue, audience and presentation aids.

Then, when it comes to my turn to speak, here are what I do:

• Calm my nerves. Take a few deep breaths before I start. (Touch my belt, naturally!)
• Get comfortable with my language. Avoid technical jargon. Use words that are natural to me and phrases that are understood by all.
• Get to the point so that I don't bore my audience with everything I know. I Just give them enough to let them know.
• Use simple anecdotes or practical examples that the audience can relate to. I try not to make it complicated for them.
• Constantly remind myself not to speak in a monotone. Vary the pitch of my voice or else I risk putting my audience to sleep.
• Try not to mumble or swallow my words. Speak slowly and clearly.
• Ask the organiser for a microphone if I feel that I cannot project my voice across the room.
• Check my body language: how I carry myself on the stage, how I gesture with my arms, my dressing. All very important to me.
• Look at my audience in the eyes. That's maintaining eye contact. Talk to them as if one-to-one.
• If I need a speech aid, I'd Jot down my key points or memory joggers on a small card that I hold inconspicuously in my palm.
• Visual aid. Very important. A power point presentation to help me convey my message across. But I've still got to remember not to overdo the information overkill part.

So that's that. My little tips on overcoming the fear of public speaking. They have helped me; I hope they'll help you too.

Blade runner's dreaming of Beijing Olympics

I don't suppose you will have heard of Oscar Pistorius before but this 21-year-old South African athlete is what heros are made of and job seekers like us can certainly take inspiration from his determination and perseverence against the odds until he succeeded.

Pistorius is no ordinary athlete. He is a double amputee. As a 17-month-old toddler, his parents took the heart-breaking decision to amputate both his deformed legs beneath his knees. Then, throughout his growing years, he battled against discrimination and bullies.

In 2004, he decided to try out for the Paralympic Games and he began to win medals after medals, setting one record after another. Soon, he began competing against able-bodied athletes and came to the notice of the IAAF. Somehow, the IAAF decided to ban Pistorius from running against able-bodies athletes because their tests suggested that the carbon-fibre prosthetic legs he was using could be considered technical aids.

Pistorius persevered by appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and was told last Friday that he could after all try for a place in the South African athletics contingent to the Beijing Olympics.

"From the time I first held Oscar in my arms when he was born and I cut the umbilical cord I could see there was something different about his feet. But I never considered it a defect and feel the same way now as I did in those first few split seconds. His special circumstances are an opportunity."
                                          - Henke Pistorius (Oscar's father)

Last year, JobStreet.com featured a story about a disabled man who entered the boxing ring with some considerable success. We are now equally heartened to hear of this man's determination to achieve his dream on the track. Now, just imagine if we can emulate Pistorius' perseverence towards securing our dreams in the job market.

Searching for jobs by Job Title

We've just introduced a little enhancement to our jobseeker services and you may want to try it out and see how it works.

Job seekers normally use keywords to search for jobs in our JobStreet.com website. Previously, when a search is made, this process will look through the entire job advertisement (requirement, skills, company name, etc) and return the results you want. But we've also found that many searches are made with specific job titles in the jobseeker's mind: job titles that cater to their specific needs.

So in this enhancement, whenever you make a search with keywords, you now have two options:

1) Continue searching within the entire job advertisement; or

2) This is the new part: search for the job title only.

Note: This is only a graphic (To try it out for yourself and see how it actually works, please click on the links below).

For users in Malaysia, click here
For users in Singapore, click here
For users in the Philippines, click here
For users in India, click here
For users in Indonesia, click here
For users in Bangladesh, click here

We hope you will find this neat improvement useful to help you find your desired jobs faster and easier!

JobStreet.com Japan Seminar on April 25

JobStreet.com Japan will conduct its first seminar on 25 April 2008 in Tokyo.

The seminar title is: "Recruitment Strategies for Japanese Companies targeting Asian Talents-It's a matter of survival"

Seminar Site: http://www.jobstreet.jp  (in Japanese)

As JobStreet.com Japan is focusing on placement/staffing services, this seminar is targeted to possible employers, not to jobseekers. The speakers are Dr. Reiji Ohtaki, Senior Advisor of JobStreet.com Japan; Mr. Tatsuya Kodaira, a consultant specialized in recruitment and employment of non-Japanese; and Ryoji Fukuhisa, Senior Engineer/Instructor of JobStreet.com Japan.

Japan and Japanese companies are particularly closed to world talents. JobStreet.com Japan, with huge information accumulated by JobStreet.com, is trying to present REALITY of the world to Japanese enterprises. We believe it is one way to open more and more opportunities to talents in Asia.

JobStreet.com Japan appreciates all jobseekers registering in JobStreet.com. All information extracted from our database is the most valuable source to disseminate proper information to Japanese companies. We do our best to open valuable opportunities for jobseekers in Asia to work in Japan.

Posted by Yusuke Higaki, Country Manager of JobStreet.com Japan

New year greetings from us to you

Hi, welcome to 2008. Just a few short words to cap off Year 2007.

We'd like to thank you for your continued trust in JobStreet.com as your career partner. We are happy to share with you that we are now in eight countries, with Japan being the latest in our JobStreet.com family. We also got recognized by Forbes Asia in their list of 'Best Under a Billion companies'!

As we look forward to this year, we are inspired to work harder at Improving Lives Through Better Careers throughout the whole region. With more than 30,000 jobs posted regionally at any given time, we commit to giving you MORE CHOICES and BETTER CHANCES in your job hunting.

Again, thank you and we wish you a very Happy New Year! May 2008 be a very productive year for you and all of us!

Warmest wishes from LiNa and the staff at JobStreet.com