The post I found the answer to my worries. And yes, it was absolutely possible! appeared first on 95%.
]]>Working with 95% was a new experience for me. I was nervous and anxious at the same time to start something new in my life. The nature of business itself is something new to me where I didn’t have any idea on what culture is and how it could be a business and help another business. Looking at everyone’s professionalism during our first time zoom meeting made me more nervous and insecure of myself and not sure how I would go through this and get along with them.
After a while being with the team, I started to feel the connection with them even though we just met each other virtually. It all started from the team huddle that we have through zoom, where we shared our wellbeing and focused on work after that. What they shared with each other really came from their heart, and that makes me feel the trust they put on each other is more than just a working colleague.
Recently, I lost my appetite and haven’t felt like eating anything which has caused me to skip my meal often. By sharing this, the team had never missed to check on me and remind me to eat besides giving me suggestions on what to eat. One of the team, Mastura who’s pregnant and counting days to deliver her third baby, offered to cook for me if there’s anything I wanted to eat, and surprisingly she really did and delivered it to me (I didn’t have the photo as I was so excited to try the lasagna that she tried making first time for me). Her action and everyone’s concern really touched my heart 😉 They really put their team’s wellbeing first and take care of everyone as their family.
I’m glad that I got their support and assistance in adapting to my job. Everyone showed their concern on how am I adapting to the job even though we were not working closely and meeting each other often. My other colleagues, Syera, Pris and even Janet, the CEO, send me a WhatsApp asking how am I doing, and letting me know that I can reach out to them whenever needed even if Mastura was not around. Their effort really meant a lot in my adapting journey. Having colleagues that treat me as family, makes me realize that workplace can be more than just a workplace but can bring more joy when we are surrounded with good people and culture. I can’t wait to meet you guys in person so we could have more joy together!
The post I found the answer to my worries. And yes, it was absolutely possible! appeared first on 95%.
]]>The post Journey To My Joyplace appeared first on 95%.
]]>I discovered my Joyplace when I joined the company and team at 95%. I have never worked in the corporate field before; so 95% is my first experience in this sector. Before working here, I’ve never really connected with the teams I was a part of. I had heard from my peers – who were employed before me – that this was a normal situation in every company. The team I was a part of in my previous company was full of nice people, but I felt I had stagnated. We were able to work together but it was hard to communicate and we had different goals so it was difficult for us to connect on a deeper level. It was just a job and I couldn’t find a sense of fulfilment or joy when working. It felt lonely.
When I went looking for another job I found Janet and 95%! I was nervous during my first interview with Janet but it felt natural to open up to her; so much so that I ended up teary eyed when I shared a personal story. I think I definitely made a first impression. We then set a date for me to meet the 95% team for the very first time on the 21st of February. It wasn’t difficult to click with the 95% team and I was in awe when they first introduced to me their vision and values in person. I felt like they were walking the talk and not just having it on display. I got the email that I was hired a day before my graduation. It was a great graduation present.
I didn’t officially start working at 95% until April 1st so in March before I started, I dropped by the 95% office on my day offs to familiarize myself with my new job and colleagues. March 29th is a special day for me as it’s my birthday; and even though I’ve only met the team about 3 times, I received an unexpected birthday present from them. They had taken the time to record a video of them singing me a happy birthday. It was touching to see that they thought about me. It was heartwarming and I will always be grateful for their caring nature. This made the 29th even more special as it was also my last day at my previous job.
Fast forward to when I officially started at the company. After a rough start, the team helped me overcome the hurdles I faced. I felt them live and practice their values, especially Love and Winning.
I was shown Love when they listened to my worries and insecurities. They also showed me compassion and patience when I made mistakes while I was learning; welcoming my questions and guiding me in the right direction. It was obvious they had my interests at heart and were rooting for me to grow into my role.
There were times when I was at my wit’s end and wanted to call it quits. Them being there for me and showing me that I was not alone helped boost my confidence whether it was work related (where I organized projects and the team came together to see it through.)
or if was my personal life (when they encouraged me to go all the way up to the waterfall at Sg. Lepoh, Hulu Langat when I was ready to give up halfway through as we were attacked by bees and leeches). This showed me that I could lean on them for guidance and help, they were there for me in another capacity as well; as friends.
It has been more than a year and I can confidently say that I have found my Joyplace with 95% and I realize the importance of discovering what you need early on. Getting started can be as easy as finding the right job with people that have your best interests at heart. It can also be done by looking for the right tools and people to build the Joyplace you envision. I can definitely say it is a worthwhile investment to create a joyplace for your people. I didn’t realize how much of a difference it makes when the people come first.
The post Journey To My Joyplace appeared first on 95%.
]]>The post “Huh? Company culture can be installed?” appeared first on 95%.
]]>That was what made me leave a job of 7 years in the PR industry to start from ground zero in a new industry that I have absolutely no experience in. And what a ride it has been. I didn’t know so many things..
I didn’t know that company culture can be designed instead of leaving it by default.
I didn’t know how it could look like when strong core values govern daily interactions within the team and how that can impact the customer experience.
I didn’t know the kind of impact culture can have in a company during a season of crisis.
The thing is.. culture transformation doesn’t happen overnight. I sometimes get frustrated and impatient but ohhhh when I see the lightbulb moments in the minds of CEOs when we share with them how they can design and install their culture.. or when I hear the inspiring leaders speeches where they make commitments and I see them carry out their promises, the kind of heartwarming feedback that they get from their people, or when I hear of client winning awards and new businesses because of their core values – I LOVE MY JOB. I forget the long hours, stress and worry.
I don’t think we could have done this work if our own team didn’t walk the talk. It never gets old for me, experiencing our core values come to life in discussions about client programmes and especially in our own interactions with each other. My most recent experience is how my CEO upheld our values of Love, Truth, Courage and Winning, keeping a close eye on our wellbeing as she would for a family member. She has no qualms about calling out the elephant in the room. And in this recent example, to the stubborn ones (yes, that’s me!) and in no uncertain terms, told me I needed a break, because having a burnt out team member wasn’t a win for anyone. That was how I grabbed a friend and we went on an unexpected adventure (stranded out in Tioman Island when the CMCO announcement was made… That is a story for another day..) And of course she was right, I needed the break so much more than I realised and now that I am back, I was ready to run run run again.
That is why I am super excited that my CEO and Lead Consultant Janet has FINALLY finished her e-book titled “Turning Workplaces to Joyplaces”! She shares about how Joy drives business, our Blueprint to Building Business Culture and our very own case studies. Download your copy here!
We could all do with a lil more joy everyday, especially at work. Hope this e-book inspires more leaders to take up the cause of turning their workplaces to joyplaces!
The post “Huh? Company culture can be installed?” appeared first on 95%.
]]>The post My Company Changed How We Work So I Can Be With My Family appeared first on 95%.
]]>Early last year, my sister was diagnosed with a rare type of lymphoma, the news shook my family to the core because we have no family history of cancer! It was no brainer for the family to then decide that her treatment is best done back in my hometown under my parent’s care and supervision in a safer & more comfortable environment.
That leaves me here in Kuala Lumpur and I felt very torn because I want to be there for my sister through her treatment but I still need to be in Kuala Lumpur for work.
Never could I have imagined that, upon sharing the news to my boss and team, they quickly worked out a win-win plan where I could divide my time between KL and my hometown so that I can continue working AND still be with my sister in a different state!
I spent my time going back and forth between two states every 2 weeks for over 5 months. This definitely required some adaptation from both sides; I accelerated my transition to a new role so that it would be possible for me to work remotely (this was last year when working remotely wasn’t a norm!), and the team adapted to having one team member working remotely and this included scheduling meetings over Zoom and lots of pre-planning to include me in projects and programmes (even the fun; like trying to feed me chips over Zoom).
We always talk about how a workplace is a joyplace when a company is able to fulfill Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. With the arrangement, not only do I get to keep my job and salary (Level 1; Physiological Needs & Level 2; Safety, checked), I get to be with my sister and family and still feel that I’m part of my team (Level 3; Love & Belonging, checked), with my acceleration into my new role with many opportunities to learn and grow (Level 4; Esteem & Level 5; Self-Actualisation are also fulfilled).
The lengths that my team has gone to make this a win for both sides was mind blowing. They even made a day trip to my hometown and surprised me on my birthday so that they could bring me joy on my birthday knowing that it was a hard time for me!
It was not easy but when I felt taken care of by the company, I felt it was easier to contribute back at work despite the circumstances. A joyplace can mean many things, to me it is when I know that I have a second family at work who always have my back and make things work no matter what. A joyplace is when work is not only work, but you get to be 100% yourself, you care about each other’s lives (personal included) and you find meaning in the work.
The post My Company Changed How We Work So I Can Be With My Family appeared first on 95%.
]]>The post I Left My Company Once. Here’s Why. appeared first on 95%.
]]>JOYPLACE. I was struggling to grasp this concept of how a Workplace can become a Joyplace. I didn’t experience that the first time I joined 95% in 2016 (4 years back! How time flies!). I joined them as an intern, learning the ropes of a digital strategist.
I was miserable. Don’t get me wrong. The bosses were great, teammates were nice and supportive, office premise was decent, flexible working hours, everything was great but I was not happy. What else was lacking?
As mentioned in my CEO, Janet Lee’s eBook, titled “Turning Workplaces Into Joyplaces”, a Workplace becomes a Joyplace when all 5 Levels of Needs are fulfilled – Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory. (Get your FREE copy HERE!)
What was lacking back then was my Level 4 Needs – Needs for Self-Esteem; I wasn’t achieving anything that I was proud of and Level 5 Needs – Needs for Self- Actualisation; I was busy – of course, but what was my purpose being in the company? Am I even contributing to the company? I just.. couldn’t see the fruits of my hard work and the meaning in my work.
So, I left.
Fast forward a year later, I re-joined the company again as a part time Finance Executive replacement as my friend and colleague went on maternity leave. Then I had the opportunity to help out as a junior Project Coordinator, in charge of creating the workshop experience for our clients.
After a month or so, I feel that THIS IS IT! I feel that I’m contributing! I love what I’m doing! I feel fulfilled! I love being in the training room, I love working with our amazing and experienced Associates Trainers and Coaches, I experienced joy from witnessing the participants’ transformation after our programmes and I found the joy, knowing that I had played a part! The gap back then – the Level 4 & 5 needs are now fulfilled! I really wanted to stay and so I decided to ‘offer’ myself to my CEO, telling her that ‘I want to be part of the team in the long run.’
Now – it’s 2020, it has been my 3rd year with the company as a solo Project Coordinator. For someone who was previously a very reserved person, passive, negative at times, doubtful of my own potential, I became more confident to contribute my thoughts and ideas, and also more sassy (my team call me Datin now!).
The confidence that I gained from the experiences working in the company even pushed me to create singing cover videos – sometimes, in office! (Check out this hashtag #whensyerasings. Find me on other social medias! 😉)
The relationship that I have with my team right now is so precious – they have created this space for me where I am comfortable enough to share almost everything with them – my second family at work. I can trust them to be there for me when I need support and guidance yet I can also trust them to call me out when I’m not performing at my 100%!
Though 2020 hit us with a pandemic, we kept on going. Of course, we had to pivot few times as we adapt to MCO, CMCO you name it. It doesn’t mean that it isn’t stressful, it doesn’t mean that the work is easy. It is hard. But I have found pride in the work that I do and I’m not alone (I have my team, and my team of Associate Trainers & Coaches too) and that kept me going. My work is now meaningful to me and I finally experienced what it’s really like when a Workplace becomes a Joyplace!
Looking forward to more days of staying late in the office prepping for workshops (when CMCO is lifted!), cracking clients brief, huddles to move clients forward, of course not forgetting our karaoke sessions, ice cream outings, durian outings, Cameron Highland trips and more! Here’s to Turning more Workplaces Into Joyplaces together! ❤️️
The post I Left My Company Once. Here’s Why. appeared first on 95%.
]]>The post Why Care Really Matters At Work? appeared first on 95%.
]]>The one thing that we all care about as human beings – feeling cared for and to be heard.
A culture of caring creates an environment of trust. When your people trust that you care about their experiences more than the performance reviews, they’ll be more open to sharing their ideas, leading to better plans for change. And when they trust that you care how your plans will impact their lives, they’ll be willing to do the hard work of change.
When people consistently feel genuine care at the workplace, it is only natural that they will choose to give back to the company with more drive and motivation.
For me, this is when a workplace becomes a Joyplace.
I personally experienced this when my grandmother passed away in 2015. This was my early years at 95%. I was away in Genting for work, facilitating for one of our personal growth trainings. I was very close to her and my sister didn’t want to call me directly to let me know the news. She knows that I’d be devastated and it might interrupt the training.
Instead, she reached out to one of my colleagues back in KL via Facebook and asked him to pass the news to me when the time is right. My colleague assured her that he will make all the necessary arrangements to get me home as soon as possible and asked her not to worry. He immediately informed my CEO, Janet Lee who was with me in Genting.
When the news reached me, a taxi was already waiting at the hotel entrance to bring me back home and another teammate was already on the way to take my place. Janet accompanied me to my hotel room, helped me pack my stuffs, and was with me till I got onto the taxi safely. Everything was handled for me by my team in no time, just so that I can be back home and be there for my family.
That was just one of the moments I felt genuinely cared for at this workplace. People come first, no matter if it’s our employees, families, clients, or vendors. People always come first at 95%.
I have been working at 95% for 6 years now and I know I have another ‘family’ at work. And we got each other’s back no matter how difficult things get. We work hard together. This is my Joyplace where a high trust culture nurtures collaboration and creativity, encouraging employees to be their best version.
The post Why Care Really Matters At Work? appeared first on 95%.
]]>The post The 3 Benefits of Co-Creating Your Vision With Your Team appeared first on 95%.
]]>Here are the top 3:
Alignment
Having a vision will give your team a compass and ensure that they all move in the same direction. When the vision is meaningful to them, you’ll find them willing to put aside personal differences in order to serve a bigger cause.
Ownership
When they are involved in the co-creation process, it becomes their vision as well as the company’s or the leader’s. Work becomes more meaningful because it is leading to something that is important to them. With this sense of ownership, they will be driven from within. Their actions and decisions that come from a selfish or self-serving intention, it will come from a sense of purpose.
Bonding
When you are co-creating this with your team, you would be creating a space for deep sharing. Your key players will reflect on things that they probably wouldn’t talk about in their everyday busy lives. There is immense value in this kind of sharing: your team will get to know each other at a much deeper level. The connection and bonding will allow the team to understand what each better, and stay united when the going gets tough.
As we plunge into 2021, businesses will need teams that are aligned and internally-driven. You can strengthen your team by co-creating your vision. If your company already has one, invite your team to review it together so that you can keep it fresh and alive.
The post The 3 Benefits of Co-Creating Your Vision With Your Team appeared first on 95%.
]]>The post Vision Statement: the 3 mistakes that many companies make appeared first on 95%.
]]>Here are three of the most common mistakes, and why they don’t work.
Using big words that people don’t understand
In trying to sound grand and glorious, some company vision statements use big words that their employees are not familiar with. Even if you can explain its meaning, the strange jargon makes it hard for them to remember and relate.
Focusing on a goal instead of a cause
Once upon a time, employees were motivated by their company becoming ‘no. 1 in Asia’ or ‘at the forefront of technology’. These days, with more than 50% of the workforce made up of millennials, these statements leave them cold. They want to make a difference in the world. They want to contribute to a worthy cause, and making the shareholders rich is not it.
It is fine to have a BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) or Business Target, but that should not take the place of the company’s Vision. While goals define
the ‘what’, it is the vision that provides the ‘why’. Without a clear and compelling ‘why’ the pursuit of business goals can feel meaningless.
Leaving it on the wall
In order for your company’s vision to come to life, it needs to be imbued into everyday conversation. Beyond announcing it at a townhall, the company’s leaders need to constantly refer to it while discussing company strategy and decision-making.
If it is a cause worth fighting for, you wouldn’t get tired of speaking about it.
We hope these tips serve to reconnect you with your company’s vision and strengthen the meaning that it holds for you and your team. May it serve as a compass pointing the way to greater success in the coming year.
The post Vision Statement: the 3 mistakes that many companies make appeared first on 95%.
]]>The post Do you align your team as often as you align your car tyres? appeared first on 95%.
]]>Without team alignment, you will have:
• Silo behavior with people prioritising what’s important to them
• Friction as each silo pulls in a different direction
• Sense of entitlement that the company ‘owes’ them
I’m sure you know how this can jeopardise your company’s speed and efficiency.
In order for your team to be a Winning Team that can run as fast as you want them to, you need to constantly check what they are aligned to, and why
Here’s a checklist for you to align your team :
Does everyone know your company’s vision?
How important is your company’s vision to them, to your customers, and to society?
How does the current business goals and targets contribute to this vision?
How does their current job scope contribute to this Vision?
At your next townhall or team meeting, discuss these four questions with them. Listen to what they say so that you’ll know where they are. If necessary, re-align them back to your company’s vision.
As people get caught up in the busy-ness of everyday work, it is easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. Every month or every quarter, give them a reminder of why they are doing what they are doing. When this vision is clear in everyone’s sights, they will start putting aside personal differences because they are working for a common cause.
The post Do you align your team as often as you align your car tyres? appeared first on 95%.
]]>The post Delivering your message into people’s heads and hearts appeared first on 95%.
]]>Words alone are not enough to convey your full meaning and expression of what’s important. Words may capture the Head, but if they are not delivered with sincere passion and conviction, they won’t win people’s Hearts.
The most inspiring leaders speak with childlike authenticity. There’s no ‘corporate posturing’ that leaves you wondering what is hidden beneath those fancy sounding phrases.
Instead, you get that they are saying what they mean. And you can trust that they mean what they say.
If you’re a leader, this is how you can turn a well-crafted speech into a powerful message : You need to internalise the message. Regardless of who wrote your speech, you need to take it in and process what it really means to you.
Find your own compelling reason why this message is meaningful and important. Then, operate from your own sense of conviction and deliver it with full passion.
If you are cascading your leader’s speech down to your department, don’t just parrot the same words. Find your own meaning, align it with your leader’s intent, and deliver it with full ownership.
This way, the team will get a powerful experience of the leader’s message being reinforced (and not just repeated) by every HOD.
Imagine the difference : a group of parrots repeating the same words versus a team with different voices, experience and expertise, all reinforcing the same message in one beautiful symphony.
The post Delivering your message into people’s heads and hearts appeared first on 95%.
]]>