Today, marks the one hundredth time that I have been privileged to write my weekly column in The New Straits Times.
It is a privilege because I grew up reading this newspaper, and I always had so much admiration for the newsmen and women who churned out great stories, and wrote insightful opinions.
My view of the world today is certainly shaped, to some extent, by what I read in that broadsheet.
The NST also holds a very special place in my heart for another reason.
When I was thirteen, I scored myself a Shimano racing bicycle. It was a reward from my folks for getting into the Penang Free School. At that time, this was the choice secondary school for any discerning Penangite.
This bicycle brought me independence. For a few years, until he passed away, nearly every morning en route to school, I would stop and hang out with my grandfather at his house for a bit. He was a real character and I truly loved him.
The highlight of my visits with him was that he would read out various passages from the NST to me. I never quite understood why. Perhaps it was his way of expressing his affection for me.
As I thought about what I would write in this column to commemorate this personal milestone, the most memorable piece of advice my grandfather gave me, came to mind.
Almost every morning after he read something out to me, he would remind me to study hard. He kept saying that education was the only way I was going to be successful and be happy in life. In his charming way, he’d add “…if you have money, every day is Deepavali.”
I remember asking him one day if money was the only thing that would make me happy.
That’s when he explained to me that he was actually only asking me to concentrate on my learning, so I become valuable. Money would come when I offered value to others. He wanted me to understand that if people needed me, they would pay me handsomely for my services.
His life experience taught him that knowledge was the greatest asset anyone could possess.
Are you valuable? Do people need you?
In my leadership coaching sessions, I often start by asking this question. Most coachees get quite flummoxed by this. Going to work is just a thing we all need to do to survive, they answer.
Many people I meet seem to be disengaged from their jobs. But when I probe them deeper, they all have dreams for a better life, and for bigger outcomes from their careers.
At various times in my professional life, I too have felt disconnected with what I do. But at these moments, I’ve been fortunate to be able to recall what my grandfather drilled into me. His words always helped re-energise myself whenever things went wrong.
I know now, that his coaching helped me create a strong purpose drive.
This week I was asked to train a group of entrepreneurs as part of Alliance Bank’s SME Innovation Challenge 2018. I was invited to coach them on how to manage talent in their businesses. It was empowering to work with so many dynamic and motivated business owners.
In the workshop, even before we got into a discussion about how to nurture and develop talent in their businesses, I focused on getting them to align themselves with a solid purpose drive for what they wanted from their teams.
I had to make them understand that if there was no compelling purpose, they would never be able to develop their people.
Your attitude towards everything is always directly related to your purpose and intention.
If your purpose is ambiguous or uncertain, it will show in your attitude and work product. We’ve all had personal experiences with colleagues who are like this. They forget to do things; they don’t take some important matters seriously, or their attitude is frivolous, at best.
When someone is branded as having a bad attitude at work, I reckon it is simply a reflection of their lack of purpose. They may not be bad people. It is just that they have no focused direction.
Remember that your sense of purpose is shaped by the things you believe in and value.
When you have a strong sense of purpose, you tend to develop a personal code of behaviour. And, your connection to purpose will help you live by these beliefs and values.
In business, the need for purpose is well documented. In 2013, the Deloitte Core Belief and Culture Survey reported that organisations that focus beyond profits and instill a culture of purpose are more likely to find long-term success.
A strong sense of purpose has a positive impact on your day-to-day living.
I am grateful to my paternal grandfather, Raman Nair, for indoctrinating a strong sense of purpose in me, from an early age. I have spent my entire career focusing on becoming valuable.
Do you know what drives you?
Shankar R. Santhiram is managing consultant and executive leadership coach at EQTD Consulting. He is also the author of the national bestseller “So, You Want To Get Promoted?”
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