The 'A Team'

The Straits Times (25th Oct) article which MM Lee commented on some human capital issues gave me much to think about. 

On the qualities of A Team members: "people with good minds, a sense of obligation to do a good job for the people and the ability to execute". He also cautioned against glib speaker who cannot deliver performance. 

Commenting on out local architecture: "(Here in Singapore, we just pick them by their O levels and A levels, what they scored for math, science, languages, not... how well they did in aesthetics.  We've had the same problem with architecture. We have stereotype buildings....i wonder why. Because we employ or rather we train people who scored well in engineering..."

On knowledge and creating an environment to foster it: "You've got to make it quite clear that knowledge, learning, application of knowledge are what will gain you a good life. If they come to the conclusion that the system depends on good connections, skiving, cheating, then you are in trouble because he sees no reason in acquiring all this knowledge."

Sometimes i wonder who will be the future leaders that are churned out from the nice little factory called SMU. I worry that we will be stereotyped as those who are "glib speaker who cannot deliver performance". Prof Leong warned us against that in Year 1. Given that one has to present to the class more than at least 5 times a sem, it is natural that he/she will be more skilled at presenting than people who have not had the opportunity. However, there's always the case of people who has contributed little to the project, but due to their eloquence, scored brownie points with the prof. In the name of collegiality or just plain unwillingness to 'rock the boat', many of us will not act to 'out' such people. 

I'm really fortunate that in my past 3 years, i've only met ONE such person, and it was a course that i really couldn't care less about. Haha. Most of my team mates are great people who deliver what they promise, and many times more. It such a wonderful experience working with people you can totally trust. Sometimes i would look at people around me and ask myself, "if i am to go into business in the future, who will i want to partner. Who am i willing to work under?" and it often leads to the simple question of "Who can i trust?" which finally leads to the question "Will people trust me and am i trustworthy?"

Acquire knowledge, learn, apply the knowledge, commit, execute and deliver, and never break my promises.