Islam stands pure as the only religion with the blessing of ALLAH S.W.T that was brought to us by our Prophet MUHAMAD (PBUH) through the miracle of AL QURAN and the HADIS. Here lies the fountain of wisdom for all sciences and arts, and source of inspiration for every aspect of our lives.
Islam is a religion, and all Muslim are followers of Islam. ISLAM IS BEAUTIFUL RELIGION. IT IS THE CONDUCT OF MUSLIM THAT TEND TO TARNISH THE IMAGE OF ISLAM.
There is no limit in the wisdom of Islam and the Quran. The limitation lies in our capacity to tap them and our unwillingness to apply the values and wisdom in all aspect of our daily lives…... beyond just the Islamic TEXTS (for example reading of YASIN, AL QURAN, etc. and RITUALS (for example pray 5 times a day, etc) .
We were borne with very little abilities but endowed with the capacity to develop many of our abilities, including our ability to learn. Learning becomes effective when one begins to ask QUESTIONS. Other important learning enablers are HOME and the ENVIRONMENT where one is exposed to LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. Learning opportunities differ from home to home and from one environment to another. Thus the quality of the ANSWERS to the questions will also differ. Let’s use this scenario to analyze the issue of the disillusioned and the MURTAD.
We were borne as Muslim with the status of "Islam" being our religion. That status was formalized at the age of 12 when we received our identity cards. No formal "conversion" takes place. We are Muslim simply because our parents were also borne with the same identity. We embraced Islam as soon we learn to read the Quran, recited the DUA KALIMAH SHAHADAH and as we learned and started to pray. The quality of Islam among us differs according to the varying learning factors and exposures mentioned earlier. We were taught to read the Quran and pray five times a day. We learned the RUKUN ISLAM and RUKUN IMAN. We went through basically the texts and rituals of Islam.
I believe most Malays lack the awareness and understanding in the value and practice of Islam beyond the texts and rituals. Islamic teachings encompass guidelines that relates to FAMILY, COMMUNITY, ADMINISTRATION, SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, POLITICS, GOVERNMENT, LAW and ORDER, HEALTH, etc. We tend to apply very little ‘Islamic’ in those areas. Which explain why we hear the insinuation that "There are places with many Muslim like Malaysia and Indonesia, but not much Islam", or "Places with not many Muslim like Japan, Germany, Denmark, but so much Islam".
At this point I am tempted to illustrate two interesting examples, one being our Muslim leaders who are dedicated to the text and ritual of Islam, but their responsibility to eradicate the ever increasing corrupt practices in our country become apparently difficult when they are seen to be implicated as well, like money politics, etc.
Another example relates to our religious front. Our mosques are very popular venues especially for Friday prayers and for learning the texts and other rituals. It is not a sanctuary where individuals seek consultation or guidance on Islam. Where do we go to seek guidance when we get disillusioned? If you read those case 'stories' from the MURTAD website, you would want to ‘puke’ at the questions and problems they were facing. The QUESTIONS they have and how they find the ANSWERS. But can those individuals find the answers and the support they needed at our mosque?? I very much doubt it.
Mosque is the most accessible and convenient place for any Muslim to visit. It requires no formality and opens to all, but for years that we had been in and out of the Mosque, we never had any moment when an Imam greet and welcome us. No matter how regular we were, we were just another statistic who comes in and out to perform our prayers. Not that it matters, but the point I am making is the 'impersonal attitude’ of our religious culture. In fact we may even be expected to be ‘reprimanded’ at times when Friday KHUTBAH directed 'scolding' and 'sarcasm' at those in attendance, which were actually meant for the absent 'truants'.
Mosques CAN become natural venues to establish helpdesks for our disillusioned. We have sufficient quantities that we only need to add qualities. There won’t be any need for the government to come up with another bonanza budget to put this helpdesk notion to work. The religious authority need only to provide the major mosques in all states with a network of experts both in coaching skills and the knowledge of Islamic fundamentals to champion each local helpdesk. The next layer will be another network which consist of support groups given the task of any follow up works that may be deemed necessary. The support groups may ideally be volunteers coming from local intellectuals. We are never in short supply of retired local professionals who patronize the mosques within their community. They will make ideal and willing candidates for such voluntary deeds. We need to educate the officials of the mosques regarding the current issues and problems faced by the local Muslim, especially the disillusioned. They need to be trained to be customer friendly in order to assume the role of first contact person to arrange further help that may be required.
We need to draw up the mission, effective strategy, clear objectives and communication in place to drive and guide the members of local helpdesks. When we have young and fragile brothers and sisters needing help, they can call or go to any dedicated local mosque and request for help. The official will arrange the coaching session in an effort to resolve their disillusionment about life....... and ultimately about Islam?
Our religious department officials need to reinvent themselves in the way they project their role and image of Islam to the public.
• They should not be seen as only interested at catching people doing wrong. Instead of projecting their punitive image, a more caring and educating programs would be more welcomed. They should not be too hung up about issue of cosmetics (for example head scarf, dressing, etc.) but engage more in educating the values. It will require more time and patient, but the effect will be lasting and secure.
• Not to be obsessed on the use of deterrents such as the issuance of summon since it was a method adopted from the colonial, and caning is a way of the pagan era. We need to move with time. Education takes time but effective since it will make the person to be self driven.
• Need to formulate strategy to make Islam attractive both to Muslim and the Malaysian public. That Islam is not just about HARAM. It is not about marrying four wives or allows the beating of ‘errant’ wives.
• Muslim scholars need to do less with one way CERAMAH on television or other media. More customized and personalized programs need to be initiated to suit the prevailing problems faced by the disillusioned Muslim. They should stop thinking that one solution fits all. They need to be relevant. They need to walk their talk.
• They should not just react to problem when problem arise. They need to establish the intelligence network on MURTAD cases and tackle the situation early.
Muslim need to work together in spirit and value of Islam, and develop the culture of practice that is educative, sharing, caring and always relevant with time.
Wasalam.
What say you ?
Friday, January 22, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Using the text Allah
RELIGIOUS MATTERS ARE BEST RESOLVED THROUGH RELIGIOUS MEANS AND REASONING
Following the court decision allowing the use of the text ALLAH by the Catholic Weekly, the Herald, there had been so much controversy surrounding it. The world knew what happened since then.
In the face of this controversy the ensuing reactions were anger and calls to stop the Christian from using the text ALLAH in their practice, and in all forms of communicative display. There were even several outbursts within the wake of the anger that several churches were subjected to attempted arson, splash of paint, and other physical abuse.
Do we need to be belligerent towards the Christian over the usage of the text? As Muslim we believe that the Christian and others have erred in their religious paths and practices, but are they not also the creation of ALLAH, as they are being part of mankind? Isn’t ALLAH the only God and God to all mankind? We can be so concerned with the use of the text that we can also risk acting contrary to its meaning?
Do we want to distance ourselves from the non Muslim and always be suspicious of them? All that they hear from us is HARAM. JAIS had already banned them from using 25 texts. Do we not want others to be attracted to Islam? Most importantly, do we want to continue teach our Muslim brothers and sisters to communicate in the same manner? Say no to our non Muslim neighbors without communicating the rationale? I think we should start saying more yes and use the opportunity and tell them more about Islam. I think the Muslim should be taught more about Islam to able to communicate more positively. That way we can become more attractive to others. It will open up the way for us to be genuine leaders and take better control.
I think we should "allow" them use the text ALLAH and at the same time communicate to them the true meaning of ALLAH. Wouldn’t this be the most opportune moment to communicate to the Christian that it is alright to use the text, as long as they understand the need to embrace the true meaning of the text. We need to communicate with grace that, the Christian likewise, need also to handle the text with utmost care according to its true meaning. Such communication need to be handled by top religious authorities and Islamic scholars. The Christian should not take the text without reflecting its true meaning. To use the text without the true meaning will tantamount to its misuse and abuse. That will not be acceptable. If eventually they do accept it, then they will be many steps closer to our camp. That will be a great victory for Islam. If they don’t, and decided to instead use the texts “JEHOVAH” to mean Lord and “ELOHIM” to mean God, then it will be their choice. No love lost.
Religious matters are best resolved through religious means and reasoning, but at the time we must portray the grace, skill, patient and excellence in our leadership.
The rest of us need to learn from the communication. We must be united and clear in what we communicate. To tell the Christian that by allowing them use the text will only confuse our young generation is a very lame excuse. That it will hurt our feelings is pathetic. To quote past histories will only sound incoherent since the current generation hardly understand or feel attached to it. In the final analysis, it will only expose our weaknesses. Are we not confident of our parenting skills and religious education that our young children can easily be misled by the teaching of Christian? Is our religious environment so fragile and vague that our young generation can get confuse with what is Islamic right from wrong? We already have enough problems of our own doings to blame on. Our involvement in corruptions, domestic abuses, and serious crimes are sending the wrong signals to our young people about our commitment to the teaching of Islam. If those were our subtle admission, then the only way forward is to correct and consolidate ourselves.
We can choose to be perceived as fanatical, narrow minded and chauvinistic, or we can portray ourselves as most civilized and wisest of the lot. We need to initiate the communication and lead the way. We can show the Christian and others how the Muslim behaves in accordance to the teaching of Islam. We can win their hearts and followings only by our noble and exemplary behavior. This is the testing moment of our tolerance, sensitivity, wisdom and leadership.
Acting in contrast as we have demonstrated currently will only betray the very spirit of the text and meaning of ALLAH that we are passionately trying to defend in the first place.
The world is watching us. We can help change their negative perception about Islam. As Malaysian Muslim we can positively contribute to that by the way we treat our non Muslim brothers and sisters who in this instance happened to be the minority Christian.
Wasalam.
Following the court decision allowing the use of the text ALLAH by the Catholic Weekly, the Herald, there had been so much controversy surrounding it. The world knew what happened since then.
In the face of this controversy the ensuing reactions were anger and calls to stop the Christian from using the text ALLAH in their practice, and in all forms of communicative display. There were even several outbursts within the wake of the anger that several churches were subjected to attempted arson, splash of paint, and other physical abuse.
Do we need to be belligerent towards the Christian over the usage of the text? As Muslim we believe that the Christian and others have erred in their religious paths and practices, but are they not also the creation of ALLAH, as they are being part of mankind? Isn’t ALLAH the only God and God to all mankind? We can be so concerned with the use of the text that we can also risk acting contrary to its meaning?
Do we want to distance ourselves from the non Muslim and always be suspicious of them? All that they hear from us is HARAM. JAIS had already banned them from using 25 texts. Do we not want others to be attracted to Islam? Most importantly, do we want to continue teach our Muslim brothers and sisters to communicate in the same manner? Say no to our non Muslim neighbors without communicating the rationale? I think we should start saying more yes and use the opportunity and tell them more about Islam. I think the Muslim should be taught more about Islam to able to communicate more positively. That way we can become more attractive to others. It will open up the way for us to be genuine leaders and take better control.
I think we should "allow" them use the text ALLAH and at the same time communicate to them the true meaning of ALLAH. Wouldn’t this be the most opportune moment to communicate to the Christian that it is alright to use the text, as long as they understand the need to embrace the true meaning of the text. We need to communicate with grace that, the Christian likewise, need also to handle the text with utmost care according to its true meaning. Such communication need to be handled by top religious authorities and Islamic scholars. The Christian should not take the text without reflecting its true meaning. To use the text without the true meaning will tantamount to its misuse and abuse. That will not be acceptable. If eventually they do accept it, then they will be many steps closer to our camp. That will be a great victory for Islam. If they don’t, and decided to instead use the texts “JEHOVAH” to mean Lord and “ELOHIM” to mean God, then it will be their choice. No love lost.
Religious matters are best resolved through religious means and reasoning, but at the time we must portray the grace, skill, patient and excellence in our leadership.
The rest of us need to learn from the communication. We must be united and clear in what we communicate. To tell the Christian that by allowing them use the text will only confuse our young generation is a very lame excuse. That it will hurt our feelings is pathetic. To quote past histories will only sound incoherent since the current generation hardly understand or feel attached to it. In the final analysis, it will only expose our weaknesses. Are we not confident of our parenting skills and religious education that our young children can easily be misled by the teaching of Christian? Is our religious environment so fragile and vague that our young generation can get confuse with what is Islamic right from wrong? We already have enough problems of our own doings to blame on. Our involvement in corruptions, domestic abuses, and serious crimes are sending the wrong signals to our young people about our commitment to the teaching of Islam. If those were our subtle admission, then the only way forward is to correct and consolidate ourselves.
We can choose to be perceived as fanatical, narrow minded and chauvinistic, or we can portray ourselves as most civilized and wisest of the lot. We need to initiate the communication and lead the way. We can show the Christian and others how the Muslim behaves in accordance to the teaching of Islam. We can win their hearts and followings only by our noble and exemplary behavior. This is the testing moment of our tolerance, sensitivity, wisdom and leadership.
Acting in contrast as we have demonstrated currently will only betray the very spirit of the text and meaning of ALLAH that we are passionately trying to defend in the first place.
The world is watching us. We can help change their negative perception about Islam. As Malaysian Muslim we can positively contribute to that by the way we treat our non Muslim brothers and sisters who in this instance happened to be the minority Christian.
Wasalam.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Are Malaysian not anymore service friendly ?
There is a saying, ‘Hands that serve are holier than lips that pray’. The natural passion to serve and to please others is a good thing to have because it will lead us to become good hosts as well as our ability to perform excellent customer services. It forms our social make up and contributes to our service culture. It can also be a critical attribute that will continue attract tourism and foreign investment to the country because of this distinct talent in us. So there are social, business and economic implications to it.
Once upon a time Malaysian were very hospitable, but I simply can’t help noticed that our younger people are fast losing the natural flair to serve and to please. The natural eagerness to serve and to please people is becoming passion of the past. Our service people at hotels, banks, shopping centers, restaurants, theme parks, trains, planes, buses, taxis, petrol service stations, public counters, ticket counters, customs, immigrations, airports, etc. are not anymore doing Malaysia proud. I have sounded brutal here. Of course there are some extremely good individuals in all of those service centers, but due to cost cutting measure and other operational pressures, organizations are getting to be lean and mean. So are their people.
What we have nowadays are service people who are more interested in safeguarding service cost, profit, system, process, procedure and thus end up in ‘processing’ or at times even reprimanding customers. They are getting to be too much more operational, and a lot less customer centric. They are not there to serve and to please customers anymore. They hardly exhibit that radiant smile and almost always avoid eye contact since that will mean more customer requests that will lead to more things to do. Thus customers are often given the impression that they are there to bother rather than the reason for doing business.
Younger people nowadays are more ‘educated’ and equipped with better paper qualifications. They are technically more efficient with systems, processes, procedures and technology. All these hardly add up to good customer service. In fact they tend to behave like 'operation robots' and seem oblivious to customer welfare and needs. Thus services often become reactive. Not proactive.
Customers are people and need to be served by people who understand them and always respectful of their needs and expectations. What’s needed are those type of service people whom I describe to be like service ‘light bulbs’ that always light up and ever willing to shine on customers.
During the earlier days of low tech, our service people were able to compensate the quality with lots of high human touch, but with the current high tech, the service quality is let down by insensitive service conduct.
Malaysian do not anymore go out of their way to help people who needed help. If your car developed some mechanical problem in busy traffic, and expected people to readily push start your car, or gave you a lift to a nearest workshop, you probably have to cry and beg for it. It is getting less and less likely that you get an eager offering from local motorists or passers by. The scenario could perhaps be a little friendlier if you needed similar help in kampong area.
Malaysian used to ‘feel good’ for being able to help. It was almost like a daily passion. We did it without the expectation of material reward. The satisfaction comes with the given opportunity to help. We did it voluntarily. It gave us the sense of value. We enjoyed the sense of usefulness. The ‘feelings’ used to be the push factors to motivate us to help and to please. Those ‘feelings’ form part of the service attitude that as Malaysian we once were proud of. Sadly, that attitude has faded away.
They cannot teach ‘service attitude’ at schools and universities. Like any other attitudes, it is inborn and ingrained since young. It is shaped by those family values that are embedded in cultural and religious beliefs. It was ‘an honor to serve’. That honor belonged to the days when Malaysians were once upon a time proud to don national jerseys and play for the country. No one think about being paid for it. No one asked ‘What is it for me?’ Everyone was simply proud to be selected to wear Malaysian jersey. In any games, and in all types of representation. Given the chance, they might even willing to pay for it. The scenario is completely the opposite today.
The service scenario is also visibly changing. We are witnessing the influx of Bangladeshi, Nepalese, Indonesian and other Asian immigrants in our service sectors. Malaysian who live in gated properties are importing people from Nepal to protect them from local and foreign thieves. Most of our petrol service stations are manned mainly by Bangladeshi. You walk into local restaurants and you will be served by a variety of imported workers. We have long employed Indonesian and Filipinos to be our domestic helpers. Are Malaysian workers getting worse that our own service businesses do not want them, or our people have simply lost interest working in service sectors? Perhaps a little bit of both. Are imported workers any good at delivering service? What will be the long term effect of our service industry should we allow the current scenario to prevail? I am afraid you are not going to get any comforting answers.
This change of attitude toward service among Malaysian is by no means solitary. Attitudes toward personal integrity, laws and orders are also sadly on the decline. News on various levels and forms of corruption and dishonest practice are on the rise these days. So are cases on child and domestic abuses. At the same time, Malaysian motorists are fast gaining reputation to be among the world most notorious. Our drivers jumped queue, parked their cars anywhere closest to the point of destination, and in the process blocked others, clogged the roads and junctions. Majority of our motorcyclists do not stop at the red light anymore. Our taxi drivers will not likely win any courtesy awards anytime soon. Remember the KL mini bus drivers? Look like they are still around driving other type of passenger buses. Well, the lists can go on and on. It is no wonder that our accident rates are among the world highest.
Is the change in service attitude any correlation with the current decline in integrity and disrespect toward law and order among Malaysian? Perhaps there is an indirect correlation. I believe those declines put together, relate directly to many prevailing issues in our current lives. We are being flooded with technological and material achievements. Thus making us more self sufficient and in turn less sociable. We have a fair share of drug abuse cases. Perhaps there are flaws in our education system considering the number of drop outs and dysfunctional people around us. Surely we have to take a hard look at our parenting skills. All these factors need to gel and better managed to stem the decline of our value system that had resulted in those decaying attitudes.
What are the solutions? How do we get back on track with our service attitude and aptitude? I think we need to start managing differently at all fronts. We need to rediscover our service culture.
We need to start managing our kids differently at home. We need to nurture in them the values of treating people with respect, and if they were to continue serving and pleasing people around them, something good will come back to them. We need to talk to them about it. We need to make them understand the importance of it, and how it will affect their lives. We need to help them balance their focus so that sufficient attentions are given to people values. Otherwise we will easily lose them as they isolate themselves in their digital world. We need to collaborate with them service projects that are meaningful at home and the community. We need to focus and intensify our appreciation when they perform and excel in those values.
The same agenda need to be promoted at schools.
At the workplace we need to manage our human capital differently. Too much assessment and attention have been given to profits, costs, technological, system and process achievements. We need also to reinvent ourselves and give more focus in the way how we treat and value our people. It is time we rediscover their human dimension, which includes their propensity to like people, and to serve and to please. We need to reward them accordingly. We need workplace 'leaders' that inspire them to do the right things, and do them right. We need to continuously send the right signals that business survive on customers and they are there to attract and retain customers. To entertain customers and not to do battle with them. Only after we work very hard at achieving these results that we can hope on getting something back. It is not going to be anytime soon, but the sooner we invest time to manage them, the sooner we are likely to get something back. I hope it will come in the form of a very pleasing service culture that we can once more be proud of.
What do you think?
Once upon a time Malaysian were very hospitable, but I simply can’t help noticed that our younger people are fast losing the natural flair to serve and to please. The natural eagerness to serve and to please people is becoming passion of the past. Our service people at hotels, banks, shopping centers, restaurants, theme parks, trains, planes, buses, taxis, petrol service stations, public counters, ticket counters, customs, immigrations, airports, etc. are not anymore doing Malaysia proud. I have sounded brutal here. Of course there are some extremely good individuals in all of those service centers, but due to cost cutting measure and other operational pressures, organizations are getting to be lean and mean. So are their people.
What we have nowadays are service people who are more interested in safeguarding service cost, profit, system, process, procedure and thus end up in ‘processing’ or at times even reprimanding customers. They are getting to be too much more operational, and a lot less customer centric. They are not there to serve and to please customers anymore. They hardly exhibit that radiant smile and almost always avoid eye contact since that will mean more customer requests that will lead to more things to do. Thus customers are often given the impression that they are there to bother rather than the reason for doing business.
Younger people nowadays are more ‘educated’ and equipped with better paper qualifications. They are technically more efficient with systems, processes, procedures and technology. All these hardly add up to good customer service. In fact they tend to behave like 'operation robots' and seem oblivious to customer welfare and needs. Thus services often become reactive. Not proactive.
Customers are people and need to be served by people who understand them and always respectful of their needs and expectations. What’s needed are those type of service people whom I describe to be like service ‘light bulbs’ that always light up and ever willing to shine on customers.
During the earlier days of low tech, our service people were able to compensate the quality with lots of high human touch, but with the current high tech, the service quality is let down by insensitive service conduct.
Malaysian do not anymore go out of their way to help people who needed help. If your car developed some mechanical problem in busy traffic, and expected people to readily push start your car, or gave you a lift to a nearest workshop, you probably have to cry and beg for it. It is getting less and less likely that you get an eager offering from local motorists or passers by. The scenario could perhaps be a little friendlier if you needed similar help in kampong area.
Malaysian used to ‘feel good’ for being able to help. It was almost like a daily passion. We did it without the expectation of material reward. The satisfaction comes with the given opportunity to help. We did it voluntarily. It gave us the sense of value. We enjoyed the sense of usefulness. The ‘feelings’ used to be the push factors to motivate us to help and to please. Those ‘feelings’ form part of the service attitude that as Malaysian we once were proud of. Sadly, that attitude has faded away.
They cannot teach ‘service attitude’ at schools and universities. Like any other attitudes, it is inborn and ingrained since young. It is shaped by those family values that are embedded in cultural and religious beliefs. It was ‘an honor to serve’. That honor belonged to the days when Malaysians were once upon a time proud to don national jerseys and play for the country. No one think about being paid for it. No one asked ‘What is it for me?’ Everyone was simply proud to be selected to wear Malaysian jersey. In any games, and in all types of representation. Given the chance, they might even willing to pay for it. The scenario is completely the opposite today.
The service scenario is also visibly changing. We are witnessing the influx of Bangladeshi, Nepalese, Indonesian and other Asian immigrants in our service sectors. Malaysian who live in gated properties are importing people from Nepal to protect them from local and foreign thieves. Most of our petrol service stations are manned mainly by Bangladeshi. You walk into local restaurants and you will be served by a variety of imported workers. We have long employed Indonesian and Filipinos to be our domestic helpers. Are Malaysian workers getting worse that our own service businesses do not want them, or our people have simply lost interest working in service sectors? Perhaps a little bit of both. Are imported workers any good at delivering service? What will be the long term effect of our service industry should we allow the current scenario to prevail? I am afraid you are not going to get any comforting answers.
This change of attitude toward service among Malaysian is by no means solitary. Attitudes toward personal integrity, laws and orders are also sadly on the decline. News on various levels and forms of corruption and dishonest practice are on the rise these days. So are cases on child and domestic abuses. At the same time, Malaysian motorists are fast gaining reputation to be among the world most notorious. Our drivers jumped queue, parked their cars anywhere closest to the point of destination, and in the process blocked others, clogged the roads and junctions. Majority of our motorcyclists do not stop at the red light anymore. Our taxi drivers will not likely win any courtesy awards anytime soon. Remember the KL mini bus drivers? Look like they are still around driving other type of passenger buses. Well, the lists can go on and on. It is no wonder that our accident rates are among the world highest.
Is the change in service attitude any correlation with the current decline in integrity and disrespect toward law and order among Malaysian? Perhaps there is an indirect correlation. I believe those declines put together, relate directly to many prevailing issues in our current lives. We are being flooded with technological and material achievements. Thus making us more self sufficient and in turn less sociable. We have a fair share of drug abuse cases. Perhaps there are flaws in our education system considering the number of drop outs and dysfunctional people around us. Surely we have to take a hard look at our parenting skills. All these factors need to gel and better managed to stem the decline of our value system that had resulted in those decaying attitudes.
What are the solutions? How do we get back on track with our service attitude and aptitude? I think we need to start managing differently at all fronts. We need to rediscover our service culture.
We need to start managing our kids differently at home. We need to nurture in them the values of treating people with respect, and if they were to continue serving and pleasing people around them, something good will come back to them. We need to talk to them about it. We need to make them understand the importance of it, and how it will affect their lives. We need to help them balance their focus so that sufficient attentions are given to people values. Otherwise we will easily lose them as they isolate themselves in their digital world. We need to collaborate with them service projects that are meaningful at home and the community. We need to focus and intensify our appreciation when they perform and excel in those values.
The same agenda need to be promoted at schools.
At the workplace we need to manage our human capital differently. Too much assessment and attention have been given to profits, costs, technological, system and process achievements. We need also to reinvent ourselves and give more focus in the way how we treat and value our people. It is time we rediscover their human dimension, which includes their propensity to like people, and to serve and to please. We need to reward them accordingly. We need workplace 'leaders' that inspire them to do the right things, and do them right. We need to continuously send the right signals that business survive on customers and they are there to attract and retain customers. To entertain customers and not to do battle with them. Only after we work very hard at achieving these results that we can hope on getting something back. It is not going to be anytime soon, but the sooner we invest time to manage them, the sooner we are likely to get something back. I hope it will come in the form of a very pleasing service culture that we can once more be proud of.
What do you think?
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