Jevon (Jiehan) Yang’s Post

A while ago, a boss came to talk to me about employee disengagement You see, he was new to the team, inheriting 3 direct reports (I wasn’t one of them). About 2 months into his job, I got to know him through a project I was working on, and he invited me out for tea. After the usual formalities about what I was doing and what he was hoping to create in his team, he broached the subject of his team members. “Do you know Ah Siang?” (name changed for confidentiality reasons) Err yeaa…… “This Ah Siang, how is he at work ah? When I was trying to tell him this and that, he just looked at me with a blank face, as if he didn’t understand what I was trying to say. Did you know he has been a senior for 3 years? Maybe his performance is bad, that’s why he got stuck in his job is it.” This boss went on a “complaint spree” with me, an associate at work whom he had just met for the first time in person. If he had waited for me to complete my response, he would have realized that “Ah Siang” was a good buddy of mine. . #1 RULE: Never gossip about an employee to a buddy of theirs. . But that’s not what this post was about, so let’s carry on. Considering that he was a superior, I tried to navigate the conversation as best as I could. “What was it about his performance that was subpar? Did he mess up the closing work he was supposed to do?” (p.s. I knew Ah Siang was involved in doing closing work. In fact he had been doing it for the past 3 years) . “Oh don’t get me started. He doesn’t take instructions properly, and doesn’t communicate well with the stakeholders. He always leaves on the dot at 6PM, but is usually in late at around 9:30AM. He doesn’t follow up on exciting projects that I tell him about, its as if I’m trying to give him something good for his career but he’s just not into it.” . At this point in time, I’ve heard enough to know what was going on. It’s not that he’s not into it, Perhaps he’s just not into YOU. . That was what I wanted to tell him. Instead, I smiled. 🙂 :::::: Have you ever considered that perhaps that “disengaged employee” in your team, is simply disengaged to you? Would you try and turn this around? How? ——— I am Jevon and I write about nurturing a growth mindset, fostering empathy and engagement in the Future Of Work, and parenthood lessons. If you are reading, Thank you! Hearing from you would be nice 🙂 Like/ Comment/ DM/ Shout/ Follow/ Reach out! #employeeengagement #futureofwork #empatheticleadership

Taking a break today from writing To spend quality time with the kids and family. Leaving it here with some reflections about a film I caught recently How to make millions before Grandma dies :::::: We see the world in efforts v outcomes - How much work we put in versus how much money/ reward we get from it. In the case of the kids and grandkids putting in “effort” in the last moments of grandma’s life so that they can hopefully extract some benefit from it. . But a parent’s love for their kids is raw. And complex. And not easily comprehended in a world of “effort v outcome”. . It does trigger some introspection about how much of the “outcome” of things are we too overly obsessed about, That we miss the beauty of the journey right in front of us. :::::: If you haven’t caught the film, I suggest you do! I didn’t bawl as many claimed they did after watching it, But it was a profound piece that made me reflect on my outlook of kinship and life. Happy Sunday LinkedIn fam! Have a good one 🙏 ——— I am Jevon and I write about nurturing a growth mindset, fostering empathy and engagement in the Future Of Work, and parenthood lessons. If you are reading, Thank you! Hearing from you would be nice 🙂 Like/ Comment/ DM/ Shout/ Follow/ Reach out!

I know its a Saturday…… but are you working? I read a recent article about Greece adopting a 6 day working week, a peculiar step that deviates from the trending 4-day work week model many developed nations seem to be moving towards. https://lnkd.in/g3eeCRDV It prompted me to do some digging of my own. And here’s something interesting: → Did you know that the Employment Act in Singapore designates up to 44 normal hours of contractual work in a week. Per a usual 8-hour work day, that actually equates to a 5.5 day work week 🤔 It is hence completely within a company’s entitlement to have you work a half day on Saturday (or every alternate one) ::::::: Even though most companies in Singapore today operate on a 5 day work week (thanks to the civil service who led by example back in 2004!), I still know of many corporate employees who clock more than a couple of “unofficial” hours on their weekends 🤷♂️ It does beg a question though. Is working more hours, actually more productive? . Apart from knowledge, innovation and competency, A key and often underestimated factor of employee productivity, Is Motivation. 🔥 An employee must first be motivated to find better and easier ways to deliver the same value (or more) in the work that they do. That in turn, drives productivity. . What, drives Motivation? Life. 🌱 Growth, freedom, purpose, legacy, enjoyment. :::::: To those who are toiling this fine Saturday, Do take a pause and think: → Does the Work you do on this day contribute towards a more fulfilling Life? → Or does it take from it? → What is the incremental impact to Working more? More Life, or less? Understand your work-life relationship. Own your narrative. 💪 ——— Need someone to work this out with you? I am Jevon and I can help you own your work-life narrative. DM me to find out more! I write about nurturing a growth mindset, fostering empathy and engagement in the Future Of Work, and parenthood lessons. And some other bits from time to time 😎 Like/ Comment/ Shout/ Follow/ Reach out! #worklife #productivity

When we die, what do we leave behind? What is the gift we leave for the next generation, that can be meaningfully passed down for generations to come? 🤔 Ever since I became a parent, this thought has weighed increasingly on my mind. I recently caught the movie “How to make millions before grandma dies”. The messages and struggles resonated deeply. :::::: Watching the relationships between my own uncles fray over the inheritance my grandfather left behind, And then seeing my parents struggle to set up wills they hoped were equitable and fair, Trying to distribute wealth they have accumulated from toiling their entire life to ensure that me and my siblings never get into that same tussle when it came their time, Is heartbreaking. . As we gain affluence as a society, Is financial and asset wealth really all that defines the legacy we leave for our children? “Who does the house go to?” “What about the shares and stocks?” “Should the kid who cares for the parents in their old age get more?” “Or should the struggling kid get the lion share?” “Who was the favourite kid?” “Or the legitimate male heir?” “Equity, or equality?” As I watch the conflicts of my parent’s generation, reflected so clearly in that thought-provoking film, I resolve to make a difference. :::::: As a parent, My legacy to my kids shall NOT be the financial wealth and assets I leave behind for them in time to come. Instead, it shall be: 1️⃣ The gift of familial bonds. Family will always come first. Ahead of work, desire, and all things else in life. 2️⃣ The gift of education. Education has been an enabler for me, and I believe will continue to be an enabler for my children. 3️⃣ The gift of learning. In this world where change is only going to come bigger and faster, the ability to find joy in learning will be a key differentiator for those who can ride the waves versus others who get consumed by them. The journey forward is long and uncertain, But with these three anchors ⚓️, I resolve. :::::: What is the legacy you hope to leave behind for the people around you? ——— I am Jevon and I can help you own your work-life narrative. DM me to find out more! I write about nurturing a growth mindset, fostering empathy and engagement in the Future Of Work, and parenthood lessons. And some other bits from time to time 😎 Like/ Comment/ Shout/ Follow/ Reach out!

Do you face the light? Or turn your head towards the shadows? A timely session yesterday reminded me of a piece I wrote a while ago. ➡️ Do we spend time dwelling on the past? Trying to figure out the root causes of our failures? Who or what let us down? The challenge of doing so is that we could get consumed in what begins as reflection, that eventually becomes a full-blown witch-hunt with fingers pointing at each other (most of the time the blame goes to people who are not in the room to defend themselves) When we try to AAR (after action review) every bit that goes wrong, we choose to revisit the negative emotions associated with those misgivings Over, and over again. Eventually letting that take over the narrative, causing us to sink deeper into darkness. :::::: ✅ Rather, could we perhaps focus on desired outcomes. Driving discussions towards a desired outcome is akin to following the light and seeking the exit to the tunnel. It directs conversations towards meaningful value creation, And revisits failures and misgivings only to identify lessons learnt that can help us move towards the light. No need for “who said what” No need for “who did what” Simply what we learnt that can allow us to do better next time. Forward-looking thinking driven by a goal for positive, desired outcomes. :::::: The next time you find yourself at a crossroad, Trying observing this - Do you turn your head towards the light, or away from it? ——— I am Jevon and I can help you own your work-life narrative. DM me to find out more! I write about nurturing a growth mindset, fostering empathy and engagement in the Future Of Work, and parenthood lessons. And some other bits from time to time 😎 Like/ Comment/ Shout/ Follow/ Reach out! #problemsolving #positivity #outcomesdriven

“But…… you are just a finance guy, aren’t you?” I recently had a conversation with a new connection on LinkedIn, And the question about my “why” came up. As I shared my motivations for being on this platform, for choosing to develop myself personally in areas I see as fundamental towards a future of work I envision, He made this comment: “But…… you are just a finance guy, aren’t you?” . It made me pause. The old me would probably have taken offense. But as I pondered that comment, I chuckled. 😅 :::::: A finance guy. Who in the last 6 months, → Wrote every single day on LinkedIn (less two off days) → Gained 4x followership on LinkedIn (thankful for this tribe! 🙏) → Released 10 issues of #TheMondayPlaybook, aimed at driving conversations for a more engaged and empathetic future of work → Became part of the growth-centric Personal Brand Lab and Stories of Asia SEED communities 💙 → Brought the kids on their first ever airplane ride to Melbourne ✈️ → Built the APAC Finance People Forum from 2 pax to the solid team of 11 we are today → Delivered a full H1 calendar of Community, Development and Induction employee initiatives with the 200% fully dedicated team of the APAC FPF → Co-hosted a fireside chat for Dyson Dads and held space for the parenting challenges in their workplaces → Was invited as a panellist to yet another event for workplace dads at MoneyHero Group (Nasdaq: MNY) → Moderated the first Finance Leadership Panel @ Dyson Singapore → Did 3,249 push-ups in June and raised $1,000 for mental health #thepushupchallenge → Became a Nanyang Business School mentor → Clocked my 200th BFT session 💪 → Completed the Spartan SUPER in Singapore 🇸🇬 (my first race since COVID) → Took many connections from this platform offline, many of whom generously shared their knowledge, stories and friendship (You know who you are 💙) All while being a kickass business partner to my senior stakeholders, navigating an unusually challenging first half of the year…… Not too bad for “just a finance guy” huh. ::::::: But lest we be mistaken, Those did not come easy. Most days I wrote deep into the night, Questioned my resolve to keep course one too many times, Met energy vampires that left me feeling drained, Battled insecurities and the imposter within, And made difficult choices to step out of my comfort zones despite not having the need to. . That is the price I “pay”, for growth. 💰 :::::: 2H is just getting started. What price are you willing to “pay” for growth? . Will you look back in 6 months, counting the small and big wins you have clocked in that time? Or simply reflect on what could have been? . Me? I’m all in. See you at the finish line. 😎 Yours Truly, “That Finance Guy” #growth #network #development