Yesterday, we commemorated 58-years since the formation of Malaysia.
For most of us, this is the only land we call home. And with an attitude of gratitude, we really need to look after, and look out, for our motherland. But for this to happen, there is an undeniable need for a unified society.
All of us, ultimately, want the same thing, don't we?
Malaysians of all races, religious beliefs, colour, creed, and gender have aspirations for harmony, freedom, security, and a clear path to happiness. At the end of the day, while the paths we choose might differ, we all want the same end result.
Polarising behaviour and efforts to divide the nation through schisms from our faiths to culture and politics will only break any resolve to stand together.
When we learn to stand firm for the singular vision of a unified nation, we recognise sabotaging behaviour, parochial mindsets, and useless racial narratives.
Malaysia is almost six decades in the making. Isn't it time we create a new story of harmony?
At post-pandemic workplaces, this is exactly what is needed, too.
Whenever people come together, they will naturally organise themselves. Some will set the tone and lead, while others will follow. Hierarchical structures form, and traditionally this is how organisations evolve. You probably work in this type of environment right now.
However, through my work with high performing start-ups and progressive corporate entities, in today's world everyone wants to make their own decisions. There is a demand for more autonomy, inclusiveness in decision making, buy-in from everyone in a company, and clear vision.
I can attest that when companies get this right, their entire operations become incredibly efficient, they experience exponential growth, and frequently surpass targets.
Isn't this what we want for Malaysia, too?
You begin with shared vision and common goals at your workplace. This happens with open and honest communication. When you do this, transparency becomes part of the work culture and internal equity increases. At core, it is the hallmark of a great place to work.
Troubles at the workplace often stem from a lack of transparency or a feeling of injustice.
Malaysia needs this transparency!
The opaque decisions of a select few gets us into troubled waters. When there is a trust deficiency, the country loses efficiency and its competitive edge.
When people feel like they have been unfairly treated, they lose buoyancy and drive.
What unity means at the workplace has also evolved over time. Gone are the days when a good employee is one that simply follows the lead of the boss. In old management parlance, companies need obedient soldiers.
In modern workplaces results are achieved only when true collaboration exists. Every employee has to be valued for their own strengths. Many companies now understand that tall hierarchical structures are redundant. Millennials prefer jobs in organisations that have a flat reporting structure.
It is clear that people who define themselves through their position or their title, do not necessarily command the leadership respect needed to drive groups of people.
It is the same in our nation too, isn't it? How many of our politicians enjoy the respect of citizens?
Skillful leaders focus on individuals and work at assisting them to increase their strengths. Successful leadership is independent of any hierarchical structure. The modern world demands flexible and agile workers where every employee is expected to lead, even without a title.
Surely, Malaysians too, must first choose people who work with us to achieve the vision that our forefathers had, when they came together to form this nation in 1963.
At workplaces, processes are growing in complexity, so collaboration is the only way forward. This is why we need togetherness to perform tasks well and to deal with challenges.
We cannot have a few strong people ordering the rest of us around. This is as true for corporate companies as it is for our country. High-handedness is counterproductive to achieving organisational goals, because it ignores the strengths and needs of each individual.
Malaysians must wake up to this reality.
The best organisations in the world structure themselves in a way that allows their employees to act autonomously. This enables team members to function together well. And in turn, this significantly boosts the efficiency and cohesion of the work they do.
Similarly, we as the people who make this glorious nation, need to be autonomously functioning well together. Just as the board of directors of a company will have no qualms firing an unsuccessful managing director; citizens who are the stakeholders of a nation, should not hesitate to replace ineffective leaders.
The Malaysia of 2021 needs to be managed just like an efficient and effective corporate company. We need to have a shared vision with common goals. Our nation has to be unified. Communication must be open and honest, and its citizenry must all be treated equally and fairly.
Most of all, like any top-notch corporation, Malaysia must be led by visionary and collaborative people.
Happy Malaysia Day, everyone!
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?
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times
