Staff Retreat - Our Learning Journey (Pt 2)

#5) Familiarity Sets No Room for Creavity and Growth

We moved on to the Wen Chang Hainan Chicken Rice Stall. As usual, we ordered a plate of white and roast chicken with the lor bak. Upon tasting, JLJ team realised that we did not really enjoy the Chicken Rice. We have pre-concieved and expectations on what Chicken Rice should be as we compared to the Singapore style. Because of that, we realised that we are not open to new 'style', 'taste' or 'ideas'. Although tastebuds for food can be quite an individual thing, the principle we drawn is: Familiarty sets no room for growth and creativity.

#6) History is formed because of Rootings

There's new discovery in history as we ventured into the 'you tiu' stall. Mdm Chew told us that the buildings in Cintra Street existed more than a 100 years. On top of that, we also found out one unique trademarks of Cintra Street. They are mainly family business that are passed down from generations to generations. They passed down their hertiage, they passed down their traditions and they passed down their skills. It is possible to trace history and see history when one puts their foot and rootings in the land. I used to stay at the old Singapore Chinatown 5-foot way. I believe I clearly missed that touch of history and rootings. We recalled back Agape and Pek Kio. Because of our intentionally and purposeful rootings in the land and church, we rejoice over a history and celebrates because of the future.

#7) Success is dependable if it is passed to the Next Generation

The next stop is a total contrast. We went back to the Kee Cake Shop when Candy alerted us to take photos of the baking process of the Pepper Biscuits. We met this Mr Loh who is also the 3rd generation to the family business. However, his perspective is totally different from the Mr Lim of the Chicken Rice Stall, or Mdm Chew of the 'you tiu' business. He had decided to wind up the business as he does not intend to pass the business and skill to his son. He had different views about passing a family skill and hertiage. Unable to catch up with the technology of times and the demands of a fast growing pace society, he decided upon the best thing to do is to end the whole trade and move on. I asked if he felt any emotional and sentimentals attachment, his answer to me. "I have to put food on the table." We left the place feeling a little different from the rest, maybe a sense of loss.

Andy Stanley quoted this, "When your memories exceed your dreams, the end is near." Unless and until we see success in the next generation, we are never really successful. It reminded us of what Ps Edmund mentioned in the IDMC - "If one generation neglects, the next generation rejects."

#8) An Effective Team Knows their Priorities and Enjoy the Team

By the time we were at the hawker stall selling hakka yong toufu, the JLJ somehow knew, we were among one of the last teams. Yet there was no strife, fretfulness and the compeling need to win the race. Yes, we want to complete the race and complete it well. We want to connect with people, not just the food. We want to enjoy what we are doing, and enjoying each other. I believe this is one of the reasons why we were stripped of the stress to win. Adding to that, the team needs to know our values, our purposes and our priorities. This make us effective and an enjoyable team. We began to appreciate the adverse personalities in the team and our differences. We are developing into a better team. We allow JJ to lead, Jess to take the backstage and me to connect. We are relaxed at who we are without compromising our functional roles. Chemistry matters too.

#9) Someone must pay the price of Paving the way

Our last stopped is at the Kuih Nonya Moh Teng family business. We met Mrs Mook who is so willingly to share her skills and her family status. I asked if the business was inherited from her father or her father-in-law. We dicovered that both families were in the same trade of making kuihs. Mrs Mook's son is presently statiioned at KL making Mook's Pizza and are distributing to local peddlars. Mrs Mook told us that his son is keen to take the business to another step instead of just revolving around nonya kuihs. Mrs Mook concluded that her faither and in-laws paved the way for them. They paved the way for their children and allowing them to take it further. Reminded me of what John Maxwell mentioned," If I succeed without sacrifice, then it is because someone went before me made the sacrifice. If I sacrifice and do not see success, then someone who follows will reap success from my sacrifice."

#10) We Start as a Team, We End as a Team

On our way back to the destination, there was a possibility that the team was splitted because of an unforseen circumstances. However, JLJ spoke the same language even without comparing our notes - We start as a Team, we End as a Team.

Conclusion:

We came in last. But there's nothing to lose actually but more to gain.

We gain relationships within the team and the people we met

We gain perspective and broaden our scope as a team and in leadership

We gain precious lessons and principles gleaned out from the experience.

And we truly and throughly enjoy the race.

Staff Retreat - Our Learning Journey (Pt 1)

It's never a surprise to many that Agape Staff loves to eat. And what's interesting that had taken place in this Staff Retreat was to weave in makan as a food hunt race that purposed to help us to draw lessons as we functioned as team. We were divided into 5 teams with a leader appointed from SP. I belonged to the JLJ team (JJ + Lili + Jessica).

Instructions were given to start the food hunt at Cintra Street. We wanted to Win and Complete the race well with fun. This is our focus. Interesting, along the journey, we discovered that our focus and purpose (WIN) evolved. Valuable lessons and principles were gleaned as JLJ team.

#1) We can Disagree but never to Disengage

Our team didn't begin in harmony. Soon we realised we are opinionated people with individual strong views. I believe that the team needed to have a BIG picture of the race and would prefer that the 'information list' be photocopied to the team before the race start. However, my leader JJ thought that this is not essential. Jess felt the same. I decided to submit on the basis that he was my leader and this is my team. We agreed to agree upon on the 1st Principle gleaned - ** We can Disagree but never to Disengage.

#2) Values Driven and not Just Purpose-Driven

We only know how to use the right 'terms' to describe this principle after the race when SP highlighted it in one of our sharing. On our way out to look for a taxi, we saw another team boarding a taxi. JJ was quick to comment this, "Snatch their cab". I knew JJ was joking but in our discussion, we began to ask ourselves, "Do we really want to win? If so, we do not really need any moral rules unless stated as our purpose is to WIN." With that, we arrived at what's Negoitables and Non-Negoitables. Values are non-negoitables and Policies are negoitables. So photocopy or not - this is a non-negoitable issue. We also realised that unless we have the right and God values, we will become what our 'leader' called us to be. (also the Priinciple #1 to allow this to happen)

#3) People are more Important than Programmes

At our 1st stop @ the famous Bak Chang stall, we got to know this owner, Miss Tan. She is so friendly and pleasant. We strike off a conversation immediately. We tried the different types of bak chang and red bean soup. We took photos and we talked. Ms Tan was so excited that she asked me if I am keen to see their speciality. Holding my hands, she brought me to see this very BIG bak chang and started to explain their speciality. She offered to bring it out to my team and showed it to the other team as well. Because of this Big bak chang, we were connected in hearts. Before we left, she offered to tell us that the Curry Chee Cheong Fun stall was not opened today. At this point, JLJ decided to add this into our WIN: People are not less important than the Task. Our attraction are the People instead of the food and the race, and it must be done intentionally. We altered our WIN.

#4) A Healthy Team Grows Together and Help others Grow.

We always knew this principle from our heads, but this race awakened us to move this right into our hearts. We make a mistake and moved on to a cafe name 'Da Tong' instead of a hawaker stall. Upon our arrival, we saw 2 teams there. We felt the tension and pressure hitting us immediately. One of the team actually tried to 'shoo' us away (which I thought is human sense to do that). We felt uncomfortable and uneasy. We don't like the feeling. At that point, JLJ team agreed upon - "Let's walk in the opposite direction. We will remove turf mentality and be friendly and helpful to other teams." We took time to know the waitress and conversed with them. We saw Candy + Ros walking in. We decided to ask the ladies to join us at the same table. It was a different atmosphere indeed.

We walked out blessing the aunties with 3 MUST - Peace + Health + Good Business ...

to be continued