Page 15 - Berita_SungeiWay_April_1988

KEEPING BRAIN IN GEAR

AFTER MIDNIGHT

Dato'Cheah (who presided) looked at meeting ended at 12.40 a.m. As we were
me. He smiled, and being the diplomat that leaving the Cheah residence, one of the
he is, he asked: older participants was heard whistling that
beautiful song "Silence is Golden".
"What do you think?" (Judging from
his look he might as well have said "What Ironical, I thought, after all that
are you dreaming about?") 1 took the cue. talking! I drove home inspired, creatively.
1 had to speak up to contribute. I couldn't Brainstormers present that night were:
behave as though I had left my brains in Ray Cheah (architect), Ngian Slew Siong
the carpark! (Project Manager), Chiam Tun Cheng
Just then Chew Chee Kin, the Group (Finance & Admin Manager), Chew Chee
General Manager (Operations) breezed in. Kin (Group G M , Operations), Su Thai
He was full of Hfe. He must have finished Ping (Manager, Corporate Affairs), Liew
his usual pre-brainstorming jog (the health Sui Keen (Asst. Manager, Marketing),
people say the brain functions better after Sharon Woo (Marketing Executive).
a run). He went straight to the fridge and Chairman: Dato'Jeffrey Cheah.
returned with a kingsize bottle of water. He
gulped down 2 glasses quickly. From brainstorming to time manage-
ment. Most managers aren't as good at
Brainstorming. I've attended many of And he was ready to let fly. One managing time as they think. Here are
these, but never a session that began at question after another. Yes, he did get very some danger signs:
9 p.m. and ended at 12.40 a.m. excited over the project under discussion. 1. You are still involved with the respon-
But he was always extremely polite. After sibilities of your last job. You ignore
The gathering, of course, was held at all, this was a brainstorm. the fact that someone else now has it.
Dato'Jeffrey Cheah's Pantai residence (on 2. You work longer hours than anyone
April 19) and was convened to discuss an He congratulated you in one breath on your staff.
advertising project. and let you have it right in-between the eyes
in the next. ("You've got a good point 3. You take home work with you every
The three-and-half hour session taught there....but"....bang! bang! bang!) The ad night and on week-ends.
me three lessons about keeping the brain boys (five of them) downed one beer after 4. Your schedule has no time for you to
in gear after midnight in order to: another to keep up with the barrage of just sit and think.
• Come up with creative thoughts; creative questions which Chee Kin had Here are some suggestions to get you
• Listen with empathy; and inspired. back on track:
• Stay on track. (In a free-for-all
discussions, one can be carried away It was 11.30 p.m. The 14 "brain- 1. Make the first hour of the day
and eventually end up having break- stormers" suddenly sprang to life! productive.
fast with the Cheah family). Liew Sui Keen (the usually cool 2. Write down your daily objectives and
get
done
of priority.
them
in order
It was my first "brainstorm" with the Assistant Manager, Marketing) saw a lot 3. Handle each piece of paper only once.
SW Group and I must confess that I went of things in a different light interjecting 4. Avoid writing unnecessary papers (e.g.
to the meeting with the idea of being an with "why can't we do this? 1 don't memos and letters).
observer and run the risk of being thought think that's right.... Oh no, this won't do!" 5. Do demanding tasks when you're at
of as a fool rather than open my mouth and She was strongly backed by Ngian Slew your best, mentally and physically.
remove all doubt! Siong (project manager). 6. Group telephone calls - make as many
For more than an hour 1 didn't say a The ad boys led by Khoo Boo Boon 7. as you can at one time. to
Tell
people when you would prefer
word, just nodded my head now and again showed understanding and fine judgement. be called on the phone.
(like a wise judge!) but around 11 p.m., I And they loved every minute of it. It's 8. Use travel time to stay on top of your
had the suspicion that those around the when a client doesn't talk that ad men get paperwork.
black marble conference table thought 1 worried.
was half asleep. Boo Boon and his boys have promised Felix Ablshegenadan
to return for another brainstorm. The Prestige Communications Sdn. Bhd.
Chris heard footsteps and hastily put BOSS Please file these letters
down the phone as her boss came into the immediately.
office. 'How many times must I tell you?'
thundered her boss. 'You must not use the NEW : But filing will take ages.
office phone for personal calls'. 'But I SECRETARY Couldn't I just trim them
wasn't,' protested the secretary. 'It was a with a small pair of
business call'. scissors instead?
'Then,' responded her boss, 'you might David Lee
like to tell me which person it is that this
company does business with who is called BOSS : You've had days off
'darling sweetheart?' already this month for
Sweetheart your father-in-law's fune-
ral, your son's christen-
The young girl applied to be an ing, your daughter's
executive secretary and all went well at her illness, and your brother-
N E W You seem to know your job interview until she asked, 'And how in-law's wedding - why
S E C R E T A R Y way around very well. much will I be paid?'. on earth do you want
How long have you 'You will be paid what you are worth', another day off work
worked here! tomorrow?
said the Human Resource IVlanager with a
S E C R E T A R Y Ever since the boss told smile. 'Huh!' replied the girl, getting up and SECRETARY : I'm getting married.
me he'd sack me if I walking towards the door, ' I couldn't
didn't. possibly work for as little as that!' Mrs. fV.
Secretary David Lee