I got an email from the Straits Times Editor saying that my article will be published in today’s newspaper. Building A Successful Team is something close to my heart and I hope to share this with you.

To read the entire unedited article, click on How do I Create my ‘A’ team?

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Everyone makes mistakes, the question is whether we truly learn from them. I personally feel that there is a great deal to be learnt from mistakes, provided it does not crush your spirit.

Things happen in life so that we become stronger and wiser from our mistakes. In fact, in the last 2 years, Deep Impact’s growth as a  Impactful Teambuilding company were a result of mistakes that we made and learnt from. It was the commitment of not making the same mistakes twice that helped us to become much better.

It is also important to learn from other people’s mistakes, so that we do not need to pay the price they have paid for it.

Listen to Starbucks founder and CEO, Howard Schultz  on why Starbucks can command a premium for their coffee, why you need to celebrate your mistakes and Starbuck’s philosophy.

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I have been following the recent mass recall of Toyota’s Prius and other hybrid models. A total of 8.7 million recalls of cars and trucks have been issued (updated on 10 Feb 2010). To give you an idea of the magnitude of the recall, Toyota sold 7.8 million vehicles globally in 2009.

The recall is due to the accelerator pedal that does not move back to its original position after being released. In some worst cases, it actually gets stuck.

It is a great pity and regret that such an incident happened in Toyota, because there were many books written about “The Toyota Way”; how their values spurred the company to continuously improve and solving root problems.

In fact, one of Toyota’s core values is RESPECT. From its website, it mentions that

“Toyota respects others, makes every effort to understand others, accepts responsibility and does its best to build mutual trust.”

This is something that I really like about them, but recent news seems to suggest that this value was not followed closely. They did not understand their customer complaints about the brakes and thus resulted in many deaths from faulty components. This created a massive distrust in the safety of their cars.

In any company, Core Values are really important and because they provide guiding principles that your staff should live by. The best part about having clear values are that whenever you are faced with tough decisions (in Toyota’s case, it was to recall so many vehicles and take a substantial hit in their profits), you will make the right decision.

I know that in many companies, values are often overlooked and it is something that only the management talk about and not the rest of the staff. However, it is time to dig out the values and understand what each value actually means to the company and individual.

For example, if doing the right things is one of the core values in your company: this could mean that you will always seek to do the right thing regardless of situation; even if it means it costs more to develop environmentally products, or admitting to a mistake that could become a massive Public Relations disaster and costly recall or even apologising to your colleague when you are wrong.

I am happy that Toyota’s chief wrote an article that he will take personal responsibility for the entire situation, learn from their mistakes and quickly correct them (see their values on Genchi Genbutsu and respect).

For people in management, the Toyota incident is a great way to revisit your core values and what it means to each and every person in your organisation. For the rest, what are your core values and what do you stand for?

Do leave your comments below! I want to hear you.
PS: If you need team building or training programs that help you clarify and instill your core values to your team, do contact us!

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As some of you know, I am part of the Asia Professional Speakers, Singapore (APSS). As speakers and trainers, we have decided to do what we do best and give back to the community by presenting a seminar called “Raise Your Game”. We will donate all the money we have collected from this seminar to the Singapore Cancer Society.

In this program, you will get to listen to top notch speakers in Singapore on Mindset Change, Increasing Productivity, Attracting people to you, Steps to raise your career, increasing your memory power, service excellence and much more!

Date: 1 Mar 2010
Time: 0845-1730
Place:Singapore
Lecture Theatre 23, 3rd floor,
SIM Headquarters, 461 Clementi Road
Cost: $188

To register or donate, click here.

Here is the line up of speakers:

Play a Higher Service Game in 2010…and Win
Ron Kaufman

Lessons from Everest:
Climbing High when Everyone Else is Feeling Low
David Lim CSP

5 Key Steps to Success to Consistently Raise Your Game
Shirley Taylor

Turning Everyday Struggles into Everyday Greatness
Dr William Tan

Simple Strategies for Becoming a Magnet for Success
Christian Chua

Raise Your Career, Raise Your Team and Raise Your Life!
Michael Podolinksy CSP

Raise your Game by Maximising your Memory Power
Nishant Kasibhatla

To register or donate, click here.

I appeal to that you come for this event. As you learn and be empowered, you are also giving back to the community. Let’s do our bid and show love for our fellow friends.

Do forward this blog link to your friends!

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This post is short. What is the most inspiring thing you heard from your boss? Watch this hilarious video that changed this person’s life.

Well… I can’t argue with that logic… hehehehe

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