LEADERSHIP STORY

Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad the person that I choose as a mentor in leadership. Tun Mahathir considered a thinker and revolutionary. I choose him because Tun Mahathir wants changes in mental and physical people. Tun Mahathir want Malaysia name known in the world stage. He wants people punctual and hard working. Things are inspired in the ‘Look East Policy’. Besides that, Tun Mahathir also introduces the concept of Malaysia Incorporated in Malaysia which is assumed as a company and people are employees and shareholders. This idea comes from the Japanese who have a greater role to the private sector to drive the nation forward. This concept has further enhanced the performance of employment, income and the country’s image. Tun Mahathir also increase Bumiputera participant in the ownership of industrial and commercial sector with the establish of PNB and Amanah Saham Nasional and Amanah Saham Bumiputera.

 The idea of Vision 2020 is the main idea that comes from the great leader. From this Vision 2020 we can see that, Tun Mahathir have a great idea and he was the great leader because he can think for future. He hope that Malaysia can fully developed nation by the year 2020. Like an artist, Tun Mahathir featuring a pure philosophy that was followed by a continuous exercise. The goal is the development of human with balance environment.

Since his appointment as Prime Minister, Tun Mahathir was never tired of introducing changes. First step after becoming prime minister was to change government machinery to move the ‘Clean-Efficient-Trustworthy’ and ‘leadership by example’ accountability towards positive values and moral ethics among civil servants in particular and society in general. He also introduces the use of punch card and the wearing of name tags to government employees.

Because of his idea and philosophy, I choose him as my mentor. He not only can give a good idea but also can think for future and out of box. Not all the leader can do what he had done. I will use his working style and how he make a decision at the office. When make a decision we have to look all the factors and think carefully so that the decision that we made fair to all. 

The decision made by the leader will influence the entire subordinate. The subordinated will follow all the decision and respect the leader who can make a good decision. When the bad decision was made it can give bad image to the leader and the subordinate will not respect the leader. If it happened the leader became the bad leader.

Tun Dr. Mahathir not only influences me in the leadership but also in the image. By wearing the name tag it can show our discipline and represent our self to others. People will know us if we are wearing the name tag and easy to them to remember us. Tun also teaches us to punctual and respect to each other. If the leader cannot respect his subordinate he is not the good leader.

In my organization, the idea sometime comes from the leader and sometime come from my friends. We will sit together to solve the problem. It because if we work alone the problem that we faced cannot be solve and it will reflect our performance. The idea that comes from the leader sometime not to good and we have to discuss to make sure that the decision that we made is the good decision and good to the organization.

At my office, I choose my Chief Assistance Secretary as my role model because the decision and how he control the situation when the problem happened. For example, when we get instruction from the top management to do the projects that cannot be done because it not follows the procedure, he will advice the top management well and make the top management understand why the project cannot be done. He also will discuss with his subordinated if problem happened. He trusts his staffs well and respects us well. He also can tolerate and consult with his staff when the staffs have the problem.

I also choose my colleague as a good leader because of his attitude and how he solves the problem when it happened. He also can influence others to work hard and make a good decision when needed. He always helps me during my work and we always discuss problem that we faced. He also teaches me how to be a good leader and make a good decision.

For me the good leader is importance in organization because without the leader the organization cannot be run smoothly. A good leader also can influence his subordinate and give the idea to solve the problem. He also has to kind to his subordinate in order to get respect from them. The good leader also must have good communication not only from his subordinate but also from the people around him. The networking also importance to the leader in order to make sure the organization running in the good situation.

Normally in the organization small mistake can effects the operation of the organization. Sometimes the leader also can make the mistake with or without his notice. For example in my office sometime boss make the decision without think about the implication of his decision. When this happened it can give bad impact to the organization. In order to prove the project we have to make sure all the procedures follow, if not it can get bad impact to the organization.

Besides that, if the leader always follows the top management without think it first can give bad impact to organization. As a good leader he has advice first the top management before the decision made. Sometimes the leader don’t want the hear advice from the staff. This habit of the leader can give bad impact to the organization because if decision that he made wrong it will give bad impact to the organization.

By Nur Azwa Hayati, Sidang B