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Thought for the week: Change
- more coping with fear
by Richard Townsend,
Corporate Learning Consultant
http://www.orglearn.org
Seeing life as a continuous learning experience plus
being prepared to change our attitude and to let go of our proven
‘norms’ will also help us overcome our fear. Example: how many people
for years worried about the cold war? Some became so paranoid they dug
shelters and stocked them with supplies. What happens now? Do we have a
world full of holes stuffed with stale or rotting food? One great way to
overcome fear and worry is try to think of what we were worried about this
time last year. Can’t remember? Most of us can’t. This time next year
it will be the same.
In line with seeing life as a continuous learning
experience we should be prepared to fail and then analyse our failures to
see how we can do things better the next time. If we are not prepared to
fail we will be unable to make decisions and ‘a bad decision is better
than no decision at all’. Just imagine if the first time we tried to
stand up and because we failed we couldn’t decide whether to try again
or not. Think about crawling to work for the rest of your life. How many
times do sporting greats fail before they break a world record? Every
failed putt, throw of the ball or toss of the javelin leads to a bank of
knowledge that improves our performance. You really only fail if you
don’t learn from the experience.
But what about hang gliding? Breaking the change
process into smaller digestible pieces is the same principle as learning
anything new. The old adage that people learn by ‘littles’ is a truism
that can help. If we are going to accept change and overcome our fear we
need to jump from small ledges before attempt large cliffs. If we break
the change process into its smallest pieces our nervousness will be
reduced. Also it stands to reason that if we can see where we are going we
are more confident than if we are leaping into the dark. If we implement a
change process we need to shine a light on the future. The best way is
through a plan based on the various scenarios we have regarding the
future. We must then effectively communicate the plan and the role of each
of the stakeholders. This means we have to understand and advise every
individual of their role in where they and we are heading. The only real
question ever asked when a meeting on change is held is “What Is Going
To Happen To Me?” This question is often disguised as some technical
enquiry regarding future operational difficulties... however, it is the
only question that is on the minds of those involved in change. If we
don’t give or get a satisfactory and personal answer to their or our
concerns, fear levels (and resistance) increase enormously.
A close relative of mine was working for an advertising
company that was being taken over (THE BIG CHANGE). At the end of the
process he ended up with a better job in the “merged” organization. As
the company I was working for at the time was also being taken over I
asked his advice. This is what he said, “fear of not knowing leads to
resistance so you must be involved in the change process to the point of
being seen as an active participant, particularly when critical decisions
are made. Don’t avoid your responsibilities, volunteer and devote time
to engineering the new situation... help the process don’t hinder it.
Don’t hold a false and fruitless loyalty to the way things were. Listen
to everything and ask for explanations. Avoid only hearing what your
pre-conceived ideas are telling you about what may be happening and
constantly seek to understand. Stay open and honest and speak the truth
AND the hardest of all... control what you can but let go of that which
you cannot”, or as another colleague of mine once put it, “don’t
waste your energy fighting battles you can’t win”.
If the outcome of inevitable change isn’t the best
possible for us, at least we should see what you could learn from the
evolving situation. Buy the way I took his advice and ended up with an
operation twice the size of that in my pre-takeover company and a much
better salary and benefits package to boot.
Worth a thought.
To contact Ric mailto: [email protected]
THAICARD to commemorate
100th birthday of Princess Mother
The Communications Authority of Thailand has issued a
THAICARD “Souvenir Set to celebrate the 100th birthday anniversary of
the Princess Mother” to mark the birthday of the Princess Mother last
October 21. The card, featuring the Princess Mother in a red dress, can be
used make calls to destinations throughout the world, while cardholders
can also call back home to Thailand from 26 destinations abroad.
For those interested, the THAICARD, priced at 300, 500
and 1,000 baht can be purchased at the Post Office and telecommunications
service offices with the THAICARD sign. For more information, contact the
CAT commercial division at Lak Si, tel. 506-4031, 506-3484.
Hybrid electric car from
Australia to be showcased at Asia Automotive 2000
One of Asia’s largest international automotive
exhibitions, Asia Automotive 2000, is showcasing the latest in electric
car technology this weekend from November 23 to 26 at the Bangkok
International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC) on Bangna-Trad Road.
 The
aXcessaustralian LEV
Unveiled in 1998, the aXcessaustralia LEV (low emission
vehicle) is a hybrid electric car that derives its power from a generator,
an energy storage system, and a 1.4-litre gasoline engine. It was built in
one year with the collaboration of 102 Australian auto and auto components
manufacturers and the Australian department of industry, the government of
the state of Victoria, the science and industry research firm CSIRO, and
the design group Radial Pacific.
Automotive South and Southeast Asia trade commissioner
Anthony McDonald said that because cars cause up to 90% of urban air
pollution, any attempt to reduce this has to include the reduction of
vehicle emission. The aXcessaustralia LEV is such a car.
“This concept car is a fully operational prototype
that offers significant reductions in vehicle emissions and pollutants. It
is safe and suitable for all types of urban driving,” he said.
The aXcessaustralia LEV can be driven in electric-mode
for 20 minutes. Sudden bursts of acceleration are drawn from
energy-storing super capacitors which can release up to 35 kilowatts of
extra energy for up to 20 seconds.
The gasoline engine is only required when the storage
system needs to be recharged or when acceleration needs more power than is
available from the storage system or generator. Emissions of fuel are
minimized through under-bonnet controllers.
Because of these features, the aXcessaustralian LEV can
save up to A$4,000 in fuel costs over three years. It also offers up to a
50% drop in fuel consumption, which translates into a 90% reduction in
emissions compared to a standard year 2000 model vehicle.
BITEC managing director Dr. Prasarn Bhiraj Buri said
the presence of aXcessaustralia LEV at Asia Automotive 2000 would widen
the vision of Thailand’s automotive manufacturers and, in so doing,
perhaps even contribute to their future success.
Dr. Prasarn noted that export orders taken and joint
ventures formed by the 80-or-so auto parts manufacturers involved in the
making of the aXcessaustralia LEV have exceeded A$700 million since 1998.
Laem Chabang CCGT power
plant project
Laem Chabang Power Co. Ltd is a project company owned
by Fortum, the Finnish energy company. Fortum is one of the leading energy
companies in Northern Europe, having wide experience in deregulated energy
markets. In addition to Northern Europe, Fortum is present in altogether
30 countries.
In power, Fortum specializes in efficient and
environmentally benign energy production. This means combined heat and
power production (CHP) and utilization of biomass, hydro and natural gas
power plants.
Fortum Engineering, a Fortum group company from Finland
is constructing the Laem Chabang CCGT power plant in consortium with S.T.
Fortum Engineering, a local Thai company.
Fortum Engineering is constructing environmentally
friendly power plants and refurbishing old plants to meet strict
environmental emission limits. The company has numerous biomass and
natural gas fired plants under construction in Europe.
Laem Chabang CCGT power plant is a CHP plant, having a
capacity of 110 megawatts of power and 50 megawatts of heat production for
the needs of the Laem Chabang industrial estate companies. The plant
construction has reached a state where most of the construction works have
been completed and the active erection phase has started. The total
manpower at site is currently 600, thus the project is a significant
employer through all the subcontractors of the area. A significant portion
of the equipment has also been purchased locally, promoting the employment
in Thailand.
The plant will be commissioned by June 2001, and the
technology utilized meets the most stringent environmental requirements.
The energy efficient combined heat and power (CHP) production concept
connected to the reliable technology provides an outcome, which improves
the air quality in Laem Chabang and reduces the overall emissions in
Thailand by replacing less efficient energy production. “This is an
excellent example of the desired cooperation between competent local
companies and Fortum for sustainable and environmentally friendly energy
production,” says Esa Hapuoja, the project director of Fortum
Engineering.
On November 14, the roof raising ceremony at Laem
Chabang combined cycle power plant was held signaling the completion of
the power plant building works.
Seaboard Sundowners to
be more frequent?
The undercurrent throughout the evening of the
Australian Thai Chamber of Commerce’s networking evening last weekend
was one of “We should do this more often.”
These get-togethers, known as the Seaboard Sundowners,
have always been very popular events, and this latest one was no
exception. Held in the sala around the pool at the Royal Garden Resort, it
was sponsored by the effusive and enthusiastic Steele Lambrinos from
Kirwan Industrial Services, who was very pleased to announce his
company’s winning the Toyota President’s Award for the third year in
succession.
 Seaboard
Sundowners are so much fun, there is definite talk of doing this more
often!
Not so pleased were Steele’s two sons who go to the
ISR on finding Clive Dawson from the school was also present when they
should have been at home doing assignments perhaps!
The official welcome was pronounced by Mark Laurence,
who is the chamber’s Eastern Seaboard representative. Always an affable
bunch, the Aussies let their hair down with Fosters Aussie beer, Aussie
white wine and champagne. They are still obviously enjoying their
successful running of the Sydney Olympics, even using CD’s of the
opening session as lucky door prizes, with the Pattaya Mail’s Mirin
MacCarthy being totally thrilled having won one. The evening could have
gone on for ever, and Ian Every from AusThai Development and Construction
would still be there if the Fosters had not run out!
The next day the Aussies had a social golf day after
the Australian Thai Chamber visited its sponsored school in Rayong - Ban
Khao Huai Mahad - and did some volunteer English teaching led by Ian Smith
from the Laem Chabang School of Engineering.
Copyright 2000 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596; e-mail: [email protected]
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