15 lessons from 15 years as a CHRO

In early 2008, I moved to the Corporate Office of the Rogers Group to step into a C-Suite role as Chief Human Resources Executive (CHRO). 15 years down the line, I have condensed 15 insightful lessons I have learnt in my corporate journey. These have certainly allowed me to grow, perform and thrive:

A - Lead yourself – ‘Keep becoming a better version of yourself’

1. Keep investing in yourself – Learn from the best and from each situation and share to get even better – Expanding your self-awareness is key to success.

2. Constantly ‘Up your Game’ - Keep finding better ways to deliver, adopt Kaizen as a way of life and always uphold high standards.

3. Manage your Energy – Energy is the most important resource at your disposal. Generate and share positive energy, focus your energy on what matters.

4. Use the ‘Power of Three’ – Three to Thrive allows you to focus on the 20% which makes 80% impact and excel in communication and execution.

5. Don’t assume – Don’t hold assumptions in mind. Clarify any assumptions you might have and always ask questions to understand or uncover wider perspectives.

6. Play to your Strengths – Know and Leverage on your Top 5 Strengths. Remember your strengths are what will allow you to succeed, and what people will follow you for.

7. Find your Work-Life Harmony – Don’t separate your personal and professional life as it doesn’t work in today’s world. Find ways to integrate both seamlessly together.

B - Lead Others – ‘Keep being the Leader you would like to follow’

8. Make things easier for others – Be open, listen with empathy and serve people with an outward mindset – with a view to make things simpler, better and/or easier for others.

9. Inspire growth in people – Ignite the spark in people and help your team members to learn, grow and excel in their careers by sharing and coaching as much as you can.

10. Be impeccable with your words and actions – Engage with humility and respect and always deliver on what you say. This is what builds credibility of character.

11. Know your key Stakeholders – Identify your Top 3 stakeholders and be aware of their Top 3 priorities; Align with these priorities as much as you can.

12. Your Network is your Net Worth – Expand your network both inside and outside your organisation. Take time to connect and nurture positive relationships

13. Know (how and when) to say NO – Negotiate your priorities. Know and set your boundaries. Learn to have difficult conversations including handling conflicts.

14. Master Storytelling – Connect to the hearts and minds of people with stories that are personal, emotional, and engaging. This is how you influence positively with impact.

15. Establish your Signature style as a Leader – Build your own style. Mine is Clarity in Mind, Compassion at heart, Confidence in Competence, Congruence in Action.

In essence, the key is to stay agile, hungry and resilient while staying true to yourself in everything you do. Do make the most by learning from mentors, coaches and role models who will call you out, help you unlock potential and discover new resources along the way.

What are the most important lessons you have learnt over the years that you would like to share?