OUM/Meteor Executive Retreat July 31 -1 Aug - Day 2 Part 1

Day 2 August 1, 2008 posted by Richard Ng

This is the view of Genting Highland Resort World from the window of my hotel room in the morning.


The second day of the retreat started at 9.00am. The training began with the first session on "Thinking Outside the Box" by Tony Hayman. Tony began with quote by Charles Duell in 1899: "Everything that can be invented has been invented."

Participants were told to think outside the box - to think differently and do things differently. We must find new ideas and act on them.

Tony conducting the first session of training on day 2


According to Tony, thinking outside the box requires the following:

* Willingness to take on new perspectives of day-to-day work
* Openness to do different things and to do things differently
* Focusing on the value of finding new ideas and acting on them
* Striving to create value in new ways
* Listening to others
* Supporting and respecting others when they come up with new ideas

The second presentation on "Working Performance and Etiquettes" was conducted by Puan Faizah, Senior Group HR Manager of OUM/Meteor. Obviously many participants were curious about performance appraisal and how they are evaluated and tied up to incentive, pay and bonus.

Puan Faizah taking questions from the floor

We break for lunch at 12.45pm. The afternoon session began at 2.30pm. This session on "Interpersonal Relationship" was conducted by Michael Reyes. He said that 30% of our characteristics are born and 70% are developed according to a survey in US. In any relationship between 2 individuals they are bound to have conflict. Participants were then told to brainstorm for 5 minutes within their group to find the problems they encountered with their partners or superiors.

He stressed that in any relationship, problems are either a result of the other party, you or both. And it is easier to change your own characters hen others.

Michael emphasizing a point

The fourth session after the tea break was conducted by Prof. Dr. Latifah on "Understanding Student Issues". Participants are divided into 6 groups and each group was told to present problems they noticed, faced by our students.

Prof Latifah took over the floor

Group 6 was doing their brainstorming session

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mazlan leading Group 1 to present problems faced by our learners under the topic "Teaching and Learning"

Some of the participants paying attention to one of the presenters.