NTU Economics Year 2

8th FOOT Treasurer

9th FOOT Logistics

Full time slacker=P

Kota Kinabalu(1)

Datuk(1)

Pelepah(3)

Lata(2)

Desaru(1)

Endau Rompin(4)

Grade 8 distinction

GPA > 4.0

Sunrise at peak of Kinabalu

Sunset at peak of Datuk

Berkelah

Stong

Visit Dubai

Backpack Europe and Canada

Jasmine has published an entry on Friendship. So I thought I'll do one on teamwork.

Teamwork is the concept of people working together cooperatively as a team in order to accomplish the same goals/objectives.

A general dictionary defines teamwork as a "Cooperative or coordinated effort on the part of a group (sociology) of persons acting together as a team or in the interests of a common cause, unison for a higher cause, people working together for a selfless purpose, and so on."

Applied to workplaces teamwork is a method that aligns employee mindsets in a cooperative and usually selfless manner, towards a specific business purpose. Today there is no business or organization that does not talk about the need and value of teamwork in the workplace. While the concept of teamwork and its benefits are well known and talked about, it is very rare to see it being practiced truly in reality...


I read Li Ping's post about her feelings for 8thfootcomm and thought about the teamwork I've experienced in past organisations/committees I have been part of.

Hmmm... I believe the most memorable team I had once belonged to would be WSS TT 2000-2004. Each of us gave our 100 and 1 percent. We sacrificed a hell lot of time and effort each year, dying to achieve a position in the nationals. The kind of team work in Sports related CCAs is different. Perhaps the objective is very straight forward. The desire in each individual to achieve their goals is so overwhelming. The passion for the sport brings people together. It was so simple.

Apart from Table Tennis, I was also part of choir. Choir gave me many opportunities. But I was there for a wrong purpose. My soul was never in Choir. Back then even in choir practices, I would only think of table tennis competitions. Every break I would be analyzing strategies with team players. I would only think of ways and means to bring down my competitors. Totally obsessed with the sport. I was only in choir to exploit its benefits. In the end I got my points at the expense of many friendships. The politics within was eye opening. It actually enabled me see the world at a much deeper level. Teamwork? Perhaps a little. At my final year, I was surprised at the strength of Alliances which sprung up all of a sudden. Can this be considered teamwork?

When the 2004 table tennis competition ended, WSS TT disbanded. We eventually lost. But each and everyone of us gained a whole lot of experience and knowledge. It was where we learnt that the result if not important. What matters most was the process. Till date I still hold on the that belief. As long you have given in your best, the ending doesn't matter.

Next, I went on to SRJC tt and experienced the opposite of choir. Instead of me exploiting the CCA, the CCA exploited me. Like machiam free labour. Hmmm, in SR tt I may have upseted my partner very often because of my can't be bothered attitude. Because I have lost the sense of satistaction I used to find in WSS tt. Because I no longer had the chance to fight back for what I lost in the 2004 games. While Bie used to think that I've taught her quite some stuff in game play, I think she taught me a lot more in comparison. Her character, personality and approach to life had so much depth, it made me reflected on my attitude. Teamwork? Not bad. It was not strong, but at least everyone were helpful. I believed I could have done more for the A division gals. But my attitude at the time was downright bad. My Civic Tutor often said I lack nothing but Attitude. And attitude is everything.

I took everything with me and went out to work when college ended. I changed myself a lot. In terms of attitude. Chacko was right. I lack nothing but attitude. Half a year of work had changed me into a different individual. Because it was a long break for self evaluation.

I went on to FOOT 2007. At my final year in Sec school, ODAC was established with a couple of closed friends being the so-called founders. I didn't get the chance to be part of it as the school was very protective of graduating students. Going on to College, it was very tempting to join ODAC as well, but I didn't due to the misconception that cca involvement is inversely proporional to academic grades. I never thought at University level I would possibly join ODAC. But I did!

The flyer didn't capture my attention at all. It was Ning who jioed us, the Mavis tuition gang to go for FOOT. In the end, due to a series of events I was the only one who went for FOOT. And I was lucky to have met Ofoes! Ofoes created an unforgetable family feeling within us. In Ofoes, we saw teamwork at its best! For strangers to come together as a team, it seemed a difficult task. Yet teamwork was displayed so naturally...

Next, 8thfootcomm. I hold on very dearly to it because it is such a major part of my life. It had a huge impact on me. Sounds exaggerating but it isn't. As compared to the past CCAs I was in, FOOT had a lot more to offer. People like Sishan, Qing Yong, Jasmine, Liping, Mike blah blah had taught me a lot in terms of both hard and soft skills. So simply put, the comm members had widen up my horizon... Now I feel less of a mountain tortoise. Lol. Teamwork wise, not perfect but it was already very amazing.

These days I also often wonder how much I've changed since entering university. For that I have no answer because it is far to difficult to judge oneself. And because I've not been in touch with close friends, I'm also unable to find out from others how much I've changed. I'm only worried that I've changed back to my former self. The attitude, arrogant, straight forward, zero EQ person I was back in college. Throughout the camp and at times like yesterday, I felt it coming back. I have totally no idea whether it is good or bad.

Nevertheless, I'm not taking back the words from yesterday's entry. I do not feel that I've said anything which is untrue. It wasn't an impulsive one. As long as my conscience is clear, I need not be afraid of negative responses. I'm pissed with myself for getting upset over such an insignificant issue.

Met my piano teacher today and she reminded me that there is a whole lot of human relations I have to deal with in the working world. I should learn to take things easy. Hmmm... Kinda true...

Since FOOT ended, I've been doing a lot of self reflections. Its been a long time since I've thought about so many stuff. But I think these reflections has stabalised my emotions and I'm now ready to welcome the new semester.

I do welcome feedback on myself as well because I'm keen to know whether what I can do to improve myself. Whether you think that I should not emo so much or I should watch my attitude or whatever just let me know!

Today is Friday 1st of August, the last weekday holiday! Enjoy it! Oh and rmb to check the results for your electives.

To Li Ping, I hope your hall stops tormenting you.
To Jasmine, I hope things work out for you.
To SS, waiting for your hk updates!!!
To Shan, I duno if you're reading this. No sch but enjoy work!
To Joan, I'm typing this entry but your alarm keeps ringing and I feel like throwing your phone down the toilet bowl. School may suck but enjoy it anyway:)
To passerbys, I hope you're having a good day!