Employees Hate You

You reward the wrong things.
What gets rewarded gets done. It is such a familiar axiom of management that it is nearly cliché. It is, however, completely true. Where you focus your attention focuses your employees' attention. What you notice, note and reward will get done more frequently. Identify and focus on the results that matter. And don't be like the executive above who confused activity with accomplishment.

You don't listen.
Even if your employees told you about a qualm of theirs, you might not really hear them. It is too easy to be distracted and pre-occupied. Becoming a better listener is actually quite easy. When an employee is in your workspace to talk, turn off your email alerts, close your door and let your monitor go into sleep mode. Give your undivided attention to the person in front of you. They will feel you value them, and you'll likely increase the quality and speed of the interaction.

You don't notice what your employees are doing.
Brittney was a financial manager at a client firm. She was bubbly and outgoing. She also had the ability to draw attention to her "contributions," though many weren't that significant. Employees hated her self-aggrandizement. But they also disliked that management noted Brittney's efforts because they were easily observed. Leaders didn't pay attention to the good and often better work others were doing. Great work is often done backstage, out of the spotlight. The glitter of self-promotion doesn't blind great entrepreneurs. They seek out those people doing good work and make it a point to notice. Pay attention to people who do good work and let them know. And don't get suckered by people who are better at promoting themselves than producing results.
 Your attitude sucks.
Bill is an entrepreneur who constantly complains about how terrible his employees are at delivering customer service. He berates and belittles even their best efforts. And yet he's puzzled why those same employees treat customers poorly. The irony escapes him. Attitudes are contagious. Mirror neurons pick up on and are affected by the moods of those around us. Leaders are especially powerful in influencing the mood of those on their team. Don't expect others to be more upbeat than you or treat customers better than you treat them. There are a few entrepreneurs who might have dodged this bullet, but not enough to be statistically significant. Your attitude is contagious, so pay attention to how you act at work each day.

You can't keep your mouth shut.
A young entrepreneur we will call Bob loved to share insider information about others. At one after-work beer session, he shared something HR told him confidentially about a co-worker who was not at the gathering. It was less than flattering and was instantly off-putting to those in the group. The employee, a valued and productive member of the team, learned of the betrayal of confidence and was outraged. She left the company soon after

Effective Leadership

"All managers are leaders." Truth: some managers can lead and others don't or cannot. Management is a subset of leadership, not its equivalent. Managers are good at setting up, monitoring and maintaining systems and processes. They hire people. But if they can't bring out better performance in people and take the organization beyond where it is, they aren't leading. Leadership always involves change, improvement and growth.

"Some are born leaders." Truth: even someone with a predisposition to lead must learn the skills of leadership. A young person who is 6'6" might have the predisposition to play basketball, but he or she still needs to learn the skills before they can play successfully.
Leadership might be more latent in some than others -- and you can't always tell -- so focus on what is developing someone's behaviours, not their biological background.

"Leaders always have the right answers." Truth: leaders ask the right questions and know where to find the best answers. If your people always come to you for answers, you're stunting their ability to think. And if everyone in your company keeps asking the same questions, I assure you, you're not that innovative. Without questioning and curiosity, leaders simply manage by using familiar answers long after the marketplace has started asking different questions. It isn't about knowing the answers as much as it is about knowing who to ask and where to look.

"You need a title to lead." Truth: to lead you only need to know when it is appropriate to do so and how to do it. When I stay at a hotel, the majority of people I encounter -- from the front desk to housekeeping to foodservice -- have no formal title or power over people, yet they are responsible for creating my experience there -- good or bad. Good staff willing to take the lead are as important (and probably more) than the official leaders at the top. Leadership is about making things better, and the best organizations teach everyone to take responsibility for leading.

"Leaders are focused." Truth: Leaders create a shared focus. If your team isn't focused, it doesn't matter how focused you are on doing what matters. A manager is usually focused, but a leader creates shared focus and doesn't waste resources by allowing team members to do work that doesn't matter.
Being focused is about self-responsibility and discipline. Creating shared focus is about engaging others in the leadership agenda and making it specific to their jobs.

"Leadership is about ambition." Truth: leadership is about the greater good. There's nothing wrong with ambition, but it primarily serves the ambitious. If what you're doing serves only you, you almost certainly aren't leading. When others are served better as well -- customers, colleagues, vendors, the community -- that is the sign of effective leadership.

"Anyone can lead." Truth: Nobody can lead if they lack the desire to do so. You can't make people lead any more than you can make a horse drink once you've led it to water. Desire is the sine qua non of effective leadership. And you, Mr. or Ms. Leader, cannot become better without the same desire. I've observed that nobody improves by accident. Getting better is about getting past the common thinking, lies and misconceptions and digging for wisdom. Once you know the truth, it can set you free and make you a better leader.

Medical Cost Up 10% Each Year

Medical costs are expected to increase by 10 per cent each year due to the lack of public realisation on the importance of having a healthy lifestyle, resulting in rising cases of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the country.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said increasing cases of NCDs each year resulted in rising treatment costs borne by the government, besides providing the best medical services to the people.

"The number of Malaysians who are obese as announced by the Health Minister (Datuk Seri S. Subramaniam) recently, shows an increasingly serious obesity problem. Obesity will contribute to more health problems for an individual.

"This will result in more people being admitted to the hospitals for treatment each year. I have visited several hospitals where I saw congestion...need to add beds and so on. We are working at tackling the issue," he said after launching the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Tobacco-Free Campus project, here, Tuesday.

Also present were USM deputy vice-chancellor (Student Affairs and Development) Prof Dr Adnan Hussein, Malaysia Health Promotion Board (MySihat) chairman Tan Sri Dr Mohd Nasir Mohd Ashraf and National Poisons Centre director Assoc Prof Dr Razak Lajis.

Dr Hilmi said increasing public confidence in the medical treatment at government hospitals and clinics also contributed to rising medical costs, including administration, management and development, for the government.

He therefore urged the government to focus more attention to the Health Ministry by giving it an additional allocation in the 2014 Budget, to ensure that it continued to provide the best medical services to the people, including building new hospitals and clinics.

Meanwhile, Dr Hilmi welcomed USM's efforts at kicking the smoking habit among the university's staff and students which could help reduce cases of NCDs.

He hoped that other higher learning institutions would emulate USM by organising programmes to create greater public awareness on the dangers of smoking.

Private Retirement Schemes

What is PRS?
Basically, the PRS is a defined contribution pension scheme which allows people (or their employers) to voluntarily contribute into an investment vehicle for the purposes of building up their retirement income.

In a Malaysian retirement framework, it is to be complemented with (and not a substitute for) the mandatory contributions made by both employees and employers to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) scheme.

Having a voluntary scheme in addition to the EPF also allows private company employees and self-employed persons to voluntarily contribute towards their retirement in a systematic way.

What are the Similarities Between the PRS and the EPF?

• Retirement purpose: Both the EPF and PRS schemes are for building up a person’s retirement assets and income.

• Tax Benefit: Tax relief is given for contributions to both schemes (up to RM6,000 a year for EPF; RM3,000 per year for PRS).

Note: The PRS is a separate entity from the EPF, which is Malaysia’s mandatory PRS and should not be treated as an alternative.

PRS Providers
PRS Providers are fund management firms which are approved by the PRS administrators to manage the investment vehicles that contributions get paid into.

The eight PRS Providers approved (as of April 5, 2012) are:
• AmInvestment Management Sdn Bhd
• American International Assurance Bhd
• CIMB -Principal Asset Management Bhd
• Hwang Investment Management Bhd
• ING Funds Bhd
• Manulife Unit Trust Bhd
• Public Mutual Bhd
• RHB Investment Management Sdn Bhd

The PRS was “soft” launched in July 2012, which means that PRS Providers were not yet ready to accept funds, and all the relevant parties would spend the next few months educating potential members and the public on the various aspects of the PRS.

Contributions
Unlike the EPF, PRS contributions are not mandatory, and they can be made by either an individual or an employer. There is no statutory minimum amount (although individual PRS Providers may specify a minimum amount as per their own internal investment policy) and no statutory time interval for contributions.

EPF - Raising Retirement Fund

Malaysia's largest pension fund has decided to raise the minimum savings for its contributors to ensure they have more money in their twilight years, but this indirectly cuts investments into the country's vibrant unit trust industry.

The new rules by the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) to cut investments in unit trusts comes at a time when rising costs have shown contributors' savings are not enough to cover retirement after turning 55, five years below Putrajaya's new retirement age of 60.

“The EPF will revise upwards the basic savings quantum of its members to RM196,800 by the age of 55 effective January 2014, to ensure enough savings to finance members' retirement needs,” EPF general manager, Nik Affendi Jaafar told The Malaysian Insider in Kuala Lumpur over the weekend.

He revealed that under the old scheme, which was launched in 2008, members' targeted savings of RM120,000 at the age of 55 was not sufficient for them to maintain their lifestyle during retirement.
But the new amount will be equal to RM820 a month for 20 years from age 55 to 75.

The new rates are said to be benchmarked against the minimum pension for public sector employees, which is currently at RM820 a month, so that the monthly retirement income does not fall below the poverty level.

Following the revision, members need to have more in their Account 1 to be eligible for the EPF Members Investment Scheme, under which savings are invested in unit trusts. Currently members can use 20% of their balance in Account 1 to invest in approved unit trust schemes.

To illustrate the change, if a member is 40 years or older and has basic savings of RM80,000 in Account 1 at present (2013), his excess will be RM36,000 (derived from RM80,000 - RM44,000). He can then use only RM7,200 (20% of RM36,000) to invest in any approved unit trust. To further protect EPF contributors, withdrawals for unit trust investments are only permitted once every 3 months.

With the new EPF rules in 2014, at RM80,000, the excess will only be RM11,000 (RM80,000 - RM69,000). One can then only use RM2,200 (20% of RM11,000) to invest in any approved unit trust.

An official from the Federation of Investment Managers (FIMM) who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that the unit trust industry would be severely affected by the new ruling.

The RM326 billion unit trust industry comprises some 50,000 consultants who earn commissions ranging from 1% to 3% from unit trust investments.

The new ruling would also result in many EPF members, who were previously eligible to invest in unit trusts, no longer being qualified.

One of the leading Unit Trust Management Companies, Public Mutual (a subsidiary of Public Bank), derived one-third of its non-interest income from its unit trust operation. In 2012, less than 10% of its net profit was from its unit trust business

Getting Into Your Boss's Hair

Are you trying your best at work but still not getting the best results? Perhaps it is time to think about how your boss and colleagues see you and what they think about your work ethic. Managers are often stressed because they have to manage their subordinates and office dynamics on top of having to deal with a high workload. If you feel like talking to your boss can be somewhat similar to walking on top of a landmine, maybe it is time to evaluate if you are doing it right.

Even if you do not mean it, saying the wrong thing or approaching your boss the wrong way could put you in your boss' bad books. Here are some ways employees drive their bosses mad, without even having to try.

Cursing in the office
Even if you might not be directing your foul language at anyone in particular, cussing still creates a hostile environment for some people. Swearing in the office will make you seem unprofessional.

Lacking confidence in every thing you do
Not having confidence often means the rest of your team needs to pick up the things you do not dare do. This is frustrating for the boss, who could be frustrated from trying to motivate you to put in more effort at work.

Asking for direction on every task
If you are the sort who is unwilling to examine your tasks and come up with a strategy on your own, your boss might get increasingly annoyed and wonder what he/she has hired you for.

Always looking lethargic
Attitude is very important. If you look lethargic a lot of the time, your boss could get annoyed even if you are getting work done.

Giving your boss last-minute work to check through
If there is something your boss needs to look through and you have had plenty of time to do it, do not pass a whole chunk of material for checking at the last minute. This adds to your boss' workload and needless to say, stress levels too.

Venting your emotions at work
Keep work professional - Venting your emotions at work shows that you are unable to handle yourself, and also gives your boss more reason to dread dealing with you at work.

Goofing around too much
It is okay to be the joker who lightens the mood in office, but be careful not to try too hard. Your relaxed attitude speaks volumes about your lack of professionalism, and keeps you away from earning that promotion.

Being absent-minded
Carelessness could cost you, especially if they result in big losses for your boss. Absent-mindedness can cause you to look like your mind is not at work, even if you have a very good excuse for it. Always take notes, and remind yourself in every way possible.

Treating the office like a love playground
Being a serial colleague dater does not make you look good. While your charm might work on your lovers, it could create awkwardness among your colleagues. It also shows that your mind is not set on work.

Taking sick leave all the time
If you have a valid reason to be away, it is only right for bosses to allow you to take time off. However, if you blatantly take sick leave for hangovers and mood swings, your boss will find you out eventually.

Dressing inappropriately for work
Especially so if you have an important meeting to attend.
Dressing up is nice but remember that less is not more when you are at work. If you want to keep the respect of your bosses and colleagues, keep your dressing professional and smart.

Being a drama queen
Bosses hate it when employees exaggerate the effects of everything. If you sob out loud just because things are not going your way, it could be time you keep your emotions in check

Revealing work-related information online
Whether it is blogging or just updating your Facebook status, talking about the bad things at work on social media platforms is a big no-no for many employers.

Gossiping
Gossiping can turn malicious and creates a hostile environment for others. Bosses also hate it when one employee fuels the fire of jealousy among colleagues.

Investing In Life Insurance

Here are five events that commonly increase a person's need for insurance. Know someone who has experienced one (or more) of these lately? Chances are he or she needs some life insurance.

1. Tying the knot.
When you get married, you share each other’s financial obligations. Would a surviving spouse have enough money to cover your funeral costs and debts?

2. Starting a family.
If something happens to you, where will the money come from to provide the upbringing you would like your child to have? How would they pay for college?

3. Buying a home.
Could a surviving spouse manage mortgage payments, utilities and maintenance costs without your help?

4. Starting a business.
Life insurance is a key to allowing a business to survive the death of an owner.

5. Supporting aging parents.
Many members of the “sandwich generation” are now supporting their parents as well as their children. Life insurance can ensure your parents would continue to be cared for in your absence.