Shawn Nassaney Award - Q3 2016

Every quarter Schneider Electric recognize leader who did an exemplary work and they give this award called Shawn Nassaney. I was blessed for my hard work and dedication being recognized by the management and it really makes me feel valued as an employee. 

It was Q3 of 2016 that I won this award. I've been with the company for almost 9 years and this is the first time I got a trophy. I'm planning to display this on my station and I'm looking forward for more fruitful years with Schneider. 

To God be all the glory!

Start of Leadership

I've been so busy at work when I got promoted. It's been 5 months since my promotion but its only now I've start to feel how to become one (a leader). I was once an observer because my team was delayed due to business decision. I was given 6 agents for chat and email support while waiting for my own team. Not sure what is the real reason but my supposedly team was delayed again but this time with no date of when it will pursue or if I will even get that team that I applied for.

It's hard for me because when I moved to different LOB I don't have training. I came from a technical account and I moved to Order Management. This time no technical stuff, no troubleshooting. Though I processed order in technical support this time its different. It's more of taking care of the order and making sure our customer get it on time. Now I need to deal with new words like PO, Expedite, UPS (red, blue, orange), promised ship date, Cancellation of Order, Calling the plant, Status of order, Shipping status etc. Before complaints are "Why is my unit not working? ", "I don't want to do any troubleshooting just send me a replacement!" Now things are different, "Why did my order did not ship yesterday?", "What is the pricing and availability of this part?", "Where is this item manufactured?"

I just finished my training a couple of weeks ago and I started to feel more comfortable and accountable of my team. I started to better analyze our data. Feel the strictness of my boss (hirap ng nasasabon, hehehe) and started to make my team feel more of me. Now I need to make decisions not just for me but for my team and the company. I need to balance my decision and make sure the business is not affected. I knew I need to be there to support my team but I also need to follow rules and regulation. I need to have heart but more often than not I need to follow business rules rather than what I feel. (Hindi pwedeng nakakaawa kasi.) I need to be firm with my decision and there are times decision is something that you need to do impromptu. Its hard, tiring, mind boggling but I'm starting to like it.

I know there will be lots of struggles that I will encounter. Some would be discouraging and demotivating but I will never stop. I will never give up. I am an emotional person and this is the first thing I need to fight. When it comes to business you should not be controlled by your emotions. I just prayed that my heart would not be harden due to this. I pray to God to help me be a good leader at work and also at home. One thing I know for sure that I would not do. I will NEVER sacrifice my integrity for the sake of promotion or good things at work. I've waited 5 years to get this job with no hocus focus and I know I will succeed in doing things right. It might be slow but its sweeter. Like what I told some of my agents, "Do what is right and everything else will follow." Lord please be with me with this new journey of my life. 

Leadership vs Management

I applied for a Team Leader post at work but was not able to make it. Even though that is the case I did learn a lot. I need to improve the tone of my voice so that it will be more convincing selling my self. Also while studying about leadership I was able to read about leadership and management and difference between the two. 

Manager is more focused on systems and infrastructure.

Leader is a people's person and is more focused on his/her team.

Managing is about efficiency. Leading is about effectiveness.

Managing is about how. Leading is about what and why.

Management is about system, control, procedures, policies and structure. Leadership is about trust - about people.

Leader draw people to them by enrolling them in their vision. What leaders do is inspire people, empower them. They pull rather that push. This pull style of leadership attracts and energizes people to enroll in a vision of the future. It motivates the people in helping them identify with the task and goal rather than by rewarding or punishing them.

To manage means to bring about, to accomplish, to have charge of responsibility, to conduct.

Leading is influencing, guiding in direction, course, action and opinion.

For me it goes hand in hand. You must know when to manage and when to lead.