More and more people are working extreme hours, especially in Hong Kong. So it was refreshing to meet a senior executive who is reversing this trend – and achieving greater performance as a result. A former China executive at Microsoft, he has since relocated to Europe. When I saw him recently, I immediately sensed something different about him: he had much more energy and presence.

“What’s changed?” I asked. He explained that he’d embarked on a journey of personal transformation, inspired by Microsoft’s own mission of empowering people. Previously the company evaluated managers against a complex list of performance indicators, but now it focuses on just three leadership attributes: the energy to inspire others, ability to simplify for your team and your customers, and a focus on building success.

This leader thought long and hard about how to make those attributes real in his own life. He began by blocking out an hour a day to take a walk or go to the gym. At first, that made him feel like a student skipping school, but it gave him space to think and made him more present and self-aware – physically and mentally.

He started noticing a change in his interactions with colleagues and customers. For example, he used to qualify every positive word of feedback to his team members with “but you could improve”. Now he takes time to give them unqualified recognition, and his team have become visibly bolder and more confident.

It hasn’t been easy, though: as he emphasised to me, transformation isn’t real unless it’s painful. He has had to become more self-aware, not just of his strengths but of his unhelpful habits too. And he has had to let go of his know-it-all posture and be ready to say “I don’t know”.

His story contains career insights and life lessons for all of us. If we want to be more effective leaders, adding more hours to our work day is not the solution. Instead, we need to look deep within, and be ready to tap into our inner energy. Transformation starts within ourselves.

This article appeared in the Classified Post print edition as A fresh change.

Career Advice Career counselling, advice and guidance Select article category Select article category Productivity TipsWorkplace EnglishIndustry StoriesJob Search in Hong KongHR Career SuccessHow to Get PromotedCareer Path PlanningCareer Coaching & GuidanceAdvice Columnist

Select article category

Search Article

Tag: Change

Transformation can be a great benefit, but takes effort

Career Advice Career counselling, advice and guidance
Select article category

Select article category

Productivity Tips
Workplace English
Industry Stories
Job Search in Hong Kong
HR Career Success
How to Get Promoted
Career Path Planning
Career Coaching & Guidance
Advice Columnist