In the corporate world, one is subjected to different types of stress ranging from occupational job stress to deadline stress to career advancement stress. Yet perhaps one of the most common existing stresses not mentioned is the stress from having to move office or relocate.

Yes, please tell me about this. I remember the time back in my corporate world days when I had to relocate from a central location to the far northern part of Singapore. For once, my then colleagues and I felt we were like some concubines who would be banished to the cold palace or the faraway lands. If we were given a choice, we would have petitioned and stayed put. But such decisions can hardly be made at our level. After all, we were but mere employees, right? So we moved office…albeit reluctantly.

Well, if you find the above scenario familiar, you are definitely not alone. Moving offices is one of the most common occurrences happening not just in Singapore, but worldwide.

 

Invited to conduct a stress management talk at YHI International Limited today, I was given a quick glimpse into the operations of this SGX listed company. A global brand distributor of high quality automotive and industrial products, with subsidiaries located worldwide in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, USA, Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Italy; it certainly didn’t come as a surprise that the head office in Singapore needed to expand.

Currently operating from a temporary site, the folks at YHI International Limited have to experience moving office twice – first to this temporary site and then when the new premise is ready, to relocate back. To be 100% honest, managing an office relocation is one of most stressful tasks that ever existed. I should know as I was in charge of moving my HR department over back then.

If you mismanage it, it can spiral into a time-consuming, energy-zapping, matters complicating journey into the unknown.

But be rest assured as after today’s stress management talk, not only will everyone present feel more in control, they will also walk away with useful yet effective tips on how they can destress anytime, anywhere.



From my own experience, here are three of my most useful tips on how to create a stress less moving climate in your office. Read on to find out more :)

Tip 1: Plan Early

As the saying goes, if you fail to plan, you will plan to fail. More importantly, it’s of utmost importance to plan early. Planning early gives everyone ample notice and allows them time to pack their stuff into boxes, label them properly before carting them over to the new office premise. It is advisable to communicate the need to move and the timeline to all staff at least nine months in advance to get everyone coordinated, motivated and moving along.

Tip 2: Involve Everyone

Moving office is not just my or your responsibility. It is a collective responsibility. Simply put, it’s a team effort. And yes, T.E.A.M stands for “together everyone achieves more”! When a team exists, operational, logistical and strategic planning matters become easier as everyone has a role to play to ensure the shifting of office is done on time.

Tip 3: Enjoy The Process

Like all matters in life, moving office is a process. Enjoy it while undergoing it. And because it is a process, every bit of the journey can be broken up into bite-size portions so everything becomes more manageable.

Are you still stressed over any impending office moving? Stressed? What stress?

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If one continues to do the same things that other people do, then that can only be considered as ordinary as you are following the trend. So in order for a feat to be considered extraordinary, it has to be impactful, meaningful and most importantly, encompass the ‘wow’ effect.

What started off as a dream into the realm of training back in May 2008 has now morphed itself into a business model that works. When I first started doing training and accepting speaking engagements to do talks and workshops, there wasn’t any grand plan underlying. After all, it was just passion driving me along.

But a fateful day in 2010, I glanced into my own crystal ball and told myself I wasn’t content to be just another run-of-the-mill trainer. I aspired to be someone who would chart my own journey and mark my own milestone.

And today I achieved that. Today is a remarkable celebration in itself simply because I have achieved what I thought was only a dream to many.  In the span of three and a half years, I have trained 100 companies and schools. Today marks the 100th company. 

Seriously, words in themselves are insufficient to describe how I feel now. Gratification and satisfaction are perhaps understatements. 

Records are not broken unless you have demonstrated you have given enough and are deserving of it. The magical 100 number – once I thought was so far and out of reach is now warmly etched in my heart. I have been there and done that. 

Many thanks to one and all who have believed in me, spurred me on and been the guiding light. Now for even greater things in life…Cheers! 

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I feel extra bubbly today. It’s not my birthday. Neither is it Christmas yet. But there’s just something special about my mood. Every footstep I take, every smile I flash is one that betrays that momentous feeling within.  

Maybe it’s because I’ll be having two back-to-back grooming talks in a moment’s time at KS Energy. Or maybe it’s because of the extra warm reception from Janice, the lady from HR whom I click so well with even though we are meeting for the first time. 

Did I tell you before a happy mood can be infectious? It fills your body with an expected zest of energy and you feel on top of the world.

Standing in front of the group of all ladies only, I have long banished the ghosts of butterflies in the stomach. I am in the moment and clearly enjoying myself. After the customary self-introduction, I did the unthinkable. Like a little child who wants to shout out to the world after he gets the candy he so desires, I let out the secret.

And now that it’s been revealed, it’s no longer a secret.

I told the ladies KS Energy is the 100th company I have trained thus far since I embarked on this training journey.

They applauded. 

I bowed.

I’m really humbled by the positive vibes from all my participants, including the ladies at today’s two grooming talks. 

Thank you everyone past and present, for allowing me to share my knowledge with you. I’m truly blessed :)

And to reward myself, I’m going to buy myself a small present and gear up towards the next 100 companies.

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The annual dinner and dance is always seen as the highlight of any organization as everyone gets to let their hair down and enjoy themselves. In the same vein, the dinner and dance is also the event to look forward to for undergraduates as it marks an important milestone in their varsity life. 

An annual tradition for Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Hall 6, the dinner and dance offers all Sixians a time to bond, catch up and have a fun-filled night to remember.

But what is a dinner and dance without some glamour and excitement? Taking the form of 6 pageant contestants, that naturally became the highlight of the evening held at Mandarin Orchard Hotel. Themed “Revisiting Retour Aux Classiques”, I was invited on board as one of the main sponsors of the pageant. 

There were 5 titles up for grabs and these included Hall King, Hall Queen, Mr Hotbod, Mr Charismatic and Miss Personality. 

Being able to strut your stuff on stage in front of an audience already makes one a winner in life as not many would have the courage to do so. What more when taking part in the pageant is not just a day or night affair but one filled with photoshoots, rehearsals and more rehearsals.



Besides sponsoring the sashes that the winners received, I also sponsored all of them a ticket to attend my grooming and NLP workshop.

Watching the winners walk into the room today, I was very happy to watch their transformation from ordinary undergraduates into extraordinary pageant kings and queens. 



Sharing with them what would help them make the leap from good to great post-pageant, it was another life-changing experience that many would hold dearly in their hearts. After all, confidence is something we all possess. We just have to let it surface and we can definitely do that visually and verbally – through upping our image quotient and choosing the right forms of communication with others.

Already winners in their own right and now equipped with these skills, I'm very sure the pageant kings and queens will only soar to greater heights in their lives :) 

NTU Hall 6 Dinner & Dance 2011 Pageant Winners' Testimonial

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