Huge Impact in the Shortest Time:

Monday, 14th July'08, 10am; "There's no breakthrough without breakdown", well said by Datuk Seri Idris Jala (MD/CEO of Malaysia Airlines-MAS)) in his public seminar held at University of Science, Malaysia recently.

Datuk Seri Idris is not an uncommon name in the corporate world nowadays. Especially when most of us knew him as "Mr. Turnaround". He has successfully turn Shell Malaysia from a loss making company to a profitable one, before he took over MAS helm. And now, he did it again at MAS. From RM1.3 bil losses in 2005 to RM851 mil profits by 2007. Leading MAS to win TWO awards from the aviation industry; CAPA Airline Turnaround of the Year 2006 Award and ATW Phoenix Award, 2007. Awards that MAS wouldn't want to win for the second time; said Datuk Seri Idris in his jovial mood. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5GNMGQooV4&feature=related)

Sharing his secret of this successful turnaround plan, he said there're SIX (6) ingredients of business turnaround: "huge impact in the shortest time"

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  The Game of the Impossible - set "olympic' targets (very few precedence, difficult to justify) conquer our fear of failure and go for it.
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  Achoring on the Profit & Loss (P&L) - cashflow is the heart & soul of a business. Managed cost and look into every route/departments P&L. Reward people who improve route/dept P&L.
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  The discipline of action - "lab" team agree what constitutes success and measure, plan, track results, roll your sleeves and get into the details. Hard work but exciting!
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  Situational Leadership - change leadership style based on team development. From directive to empowering style. Develop more committed leaders and slowly delegate.
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  Winning Coalition - "no man is an island". It's about managing "polarity". Engagement with satff, shareholder, government, backbenchers' club and even collaboration with competitors.
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  Devine Intervention - Not a religious discourse but a discussion about "human" (and spiritual) paradigm. Human beings have limited control/influence over what happens and life is a continuous reduction of options. With a clear consciense we're able to operate in the 'white" (not grey and black). "When you affirm big, believe big and pray big; big things happen", Norman Vincent Peale.

He ends his speech by quoting, " I firmly believe that every man's finest hour - his greates fullfillment to he holds dear - is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - VICTORIOUS!" by Vince Lombardi.