I received my first vaccine dosage today. Being a foreigner in Singapore, I am grateful that I could get the vaccine done without any fuss. I am thankful for the efficacy of the healthcare system in Singapore. No one knows exactly the seriousness of Covid19 during the early stage of the pandemic. I wonder how did our world scientists produce the vaccine in such a short time. There are two reasons that I could think of. One is driven by monetary gain, and the other by altruism and passion.
There is a group of scientists who devote their life to field study. In the past, a scientist was stereotyped as a lonely person who worked alone. In reality, it is not how science works, as solving today's complicated challenges necessitates collaboration. To contribute to the foundation of modern science requires many years of collection of information and many geniuses in chemistry, biology, and computer science. We are fortunate that scientists devote years of their lives to studying mRNA, virology, and medicine.
Second, putting research results into mass production requires the collaboration of several groups of individuals. Infrastructures, enormous sums of money, and delivery expenses are all involved, with millions of dollars at stake if something goes wrong. It's difficult to tackle the problem of manufacturing enough volume to meet the huge demand with government officials and political lobbying.
Finally, I am grateful to the frontline healthcare workers who work around the clock, under extreme stress and a heavy workload. Surprisingly, the nurse who administered my shot was fantastic, welcoming me with a warm grin and calmly outlining probable adverse effects. The incredible teamwork of people is responsible for that one second of painless vaccine injection in my body.
What's more wonderful is that I'm getting this shot for free. With such good fortune to take benefit of modern civilization, there is nothing I could complain about. It's more luck than anything else that I'm still alive, thanks to strong policy and pandemic control in the area where I live. Covid 19 kills millions of people, and compensating for this devastating pandemic is no laughing matter. I'm grateful for the opportunity to have this vaccination.
I cannot take the good fortune for granted. I should give back whenever the opportunity arises. I may make a positive contribution to society by collaborating successfully with others in groups. We all have a hand in shaping the civilization we live in today. It all starts with having the appropriate people in place and allowing them to take on some of the most difficult tasks. To make things right, we may put together a winning team with great performance.
Some workplace cultures are poisonous, preventing employees from collaborating and innovating. It is difficult to change the culture because doing so results in a loss of productivity. I should refrain from engaging in such harmful behaviour. Instead, I align and connect to operate as a team. Instead of hiring smart people to tell them what to do, hire smart people to tell us what we should do.
Engineers who socialize, interact with others, and assist others with their projects gained respect and trust from their colleagues and were also more productive. By sponsoring lunches, after-work parties, and team-building activities, I may assist people in forming social bonds. It may appear to be forced amusement, but when people care about one another, they perform better because they don't want to disappoint their teammates. Adding a moderate challenge to the mix will hasten the process of social bonding.
I don't need to be the smartest person in the room. And if I am, I will either invite more intelligent individuals or change rooms. It's known as networking in professional circles. It's known as team building in the workplace. It's known as family, friends, and community in real life. We are each other's gifts, and my capacity to lead has repeatedly demonstrated that the most gratifying experiences come from my connections.
Building relationships also necessitates communication abilities. Successful leaders can write well, read carefully, and speak in front of a group. They pay attention in meetings and always push the boundaries of their own and their team's expertise.
Now is a perfect moment for me to improve my writing and speaking abilities. I'm working on a novel and seeking input from more experienced authors. Write articles for my personal and professional blogs. Speak up in team meetings, in meetups, and in front of an audience to develop experience.
Also, remember to pay attention during all of this discussion. Allow others to talk and listen to what they have to say. To ensure that I comprehend what individuals are saying, practice repeating things back to them. I'd like to improve my ability to listen to what others say and then rephrase it in my own words. I need to improve my note-taking skills. It makes no difference whether I pursue a career in technology or become a manager. My career advancement will suffer if I cannot communicate and listen to what others have to say.
A soft skill, soft power, is one of my major obstacles at work. I don't have authority over everyone; I can't tell people what to do. Instead, I must earn people's trust, and one of the best ways to do so is to view my profession as a team sport rather than a series of departments working in isolation. Others will feel included in the decision-making process and satisfied with my decisions if they know I listened to and acted on their suggestions.
I've been staring at screens all day because of the lockdown. I work from home and am socially isolated; the feelings of isolation can be intense. By connecting with other humans, online networking can help to alleviate feelings of loneliness. We were more productive as a result of the virtual networking, and we worked well in groups.
Volunteerism has a double meaning in this case. First, it is a command to acknowledge the truth of human limits and, second, to be grateful for and assist others, including family, friends, acquaintances, and strangers. There is far too much to accomplish and far too little time to do it in. I am occasionally able to extend a grateful helping hand. But we don't have to go it alone, and there's nothing wrong with pooling our resources and sharing credit for successful and important work.