From the breathtaking glaciers of Milford Sound to the sparkling river in Arrowtown, the stunning scenery of New Zealand’s South Island makes it easy to understand why this area is at the top of travellers' bucket lists.
For Ron Li, HTX Lead Engineer, Corrections, ICT Infrastructure, these picturesque views are one reason why he calls New Zealand one of his favourite countries. For him, there is no better way to spend his holidays than driving the roads of scenic countries savouring the sights, sounds and tastes along the way.
However, as he has to cover hundreds of kilometres from one point to another, driving alone can be risky. So these trips are only possible thanks to the help of his travelling companion, his wife.
Although she doesn’t drive, her company makes a big difference on long journeys. “She gives me sweet things to eat, talks to me to keep me awake, and makes sure I get enough rest,” he shares, adding that anytime he gets sleepy or the GPS fails, he can count on her to keep them on course.
Find diverse expertise to share the load
Ron sees parallels between his adventures overseas and those at the office.
For example, to smoothen trip planning, his wife and him divide their responsibilities. Ron is trusted with the itinerary and driving, while his wife manages the flights and accommodation. He believes it’s the same at work: The load is lighter with people of different expertise to take on various tasks.
To illustrate, Ron recalls a memorable moment when a company he worked for wanted to develop a new cyber security solution. As the new product relied heavily on machine learning and big data, it fell largely under the remit of the data science team.
However, these engineers were unfamiliar with the existing products on the market and customer behaviour—something Ron’s team needed to help with.
“Because of our different skill sets, we were able to come up with a solution in a much shorter time,” he says proudly.
He adds that the same pattern has occurred in HTX, as his ICT infrastructure team works closely with others in cybersecurity, governance, operational technology and more. The projects may be different, but each time he has found that by exercising inclusivity and encouraging diversity, projects move faster and more smoothly.
Ron Li (centre) with fellow Xponents Leslie Chiang (left) and Mohammad Zaid (right) (Photo: HTX)
More cooks won’t spoil the broth
No doubt, there can be challenges to finding synergy in teams, especially as they grow in number. For example, Ron is working on is the Complex Access Management System (CAMS2), which controls points of entry to the prisons, including turnstiles and card readers. This involves not just the Singapore Prison Service (SPS), but also multiple vendors, who each have their own specific tasks.
“There are many teams working in silos so it is naturally a challenge to bring them together and ensure they communicate and deliver what is required,” Ron shares.
What has worked for him is to ensure the goal is clearly communicated, so each person can understand the bigger picture. He is careful to make sure roles and responsibilities are clearly defined—so no one party feels taken advantage of by the other—and that processes are streamlined. This allows teams focus on areas they are most skilled at, rather than be bogged down by administrative tasks, he explains.
Step up as a good team player
When asked about the qualities to be a good team player, Ron muses about being able to give as much as you take, and to always be appreciative.
Drawing back to his relationship with his wife, he notes that there are days he works late and she needs to shoulder more of the chores at home. Other times she works late and it’s his turn to cover base. During these times, it’s important to be collaborative instead of calculative, he says, adding: “We also regularly check in with each other to show care and concern.”
It’s the same with colleagues, he points out. After all, since you’re all on the same journey, why not make an effort to build the relationship and become a co-driver they can count on?