Mdm Kwa Geok Choo

I guess it's time that people knew her as Mdm Kwa Geok Choo, and not Mrs Lee Kuan Yew.

Caught the mini-documentary on her on TV, and it was a series of flashbacks across Singapore's history imbued with a personal touch. It was no longer about dates, facts and places. It was about people's lives and struggles.

The stories of small nations are stories of individual lives, weaving a tapestry of threads, forming a canvas of history through their daily triumphs and failures.

Intelligence, humility, fierce intolerance for corruption, warmness, genuine concern for people, elegance, witty, hardworking, strength, successful balancing of career and family (And smart businesswoman, look at the water agreements).

One of the most shocking photographs I saw today (TODAY, 5 Oct 2010) was of PM Lee Hsien Loong and his brother, Mr Lee Hsien Yang in mourning attire. It was simply too surreal.

There was a scene in the documentary when Mdm Kwa Geok Choo stood up and wiped the sweat off MM Lee Kuan Yew's forehead, with MM Lee Kuan Yew protesting mildly that it did not matter. Admittedly, she was probably the only one who dared to, but for me, that was the best moment of the documentary.

I read before that you are the average of the people you spend the most time with.

MM Lee Kuan Yew is a lucky man indeed.

Relationships of a leader

I lead cause I care.

Freedom and power of a leader

Ironically, although most people think that being in a position of authority offers you much freedom and power, the opposite is often true.

You are empowered to act, not given power to dictate.

I hope I never forget this.

Leadership

Reading a book on leadership now, entitled "What do leaders really do?"

There are so many conflicting explanations, but there are a few points that strike me.

Leaders should be chameleons, flexible enough to change their styles to suit the organisation and objectives, yet principled enough to maintain continuity of vision and purpose.

Charisma is nice to have, but not necessary for success.

Integrity. So simple, so valuable, so difficult to maintain.

Belief in your people.