Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad
Jacklynn Chao:
Dr. Mahatar thank you for joining us on Meet the Boss TV. Now Tun you are the longest serving Prime Minister of Malaysia. You are one of Asia’s most influential people. Now you spearheaded the phenomenal growth of Malaysia’s economy. In fact your foresight and vision have been credited with much of Malaysia’s success. So what lessons can you share with business leaders and inspirational people about setting objectives and goals and a vision?
Dr. Mahatar:
Well first of all, of course, you must set objectives and goals and think about things which are achievable. It may be a little bit extraordinary but they must be achievable. You must know how to manage it in order to achieve the final objectives and goals– the success that you expect. Of course, you need also to have a good team of inspirational people to work with you to achieve these objectives and goals and I think, of course, you have to have the knowledge to do those things. You understand them very well otherwise I think if you just make a decision and set objectives and goals and leave it to others to implement then it’s not going to succeed.
Jacklynn Chao:
So how can one best prepare themselves in order to predict and what can business leaders do to prepare themselves?
Dr. Mahatar:
Well when you plan something in the future and when you set objectives you need to have some conviction. At the same time, of course, you must be prepared to take risks. You may fail but then before you fail you should think that you would have some plan B, plan C kind of thing so that if the – your strategy fails then you can adopt plan B and also make corrective decisions along the way.
Jacklynn Chao:
How do you convince your team as well though that it’s okay to actually take that little risk when setting objectives and goals, and when achieving them?
Dr. Mahatar:
Well I listen to them and I – of course, the team I select will be the team most interested in this. So they are actually already half convinced when they – when I saw them.