C.A. for Episode 2: The continuing reality

In Episode 2, after Peter Pek appointed Jennifer as the team leader, the brainstorming session proceeded rather smoothly without much interruption until Ridzuan requested at least three times that he wanted to be the main speaker. I could not believe my ears when I heard that Ridzuan said that the rest of his team could be prejudiced for not choosing him as the main speaker. Anyway, the brainstorming proceeded with Masami volunteering to be one of the speakers and my name was mentioned. Boon Yew’s name was also mentioned as a standby presenter.

Since the winning criteria was ‘the team who organizes the most effective and convincing seminar that appeals to an English speaking audience wins the challenge’, we made it a point to find out from Easy Pha-Max their definition of ‘effective’ and ‘convincing’. Based on these two terminologies, Team Equity decided that it was important to address:
1. Audience (English speaking audience)
2. Presentation
3. Presenter/s
4. Room (seating arrangement, lighting, audio/video equipment)

Team Equity adopted a simple strategy: 'Practice makes perfect' thus we were the first to approach Easy Pha-Max to book the room where the actual presentation that will take place. I was not agreeable with Anoop’s decision to book the room for the entire day because that would mean that Team Asset would be denied a chance to practice but he vetoed that we had first mover advantage thus we had the right to book the room for the whole day.

During our rehearsal, Ridzuan couldnt take the feedback from the rest of the team members even though our feedback were already toned down. In fact, in all of the briefing materials that Jennifer prepared for all of us, Ridzuan was listed as the main presenter and he agreed that he was unable to change his style at the last minute to suit to a different segment which is English speaking potential investors who have to decide whether or not to invest a substantial amount of money to be an Easy Pha-Max franchisee.

To support the 'Practice makes perfect' strategy, the following approaches were adopted:
1. Simplicity - based on the audience’s profile, Team Equity worked on the presentation slides to ensure that it was meant to convince the audience of the main concepts instead of confusing them with detailed numbers.
2. Engaging – instead of plunging headlong into the business presentation, Team Equity decided that it was best to break the ice and this objective was attained with a few simple demonstrations skilfully carried out the presenters.
3. Unique – going all out to record the English version of the Easy Pha-Max jingle made Team Equity stand out from the other team.

Despite Anoop trying to steal the limelight and Ridzuan being visibly and verbally upset for not being chosen as a presenter, Team Equity won the task in Episode 2. Having watched Episode 2 on telly, my notion of the teams being wrongly labeled is affirmed.

My two cents worth: Defeat or victory lies with the decisions made by the leader/s. Whether or not a team member’s potential was fully harnessed depends on the leader’s ability to recognize it in the first place. If it means that I need to be a wimp (by focusing on other people’s shortcomings, and by doing so means sacrificing them, without reflecting on my own) to get to the top, I would remain firm and walk out of The Firm. I tried to get myself booted off in Episode 2 but wasn’t successful. Will I be booted in Episode 3? Stay tuned.