Tuesday, March 31, 2009 @ 1:00 AM
An Interview with Mrs. Yeo Chin Nam
Friday, 20 March 2009 -- It was the Friday of the March Term Break. It was indeed our privilege to be seated in the principal's office in Christchurch Secondary School.

Mrs. Yeo Chin Nam, the present principal of Christchurch Secondary, has, after more than thirty years in the Education Ministry, earned herself a reputation for being able to turn neighbourhood schools round. Indeed, whenever the name, 'Mrs. Yeo Chin Nam', is mentioned, the words, 'dedicated' and 'dynamic' come to people's mind. An educator at heart, Mrs. Yeo has been an inspiration to many educators, as well as students.

It is for these reasons that both my student, Xiuqing, and I, have travelled from the far east of Singapore to the north west -- to have a chat with this inspiring leader in Education.

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56th Coy: How old were you when you first take on a significant leadership role in a team or an organisation?

Mrs. Yeo: Wow! This is not an easy question to answer because there are so many... But because of the word, 'significant' in your question, then I would say my significant leadership role is 'principalship' when I was thirty-six years old. Yes, that was two decades ago when I was thirty-six years old.

Mrs. Sim: (Gasp!) So young! Two decades ago, people become principals at forty or fifty years old!

Mrs. Yeo: (Nods her head) Yes.

56th Coy: What do you think defines a leader?

Mrs. Yeo: A leader has to be the one who makes the decision which will impact everyone. Indeed, a leader can neither run away from decision-making nor pass the buck to someone else. When the situation calls for it, the leader has to be willing to stand forth, make the tough call and show the way.

56th Coy: What do you think are some of the qualities a leader needs to have?

Mrs. Yeo: One is Passion. Passion in what one is doing no matter how tough it is. Then, we can have the joy and peace within us. Next is Vision. A leader needs to have a vision in which he/she single-mindedly and unwavering works towards it. The third is Perseverance. In other words, the tenacity to go on no matter how tough it is. This also implies that a leader needs the moral courage to do what is right.

For myself, as long as I know that God approves of what I am doing, that is enough for me because then I know that I am not alone but God is with me. Yes, the vision of a leader has to be God-approving.

56th Coy: What are some of your most memorable moments or experiences as a leader?

Mrs. Yeo: Memorable moments for me would be when the rest of the team caught the vision and the leader is dispensable because the rest of the team can build on what has been done.

56th Coy: What are some of your most challenging encounters in your experience as a leader?

Mrs. Yeo: Everyday is a challenge! (Smiles)

I guess it would be moments when I lost faith in God because I believe no problem is too big for God. Hence, sometimes I just feel shaken when I feel that God isn't there. But that's when I pick myself up and renew my faith.

56th Coy: What would you do if you have people under you who are unwilling to submit to your leadership?

Mrs. Yeo: First, I would pray and examine myself as God shows me the way. Then I would make good whatever wrong I have done. Next, I will talk to the people concerned and try to change their mindset because I am a strong believer of Learning Organisation which emphasises on the mental model.

Let me give you an example (on mental model): If there is a student who comes from a poor family background and I look at him, feel that he is in a very helpless situation, I will end up not doing anything to help him because subconciously, I have told myself that he cannot be helped.

However, if I were to change my mental model and feel empathy and compassion for the student instead, I will end up doing something to reach out to that student because subconsciouly, I have told myself that I want to help this student.

56th Coy: Were there any decisions that you have made and you regretted?

Mrs. Yeo: Of course. In these 30 years, there was one school that I went to which did not believe in what I think they needed. I was angry. Hence, I decided to clean up the school and I set myself to work hard and furious. What happened was I did not understand the past of the school and I hurt some people who had been in the school longer. I caused confusion to the people. On hindsight, I should have slowed down and worked alongside my colleagues. It takes a big group of people -- including the community -- to change a school.

56th Coy: Do you have any role model(s) whom you emulate?

Mrs. Yeo: I stand on the shoulders of many giants. I decided to be a teacher since I was in Primary One. I had this Form Teacher who was really inspiring. She could sing very well and draw very well. She was great and she drove a red sports car! And she was my Form Teacher again in Primary Two and Three. So I had her for three years and I really like her. I set myself on being a teacher.

At work, I am inspired by my senior principals who worked so hard and expect no returns. That spirit is really encouraging.

Another person who has inspired me a lot is Christ himself. Although it was only three short years of work but it impacted so many people and I am one of those people. He was wronged and crucified. That spirit in which He did all those is something we must catch. The work He left behind has impact so many.

For myself, I don't need rewards here in this world but eternal life itself is a reward for me; knowing where I will be going after I am no longer in this temporal world is enough.

56th Coy: Why did you choose him/her/them to be your role model(s)?

Mrs. Yeo: It is the impact of their work, the inspiration and motivation they give. The teacher who inspired me taught me that a teacher is not just a teacher; a teacher is really someone who is special. The group of senior principals are people who worked hard to impact whoever they can; they are principals working in very difficult neighbourhood schools and they expect no rewards. Lastly, there is no other way but to have faith in Christ. After all, He has paid the price for us. So we have to live our given days on earth in a responsible way.

56th Coy: What other tips do you have for anybody who aspires to be a good leader?

Mrs. Yeo: There are three points here: One, we must know ourselves -- our own strengths and weaknesses. Two, we must get into the shoes of those whom we are leading and learn to empathise with them. Three, it is the spirit in which we lead that is important. A leader needs to have the right motivation. It cannot be for the bigger office or pay cheque; the leader needs to know why he wants to lead.

56th Coy: How many hours do you sleep a day?

Mrs. Yeo: I used to be able to make do with five hours of sleep each day but recently, probably because of age, I need six hours. And if I don't get my six hours, I will feel tired in the middle of the day.

56th Coy: Are leaders born or made?

Mrs. Yeo: Some people are born with leadership qualities. However, whether one is born with or without leadership qualities, all leaders need to be nurtured to be a good leader