Rising Above the Noise: Why Their Behaviour is a Reflection of Their Limitations, Not Your Leadership
By Dr Evelyn Chen Lee Na, Executive Director Bonanza Educare Sdn Bhd

I read somewhere that when people feel incompetent, threatened or insecure, they often use information hoarding and silence as a form of power. If they don’t tell you anything, they think you can’t control or judge them. And there I was, nodding to myself, thinking yes, that explains a lot!

I have been working for a long, long time. I am very serious about everything I do, I work hard and I don’t tolerate rubbish and drama. My goals have always been simple: make sure the organisation is healthy, my staff are happy and motivated, students are learning and safe and that I, myself keep growing into a better version of who I was yesterday. SIMPLE, isn’t it? Yet somehow, for some people, even that is too much to stomach.

And so, over the years I have been labelled many things. Some I didn’t even know how to pronounce, lol! Some people have written emails long enough to fill a small novel, all dedicated to complaining about me. I am flattered 😊!

Here’s what I have learnt though. What other people think of me is honestly none of my business. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and even the people who don’t like me are entitled to theirs. I have made peace with that.

Someone smart once told me it is a very lonely place at the top. I concur. I am here to do a job, a responsibility entrusted to me, and I take that seriously. I am not here to win a popularity contest or play games. What I have come to understand is that it is far easier for some people to point fingers outward than to look inward. And that too is okay. That is their journey, not mine.

Here is what I want to say to you today. Life is too short to spend it fighting battles with people who are not worthy of your energy. Pour that energy into your work, into the people who matter and into becoming the best version of yourself. Do not let the difficult ones live rent free in your head. They are not worth the space.

If you are fighting the same war that many of us quietly fight every day, please hear this: it is not you. Stay the course. Hold your head high and keep doing what you do best. WORK! Show up, give your best and let the noise stay exactly where it belongs, in the background. And please remember, their behaviour is a reflection of their limitations, not your leadership.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone. And as always, ignore the pests. 😊

 

Key Vocabulary

Incompetent: Lacking the necessary skills, knowledge or ability to perform a task or role effectively.

Insecure: Lacking confidence or assurance in one’s own worth, abilities or position, often leading to defensive behaviour.

Hoarding: The act of accumulating and hiding away resources or information rather than sharing them openly.

Motivated: Driven by a strong internal or external incentive to act, achieve goals and maintain high performance.

Concur: To be of the same opinion; to agree completely with a statement, perspective or finding.

Entrusted: Given the responsibility, care or custody of something valuable with the complete confidence that it will be protected.

Limitations: The boundaries, restrictions or lack of capacity within a person’s abilities, mindset or character.

Pests: Annoying, persistent individuals or influences that cause minor trouble, create unwanted distractions or disrupt peace.

We have all been there; dealing with the drama and wondering why some people choose to point fingers instead of doing a good job. At ILTI, we believe the best answer to the noise is always excellence. You cannot control what others hide or say, but you can control your own growth. When you invest in your communication skills and your professional voice, you are doing it for yourself, not a popularity contest.

If you are ready to focus on your own journey, brush off the distractions and build the unshakeable confidence real leadership demands, explore our language and professional development programmes today. Let’s keep moving forward together.

Your English learning journey starts here. Call/WhatsApp: 010-395 3067 or email us at info@ilti.edu.my

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