Webinar highlights the importance of coaching, mentoring and giving impactful feedback

A webinar titled “Coaching or Mentoring and Giving Impactful Feedback” was conducted via Zoom by UTAR Centre for Corporate and Community Development (CCCD) on 7 October 2020 with the attendance of 214 participants. The webinar aimed to educate people on the importance of coaching or mentoring as well as educating people on its methods.

Invited as the speaker was Experian Malaysia Human Resource Director and Country Site Leader Chua Chai Ping, while moderating the webinar was Faculty of Accountancy and Management (FAM) lecturer Dr Teddy Lian Kok Fei.

After Dr Teddy Lian initiated the talk, Chua took the virtual stage by greeting the participants, “Thank you UTAR for having me today. On this given unprecedented time and new normal, I thought giving impactful feedback as well as coaching and mentoring topic will be relevant in today’ context. Hope all of you will find today’s session useful and informative. I also hope you will greatly benefit from it.”

Chua focused on five main topics, namely VUCA, Mentoring & Coaching, Trust Quotient, Giving Feedback and The Hamburger Theory.

She started her talk by introducing the concept “VUCA” which carries the meaning Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity, “Today is a session for us to start reflecting and have self-awareness on how to become a better leader and better people. Leaders today got to make sure that the team sticks to the value of the organisation and be ambitious. Leaders need to act as the anchor in the storm and steady the ground in order to lead the team and keep them motivated and productive regardless of the situation. Besides, leaders today also need to start to lead the team with empathy and be more understanding.”

Chua explaining the concept of VUCA

Chua emphasised that the most important aspect of coaching and mentoring is trust, “The only way to test trust is to give trust, therefore, the mentoring and coaching concept really hinges on what trust is. And only with trust, the mentee will be able to trust you to bring them to a bigger and better place so that both of you can be successful together.”

Chua showing and explaining the differences between mentoring and coaching

Chua explaining the component of trust quotient which she practices in work and life

Nearing the end of the one-hour talk, Chua explained The Hamburger Theory, “When offering a critique, all of us must learn to begin with a positive and constructive compliment, followed by a constructive criticism to help the person improve and lastly finish off the conversation by another constructive compliment.”

She added, “Always focus on the positive aspect, try to bring out the potential of the mentee or people so that they can go the extra mile and both of you may grow together as well.”

Chua encouraged the practice of Hamburger Theory during communication

Chua urging participants to practice the four important notes on giving feedback

The talk was concluded with an extensive yet insightful Q&A session.

Chua has more than 20 years’ of experience in Consulting and Human Resource industries and has worked for many leading companies previously. She is also one of TalentCorp’s Diversity Advocates. She has been featured in various publications and media. In addition, Chua is a member of the Malaysian Institute of Human Resource Management (MIHRM) National Council and mentor for LeadWomen or Women in Leadership programme and APEC Women in Transportation Mentoring Programme, and an Industry Adjunct Faculty Member for INTI International Universities & Colleges.