Daily Lessons from Life 25 August 2012 - Govt should be neutral facilitator in conversation on S'pore's future: observers

"Govt should be neutral facilitator in conversation on S'pore's future: observers - CNA 25 August 2012

SINGAPORE: Observers said a national conversation on Singapore's future is critical, as the nation evolves and faces new challenges. But they added that the government should be a neutral facilitator, and not lead the conversation.

A team of younger ministers, tasked to engage Singaporeans on the matter, is expected to touch on the issue at the National Day Rally on Sunday.

In Singapore, there is an overarching sense that times have changed. With pressing challenges ahead such as a greying population, a dwindling birthrate, and intense global competition, comes the need to re-think and remake the country. MP for Jurong GRC, Desmond Lee, said: "During the time of independence, it was very clear what we needed to have, moving from third world to first - housing, transport, jobs. But now we've achieved many of these things. The question is, what's next?"

Observers said it is important for Singaporeans to chart their own future, and for that, the government has to embark on a genuine consultation. The rules of engagement have to change.

Dr Reuben Wong from the National University of Singapore added: "I think the government should play the role of an arbiter in this dialogue. If the government doesn't have the answers, it cannot afford to come across as paternalistic and patronising and coming down, talking down to people. It has to be seen as open to different ideas, ideas which might go against what they've always believed in and practiced."

"Opposition voices, like voices in the community, have to step up. They have to take part constructively as part of a global national conversation," said Mr Lee."

There is also the expectation for civil society to play a prominent role. Laurence Lien, head of the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre, said: "Overall, we want to be equal partners at the table, perhaps at the steering committee. Perhaps civil society groups themselves, without permission from the ministerial committee, can start their own conversations."

Lessons for me are:

1. strategic planning process has to be a two-way one. The top must have some ideas of where they are taking the nation to in 2 phases, the short and the longer term, while engaging the populace to share their own visions.

The WHYs are particularly important at this stage so people KNOW WHY the nation is heading in that direction and WHY it is important to try to achieve those SMART (Specific and measurable, Motivating, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound) goals!

Hopefully, an aligned set of SMART GOALs (short and long term) can be agreed upon or at least accepted by the majority of the people. Also, all reasons are laid out for people to read, understand and decide on their own what they would do if they are in that position!

2. the HOW to achieve, especially the short term goals, will be interesting discussion as the leaders will facilitate the people to work on WHAT THEY CAN DO to make the vision a reality instead of WHY WE CANNOT TRY THIS or THAT! Enabling the people may be one of the must do at this stage IF the people are incompetent and/or uncommitted!;

3. monitoring and providing corrective actions are the next steps to see that the SHORT and LONG term goals are being worked on and what are the progress made. This must be done at least on a quarterly basis with the SMART GOALs Actual vs. Vision publish for ALL to see. It is like a report card of the government to its master - the people who voted them in!!

If a leader has a wonderful idea but if he or she COULD NOT convince his or her people that is the right thing to do and he or she HAD to rely on the people to execute, NOTHING will happen!!

So, while the leaders may bemoan that the people DO NOT understand their good intentions, they simply have to deal with this challenge - if you CANNOT convince others to follow you, you are NOT leaders!!

It is far easier to get the horse to drink the water after pulling it to the pool of water IF it is also willing to drink! Good luck to the National Dialogue to chart Singapore's next 10-30 years!!