The U-Hall Spirit that I Live and Breathe

Kenneth Y.K. Tsang September, 2008

• Reaffirm our values

• Reaffirm our conviction in sustaining the greatness of the U-Hall spirit

• Magical strength

Good Cause

The U-Hall Spirit that I Live and Breathe

U-Hall Spirit

• The underlying strength that made us great • Cements the bond between U-Hallites of the

present and the past with vigor and dynamism

 

• We may not always be the greatest athletes in the HKU campus but we are always united under our U-Hall spirit

• We may not always be the most handsome students in the HKU campus but we are always united under our U-Hall spirit

• We may not always be the brightest students in the HKU campus but we are always united under our U-Hall spirit

A driving Force

• Our Hall Spirit is a driving force

• We have great affection for it

• We are energized by it

A driving Force

We breathe it deep because

It guides us

It sustains us

It inspires us

Potency

• The spirit we have evoked in us not only permeates the entire Hall

• People from outside can also hear it, smell it, see it and feel it even from afar

• The HKU old girls from the 60s are still stunned by their U-Hall experience some 40 years ago

A Powerful Differentiator

• In HKU, U-Hall spirit is a powerful differentiator

• In the old days, it was this strength that made us the envy of the HKU campus

• We were recognized as a potent force

• Saddened to see that our hall spirit is now waning

What is it?

• What exactly is U-Hall Spirit?

Hall Spirit -Definition

• No rocket science

• Cannot be meaningfully expressed as a few gallons of water

• Do not see a hard and fast definition, because hall spirit is a feeling phenomenon

Under the microscopeSpirit encompasses

Common Goal 共同目的Brotherhood 兄弟情Caring 互相关怀Passion 激情Unity 团结Resilience 高度适应性Zest 极大的乐趣，兴奋Ebullience 洋溢，精力充沛Culture 文化Heritage 遗传Lineage … 血统 /世系…

 

Intangibles

Hall Spirit - Definition• Our hall spirit is like a wind

– We cannot physically hold it – We cannot see its influence– We can feel its effects – We can harness its power

Hall Spirit - Definition

• Metaphysical – 形而上学

– you only know it when you feel it

• Developed from our Hall values over time

– through relationship building – cemented by bonds of the brotherhood

 

U-Hallites and Hall Values

• Know

• Understand

• Believe • Embrace

Make the U-Hall values our own

• What are the U-Hall values? • Is there such a thing as the ‘authentic’ U-Hall values?

• How do the values of the current generation stack against the ‘authentic’ values?

Questions

Problem we face

• Even though deep down hallites of different generations may share the same feelings

• Many of us are having – Different views on our hall values– Different interpretations on our hall values – Different interpretations on our hall spirit

• Here to clear the cloud on the horizon

Clear the clouds on the U-Hall horizon

U-Hall values I treasured since 1968 U-Hall values I embraced since 1968

• We go for our lives in defending U-Hall

• We pay respect to the seniors who came before us

• We care for those who follow later

• We lead by example: – As a beacon of dynamism – As a beacon of courage – As a beacon of resilience

A beacon of dynamism:

Through our deeds, we taught those who follow laterto be outgoing and positive in life.

A beacon of courage:

We inspired those who follow later to be a tirelessfighter, one who will never shy away from a fight nomatter how strong the foe is.

A beacon of resilience:

This strengthened our determination of will to persevere, to weather the storm and coming out stronger.

 

U-Hall Values of the 60s

• These guiding values of the 60s helped us build

– Determination of will

– Strength of our mind

– Quality of our heart

Hall Values

• I was raised, bathed and groomed with these values

• I was imbued with these values

• They are part of my life

• They are part of the air that I breathe

• I evoked them with zest and passion

一代传一代• Still guided by these values

• The core of these values be passed down from generation to generation

• To better enable us to do this

• Fine-tuned the wording of our core values, and together we can ponder

• And it goes like this …

Proposed U-Hall core values• Our values are being good to our parents

• Our values are being good to our families

• Our values are being good to our fellow U-Hallites

• Our values are and being totally devoted and dedicated to the things that are U-Hall

• Our values are being united

Key Questions

• Amid a diversity of views on hall values and a great concern about how best we can sustain the hall spirit

Can we change our core values?

Are they timeless?

We need to look at ‘relevance in time’

• Digitalized world characterized by rapid change

• Fully aware of the compelling need to change in order that we can stay relevant in a rapidly changing world

• Change is a constant

• Change is a fact of life

U-Hall values are no exception

• We must implement change in order that we can remain relevant in a fast changing society

• We must do so while remaining the same

• We need to change while remaining the same

Do so while remaining the same

• In U-Hall, we change things that need to be changed

• Whether those changes are really warranted of course is a matter of opinion

• With due respect, each generation of Hallites contributed to the betterment of U-Hall through implementing changes

Change

• In order that we can stay relevant amid changing times

– We can change our trappings– We can change our culture– We can change our peripheral values

Preserving the authentic U-Hall

• We must never change our core values

• We cannot change our DNA

• We cannot change our roots

• We can only change while remaining the same

                         

                                     

Our U-Hall should rightfully remain the same We need to be the same authentic self

We need to change but must do so while remaining the same

• We can change our peripheral values

• We must never change our core values

Ask

• Have we remained the same ?

• Are we now the same authentic self ?

• Let’s deliberate

Proposed U-Hall core values• Our values are being good to our parents

• Our values are being good to our families

• Our values are being good to our fellow U-Hallites

• Our values are and being totally devoted and dedicated to the things that are U-Hall

• Our values are being united

• Before coining these U-Hall Core Values, we need to …

Action

• Need to first define and account for the core values that students and alumni of the current generation hold dear– Need to find out what are their core values ?

• Need to further deliberate before we coin the final version of Core Values for U-Hall

Our Future

What U-Hall can become?

• We are all proud of U-Hall and what it can become, but we are not there yet

U-Hall Future

• Concerted effort between members, the present and the past is required in order that we can build a future of U-hall that is

– Worthy of the vision of the founding members

– Worthy of the vision of the alumni

– Worthy of the aspirations of the undergraduates

What is our U-Hall vision ?

• Vision is a big dream 梦想• Vision is our future ideal state

Proposed U-Hall Vision

• To be the number one residential Hall in HKU, second to none in the bondage of brotherhood

U-Hall Mission 使命 ?

Proposed U-Hall Mission

• Our mission is to have a conviction

• A conviction to be a great advocate of the U-Hall spirit

‘To ensure that the greatness of the U-Hall spirit is handed down from generation to generation’

Promise

• Brand Promise

• U-Hall brand promise

What is U-Hall Brand Promise?

• Our promise is our brand identity

• Our promise is the values that we associate U-Hall with

• Our promise is what people will experience through association with us at all U-Hall touch points

• Specifically, U-Hall Promise is represented by …

Proposed U-Hall Brand Promise 承诺• Brotherhood 兄弟情• Caring 互相关怀• Spirited 高涨的 U-Hall精神• Unity 团结• Resilience 高度适应性

U-Hall Brand Promise

• Are these promises attractive to the new comers?

• Yes, they encompass associations that students aspire to

• Objective: To have students coming to us instead of we having to go for them

Soul of U-Hall 灵魂

– Vision

– Mission

– Brand Promise … made up the soul

Proposed Soul of U-Hall

Vision: To be the number one residential Hall in HKU, second to none in the bondage of brotherhood

Mission: To ensure that the greatness of the U-Hallspirit is handed down from generation to generation

Promise: Brotherhood, Caring, Spirited, Unity, Resilience

Finalize it

Proposed U-Hall core values

• Our values are being good to our parents

• Our values are being good to our families

• Our values are being good to our fellow U-Hallites

• Our values are and being totally devoted and dedicated to the things that are U-Hall

• Our values are being united

Finalize it

Soul of U-Hall + Core Values

• Signed in Blood

• Carved on stone

• Internalized

• Aligned in One Voice

Conception of U-Hall Spirit

• With one voice on U-Hall core values and U-Hall soul, our hall spirit was conceived

U-Hall Spirit – conception to birth

How to continue to nurture and sustain the U-Hall spirit ?

• Hall Spirit nurtured and sustained by a feeling

How to nurture and sustain U-Hall spirit ?

• A feeling that we all share

• A feeling derived from all U-Hallites through

– living the soul of U-Hall – breathing the core values of U-Hall

U-Hall Spirit

• U-Hall spirit = A feeling

• A feeling derived from– Living our Soul ( vision + mission + promise)– Breathing our Core Values

• This feeling is the quintessence (精髓 ) of our U-Hall Spirit!

Feeling

• Inspires our thinking

• Influences our behaviour

• Shapes our attitude

Feelings

ThinkingBehaviourAttitude

Virtuous Circle

InspireInfluenceshape

LiveBreatheFeedStrengthen

Action

• Words without action is just an empty slogan

Get into Action

• Disregard of age, generation and professional background

• Come together• Work together• Reach out together

Get into action

• Meticulous execution of a well-thought-out plan of action guided by a heart of devotion

• Conscious of our direction• Certain of our destination

Vision

Alignment of all facets

PeopleHallCultureBehaviourBrand

• It is only then we can make people see and feel us the way we want them to

• It is only then we can make people perceive us the way we want them to

• Thereby achieving the ideal state of congruence of U-Hall Identity and U-Hall Image

U-Hall Identity = U-Hall Image

SENDER RECEIVER

MessagingPromises deliveredInteraction at all U-Hall touch pointsUnmistakably U-Hall experience

Receiver through interaction with U-Hall

• Develop different associations 1+2+3+….n

U-Hall Identity U-Hall Image

How identical?

Soul Searching

• A strong brand that U-Hall is going to become, people will come to us instead of we having to do soul searching

• Must turn U-Hall into a strong brand again in order that we can be a powerful magnet with great pulling power

Attract the cream of the cream

U-Hall Identity = U-Hall Image

• We are U-Hall

• We are what we are and we must be seen to be so

• We must be seen to be what we are

• Our worth is in the eyes of the others

U-Hall Spirit

Let’s live and breathe it deep !

Thank You !