VN Newsletter23

7/31/2019 VN Newsletter23

1/12

In this issue:

The DutchVietnam

Management Supporter

This magazine was first

published in March 2007. It is

digitally distributed among

my Vietnamese and Dutch

business & private associates.

Purpose: to keep them

informed about my activities

in Vietnam and overseas

This amazingly attractive andenergetic country has rapidly

conquered my soul, and

become my home away

from home.

Loek Hopstaken

P r o f . L o e k H o p s t a k e n

E m a i l :

l o e k @ h o p s t a k e n . c o m

M o b i l e :

090 888 9450

July 31, 2012

6th year, no. 4

Money Confusion

Activities Aug./Sep.

1

2

Unique Team Design

De Heuss new plant

Coaching & Hoi An

3

4

5

Courses @Royal

Learning Vietnamese

Service Excellence

Fresh Grads & Jobs

For Starters

6

7

8

910

Hopstaken Services

Contact information

11

12

Serve well,

do well.

Ron Kaufman

Is Money your Goal?Ask Vietnamese why they are in business, and chances

are they will reply: to make money. Many Asian CEOs,asked for their goal, reply: to get rich. Whats wrong withthis? Well, there is a little problem. Staff members look

up to their leaders for a role model. They learn: the goal of

work is to make money & to get rich. So by example, staff

members learn to be driven by money.What is money?

1. As long as you & I agree that a piece of paper with US$

100 printed on it has a buying power of US$ 100 its mon-

ey as long as we trust the US$ has buying power. Moneyis basically an idea backed by confidence. Yes, it is.

2. Money represents energy. When you have a lot, you feel

energized: you can do what you like, buy what you want.

Losing money feels like losing energy. Poor? Tired!Rich?Do & buy what you like!When you want motivated people to work for you, and

all you can offer them is money, do realize that a salary

raise works for 2 or 3 months. Then he/she is adjusted to

the new income. Slowly demotivation creeps in until the

next raise comes along. Carrot & stick? Carrots are short.So, if you are in business to get rich, my advice is:

think again. Create a vision of an organization providing

valuable service to new & returning customers. Enthuse

your staff with your vision. Formulate your mission to

give them a worthwhile purpose. Then facilitate them toprovide excellent service to colleagues & customers alike.

Lasting business success is rarely connected with a

money-driven entrepre-

neur. For top business

leaders money is not a

goal, but a tool, a means toan end. They know:

The higher the value

you deliver, the more

money you will make.Dutch Vietnamese cooperation

in Dong Nai: see page 4


2/12

26th year, no. 4

The Dutch Vietnam Management

Supporter

We can forgive a child who is afraid of the dark. The real tragedy

of life is when men are afraid of the light. Plato

Saigon, July 30, 2012

Working as a freelancer has its periods of in-

tensive work, moments of on-the-spot impro-

vising, professional challenges, but also times

of having good fun. Or even a miniature holi-

day. Between two workshop days in Da Nang

I had a chance to re-visit Hoi An. And of

course, when working at a 5 star hotel, like

Nikko Saigon, Equatorial or Riverside Renais-

sance, the buffet lunches (and service!) in

these places are always a treat.

Still, just a roadside restaurant. LikeBnhCanh Long Huong, near Vung Tau, serving asimple yet delicious breakfast (right), can be

a real treat as well.Other pleasures on the road are socializing

with the workshop or training course partici-

pants. Besides getting to know my clients in

an informal setting, it gives me an opportuni-

ty to learn more about Vietnamese culture.

Change is in the air.A long-term project

for a state-owned enterprise, the corporate

restructuring process of a small yet ambitious

company: examples of different assignments.

Whats next? Im ready! Loek Hopstaken

Activities in August & September:

* In-company training programs:- Management Development programs (2)

- Change Management Workshop

* New lectures:- Building a Management Team (ERC)

- Starting Up (Viet Youth Entrepreneurs)

* Public courses (Royal Business School):- Interpersonal Communications

* Consultancy (Vietnamese companies):- 2 restructuring projects (ongoing)*Attending:- TEDX Mekong

TEDX Live (June 27) functioned as a warming-up

for the next TEDX Mekong event (August 11).

The 2012 edition of my catalog (pdf) will be yours aftersending a request to [email protected].


3/12

36th year, no. 4


Supporter

Designing a Team in its next larger context

In Holland we often call a

young team a bunch of young

dogs. Recently I had the pleasure

to spend two days with this bunch,

in a Long Hai resort. Purpose: to

prepare the team to move up from

the pioneer to the professional

phase. Side-purpose: a reward for

several weeks of top performance.

Unique Design is a young Viet-

namese company, founded by An

Le Ditty. Its name tells a lot about

its core business & values.

Like all new companies, there

comes a point when you have to

say: alrightso far so good. Now,

lets see where we really want to

go, what we need to do to keep the momentum going, how to contain our growth and keep

everyone on board in the process, and how to bring some structure. To accomplish this we

did a tailormade team workshop. Focusing on what really matters in the team, on respon-sibilities and on problem solving. But also, on making fun. Like how to organize an amaz-

ing fashion show within one hour, unprepared, just using whats available in the resort.I dont recall who won. Well, they all did. www.uniquedesign.com.vn

Always design a thing by considering it in its next larger context -a chair in a room, a room in a house, a house in an environment, an

environment in a city plan. Eliel Saarinen


4/12


Supporter

6th year, no. 4 4

De Heus Vietnams new plant

Dong Nai, June 18The organizers were aware their event could be interrupted by

heavy rain. So each of the 1,000 guests of De Heus Vietnams Grand Opening of the new

Dong Nai plant received an umbrella. Good idea: itpoured. But no one was troubled by theweather. The Dutch shareholdersDe Heus family membersplus other VIP guests were

treated to a dynamic show, to a speech in fluent Vietnamese by CEO Gabor Fluit, and to a

guided tour of the facilities. De Heuss continued successthe company dates from 1911is

not just due to a sound commercial strategy. De Heuss motto: Lifelong Learning.

Lifelong learning is De Heuss motto. The continuous development of knowledge is essential to De

Heuss success. Ultimately our people and their expertise are the companys most valuable asset.

This is why De Heus invests in people. Within Human Resources we facilitate the national and inter-

national careers of our employees through means of focused development programmes, coaching and

training. Apart from this, we guide our employees in all phases of their career, together with ourmanagers. We do this in various ways, including through means of a performance evaluation system

that creates focus and that facilitates the growth of our employees and consequently that of our

organisation. De Heuss Corporate HR Director Isolde Eleveldsee http://tinyurl.com/cgcqmbe

Mr. Gabor with some

of his staff, posing

for a picture.


5/12

56th year, no. 4


Supporter

1. The trip to Hoi An

was a welcome break in a

2-day workshop in Da

Nang. Topic: coaching &

mentoring, two manage-

ment skills for modern

managers. This workshop

had a strong educationalcharacter: the why of

coaching has to be

clear, and agreed upon

before training the skillswill be successful. We

covered 4 coaching

styles: instruction, per-

suasion, consultation, &

delegation. The hardest

style: consultation. Thecoach doesnt solve the problem, but guides the coachee to find & implement solutions.

2. The trip to Hoi An made me think of the question why most tourists return to

Thailand & Singapore, but dont return to Vietnam.After their first visit, they com-

plain. About cheating taxi drivers, incompetent guides & bad service. Are they wrong?

Well, some things in Vietnam really are strange. Like in Hoi An, having to buy a ticketto cross the famous Japanese Bridge connect-

ing the two parts of the old city. Where to buy

a ticket? At a place you may have passed 50

meters ago, around a corner. The far majori-

tyincluding Vietnamese touristsis an-

noyed & decides not to buy a ticket. Result:they ignore the other part of Hoi An. Worse:

disappointment. On top of that, the lack of

ticket buying tourists causes the bridge

guards to display a bad mood. I wonder why ...

Will these foreign tourists return to Hoi An?

What will they tell their friends back home?

Educating Coaches in Da Nang

(and an observation in Hoi An)

Study and understand the norms and beliefs of others,

and then treat them as THEYwish to be treated. Ijaz Rana

Instead of showing the old city, the Hoi An

tourist boat trip took us along resorts


6/12


Supporter

6th year, no. 4 6

The 2012 Real PR Course was well attended. The participants learned

about the role of PR in the business world, but also about its use in

personal life, about the difference between PR & Marketing, and how

their close collaboration can create profitable corporate synergy. They

learned different tools to practice the art of PR, both external and

internal, including how to make a

Corporate Communications Plan, how

to set up a house style, how to deal

with media representatives, the PR

Hot Line and much more.

August 1317 I will deliver my

next evening course at Royal

Business School.

The Interpersonal Communications

Course is packed with exercises and

tips, intended to educate & train theparticipantsnot to teach them tricks.

Communication is the Number One life skill. In business its quality alone determinessuccess or failure. Goals or strategy are second, believe me. Just ask the successful ones.

All they do is listen to their customers and offer them something of value:

a communication-based service and/or product and a trust-based relationship.

The Interpersonal Communications Course runs from August 1317 at Royal

Business School, 186 Nguyen Thi Minh Kai, D.3, HCMC. Info: www.royal.com.vn

Public Courses @ Royal

The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.

Kenneth Blanchard


7/12


Supporter

6th year, no. 4 7

Secretly I had hoped that learning Vietnamese would just happen along the way. It didnt.

Vietnamese is difficult when you havent grown up with tones (6 altogether) and diphthongs (what

happens when tones & accents are mixed; natural for any Vietnamese, alien to us foreigners.

So I started to take lessons at Vietname Language Studies (www.vlstudies.com).Fellow student Wayne Young is an (Australian) English teacher. We share a strong need to learn

Vietnameseand not only because our wives are Vietnamese. Our devoted teachers C Bnhs & C

Hos tolerance for our mistakes & patience with our time consuming effort to say or write it correct-

ly have already reached mythical proportions. The method used at VLS is effective: lots of action, and

with just us 2 no time to sit back & relax, and let the other students do the work. Still, it will take

many months before I will reach a level where I can conduct a basic conversation. Patience

Not only tones & diphthongs make it

hard. Vietnamese add little booby traps like

classifiers & titles. How do you address some-

one? TryAnh, Em, ng, Con not to men-tion the many ways family members address

each other: 4 ways to address an aunt, 4 ways

to address an uncle. It all depends on no, I

wont tell you. Or the many ways yes andno are used, adding a hitherto unknown

subtlety to conversations. This causes Wayne

& I to take time to think before we utter a

word, let alone speak a sentence.

Practicing at home, or with friends? No

way. Vietnamese are very eager to help, but

start correcting our pronunciation, right away. With good intentions, they change the topic: so frus-

trating. Teaching really is a profession. So we practice like mad in our VLS class room, do our home-

work & leave the tactical corrections to our excellent teachers, C Bnh & C Ho.

Learning Vietnamese @ VLS

Vietnamese Language Studies (VLS) 45 Dien Tien Hoang, D.1, HCMC

CMARD 2 Building, 4th Floorwww.vlstudies.com

C Binh & herdreaded

diphthongs

Wayne

wrecks his brain

over Vietnamese

classifiers


8/12


Supporter

6th year, no. 4 8

For years, Singapore Airlines

scored & scores the number 1 in

customer service quality surveys.

This hasnt always been the case.

When Ron Kaufman was invited to

help SA, many years ago, its reputa-

tion was based upon the elegance of

its stewardesses, not on its service.

Meanwhile, also Singapores Changi

Airport has become the top airport inthe world. What happened?

In short, Ron Kaufman was invited

to analyse the airlines & the airports

service quality. He proposed an inten-

sive educational program for manag-

ers & staff. Both companies agreed

and Ron started. Year after year the

services of Singapore Airlines &

Changi Airport scored higher in cus-

tomer surveys. Now Ron Kaufman is

the man behind both successes.These companies not only reached

the top, they succeed to remain there.And many companies have followed.

The ca. 400 attendees of Kaufmans

seminar enjoyed more than an inspi-

rational event: Rons take aways havelasting value. Want to know more?

1. Read his New York Times best-

seller Uplifting Service (left).

2. Visit Ron Kaufmans website

(www.ronkaufman.com).

3. Join his seminars (see website)

Uplifting Service to Service Excellence

Service is taking action to create value for someone else.Ron Kaufman

Ron Kaufmans

seminar was

organized by ERC

Vietnam

The Proven Path to Delighting Your Customers

and Colleagues and Everyone Else You Meet

The New York Times

bestseller

Vietnam needs his effective

service improvement toolbox!


9/12


Supporter

6th year, no. 4 9

Job Application Tips for Fresh Graduates

One late July Saturday morning I was at Kent International College, where graduates

from FPT School of Business and Kent students came to receive tips about job application

dos & donts. With the current state of the economy and companies that stress experience

as a major job requirement, its not easy for fresh grads to get a job.

Besides the usual elements of applying for a job, such as CV writing, attire for the job inter-

view, how to deal with difficult and silly questions certain amateur recruiters mistakenly

believe will help select the right candidate, we

focused on attitude and presentation skills.

Whenever I discuss recruitment with busi-

ness owners, I point out that work experiencetends to be over-emphasized. Fresh graduates

have certain advantages (slide left) that experi-

enced persons often dont. No experience is theirUnique Selling Proposition (USP), one theyshould promote in their cover letter, and when

invited, during their interview. Further, job ap-

plicants should make sure they know as much as

they can about the company, and why they want

this specific position in this organization.

Above all they should exhibit the right attitude.To clarify this I changed two words in John F.

Kennedys famous quote:


10/12


Supporter

6th year, no. 4 10

How to start your own business

While fresh graduates prepare to

enter the labor market, the adventurous

among them consider starting their own

business. July 20 ERC Vietnams 6th

floor space was filled with around 60

young men & women, interested in advice

and tips for starters. I shared the stage

with several experienced young entrepre-

neurs, who told about their adventures.

My core message for those who contem-plate starting: while preparing, do not

ignore or underestimate your PR and HR.

PR: Create a positive image from the very beginning, as this is the basis for your reputation.

You wont sell when youre unknown. Only a positive reputation will bring you customers.

HR: know whom to choose to become your start-up partners. Is it only money they talk

about? Find others. Successful start ups have a core team of dedicated pioneers, no hangerson. Youll need people who believe in your vision and who see it as their mission to help yourealize it. Then build up the organization around your core business (below left). Put yourcustomers on the top of your organizational chart, and yourself on the bottom. Why? Your

main duty is to make sure the company is well-facilitated, and remains customer-focused.I ended with a 6-step tip for starters when making their first profit (below right).

In these times of uncertainty as far as the economy is concerned, I really admire and supportstarters. Most of their companies will become small & medium sized enterprises: the motor ofevery economy. Fact: where the SMEs are given space to do business, the economy thrives.

The point of living and of being an optimist is to be foolish enough

to believe the best is yet to come. Peter Ustinov


11/12

Major Services + Client List + Mini Catalog

116th year, no. 4

The following services are in high demand:

1. Management Development programspurpose: to train

managers to qualify for higher positions, to develop soft

skills, and to increase their value to their organizations

2. Seminars & Lectures in the fields of Human Resource

Management, Leadership, Strategy, Public Relations and

Business Communications

3. Business courses: HRM; Efficiency; Presentation Skills

4. Personal Coaching of entrepreneurs

5. Business Consultancy (Management & Leadership; HRM

systems; PR; Strategy; internal communications)

In Vietnam: a.o. business field

Tan Thuan IPC (HCMC) Industrial development

HCMC University of Technology Master of BA program

RMIT (HCMC campus) Communication program

Royal Business School (public courses) Courses & seminars

Vietnam Airlines (RBS; ISM) International airline

Vietnam Singapore I.P. (SPECTRA) Industrial park

Petronas Vung Tau (SPECTRA) Chemical factory

Nike (Tae Kwang Vina) (SPECTRA) Shoe factory

Le & Associates Training & consultancy Training House Vietnam (Sacombank) Training & consultancy

Ministry of L.I.S.A. (RBS) Civil Servants

SONY Vietnam (RBS) Consumer electronics

CapitaLand Vietnam (SPECTRA) Real estate

Institute for Potential Leaders / PACE Courses & seminars

Dalat Hasfarm (Agrivina) Pot plants, cut flowers

Hoanggia Media Group Key to Success TV Show

Fresh Green Earth Hi-tech agriculture

Unique Design Interior Design

ERC Institute Vietnam Vocational training

Golden Alliance Vocational training Schoeller Bleckmann Vietnam Oilfield Equipment

De Heus Vietnam Animal food

Centre for Tropical MedicineOxford Uni. Clinical research

Khue Van Academy Courses & seminars

Training House Vietnam Courses & seminars

Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) Business consultancy

In The Netherlands, a.o.

ING Bank Financial services

Philips Electronics

Heineken Brewery

Yamaha Musical instruments Voerman International International relocations

Damen Shipyards Ship repair wharfs

Wittenborg University of Applied Sc. IBABBA, MBA

MINI CATALOG

WORKSHOPSA workshop is a 2-4 day group

activity with a defined purpose,

where theory, practical exercise

and exchange of experiences are the

main ingredients. Areas: HRM, PR,

Communication, and Management.

Team Engineering

Interpersonal Communication

Commercial Communication

Public Relations

Presentation Skills

Organizational Design

Cross-cultural Communication

Time Management / Efficiency

Recruitment Skills

CONSULTING

Consulting is any specified expert

activity to help solve a defined

problem. This can take the form of

coaching, but also, conducting a

research. By definition, it is tailor

made. Areas: HRM, Strategy, PR.

Personal Coach

Business Coach

Moderator Mediation

Executive Selection

In- & External Surveys (such as

360 Feedback)

SEMINARS

A seminar is a 3-4 hour interactive

transference of core know-how,

including practical assignments.

People Management

Emotions in the Workplace

Strategic Thinking

Business Ethics

The Allround Manager

The Allround Communicator

The Soft Skills Program

On demand

Investments (ex. 10% VAT / 25% PIT)

Workshops: US$ 1,200 per team / day.

Consulting / Coaching: US$ 100 / hour.

Seminars: US$ 550 850 per seminar

(except for the Allround programs).

Lecture: US$ 250 per lecture.

Train the Trainer: US$ 1,200 per day.

Prices may change due to inflation.

Contact me for longterm cooperation:

[email protected] or

[email protected]

The Dutch Vietnam Management Supporter

List of Clients & Associates

Loek Hopstakens 5 major services


12/12

The DVM Supporter is published by Loek Hopstaken.

Email: [email protected] or

[email protected]

Mobile: 090 888 9450

Assistant: Ms. Vo Ngoc Lien Huong

Email: [email protected]

Mobile: 090 888 9451

Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/loekhopstaken

Who is Loek Hopstaken?

1951: born in Haarlem, The Netherlands

1971-1972: travels: Europe & Asia

1972-1975: Amsterdam City University

1976-1977: travels: North & South America

1977-1993: career in banking: NCB,

Postgiro, Postbank, NMB Postbank Group,

ING Group, ING Bank

1979-1982: Business Administr. studies

1983-1988: Project Manager

privatization process Postgiro to

Postbank (field: P&O / HRM)

1989-1993: Project Manager merger

Postbank & NMB Bank, & later, ING Group

(fields: PR, Marketing, Total Quality

Management

1991: founding Hopstaken Bedrijfsadvies

1991-present time: career in training and

consultancy, coaching & mediation

1993: left ING Bank

1996-2000: Business Club MC (50 meetings)2003-present time: combining training,

coaching & consultancy with teaching at

international business schools (BBA/MBA)

2005 + 2007: Professor appointments

2007-2008: visits to Vietnam: lecturing,

consulting, surveying, delivering courses,

workshops & seminars

November 2008: establishment in HCMC

2008-present time: delivering lectures,

seminars, coaching, workshops & training

courses, mediation; overseas business trips

2010: Examiner VTV1 Key to Success Show2011: Chairman Advisory Board ERC Inst.

Full CV: mail [email protected]

12


Supporter

6th year, no. 4

What goes around, comes

around. What you send out

does come back. Service is a

two-way street. Life is, too.

Ron Kaufman

VIETNAM,

UPLIFT

YOUR

SERVICE!

see page 8

VN Newsletter23

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