POSCO Vietnam’s Managers Gather to Participate in 2-day Leadership Training Course

On the 9th and 10th of September, POSCO Vietnam had organized a leadership training course for 54 Team Managers and 2 General Managers for the purpose of improving management, communication, presentation and decision making skills in order to improve work efficiency and behaviors within the office.

The leadership training course was designed with 5 psychological techniques for changing a leader’s behavior, boosting a leader’s inner source of energy, building a core leadership competency, comprehending keys to resolve long-term potential problems and more. The training was instructed by one of the best training companies in Vietnam.

According to most of the trainees, this was the best leadership training course that they have ever had. “The instructor was so humorous.  He made us laugh during the course. All activities were thoroughly designed and well-prepared.  I also enjoyed it because it offered an opportunity for us to get together to strengthen our team work, communication and behaviors…”, Ms. Do Thi Huyen Trang, Manager Assistant of Overseas Department said.

An Unprecedented Experiences for Everyone

During the course, all the managers had to face something that they have never done in their lives before. In order to physically express the willpower and strength of a leader, they had to break a hard plywood board of 17mm thickness. “I was worried that I won’t be able to break that woody board because it seemed quite thick. However, with encouragement and instructions from our instructor, all of the trainees were able to finish the task. It was definitely a very wonderful and exciting experience”. Mr. Dinh Quoc Hoa, Team Manager of Purchasing Department expressed.

For another activity during the training course, the instructor asked all the trainees to lay roses with thorns on the ground and walk on them in bare feet. This activity symbolized that although people face ups and downs in life, they advance by overcoming the hardships. “It was an unforgettable moment of my life. We experienced both happiness and sadness. Although it was painful to walk on the roses, it was great to experience things that I never thought I could do. Thank you POSCO and my colleagues”. Ms. Vo Thi Hong Van, Domestic Sales Assistant Manager said.

At the end of the course, all the trainees received certificates of leadership for their great efforts and excellent behaviors during the program.

Interview with Mr. Luu The Hung- General Manager of External Relations Department

 Q1. How did you feel about the training course?

‘Curious’, ‘involved’, ‘surprised’, ‘enjoyed’ and ‘satisfied’ are words that I would like to use to describe my feelings from the beginning to the end of the course. The well-structured activities really awed my mind. The activities inspired me to pause and take a close look on what is happening, where I was in life and what I want for the future. Furthermore, the 2-day experience with my peers at POSCO Vietnam was a good chance for us to consolidate our team spirit.

Q2. What did you learn from the training course?

I was able to learn many theories and tips on becoming a better leader. However, the most important and helpful lesson for me came from “The Six Level of Leadership Mode”. The highlight of this concept is its wide range of application both in working and daily life. By analyzing our current status and our target, it will guide us to the next steps that are crucial for reaching higher level in the leadership ladder.

Q3. What will you apply for the daily work from the knowledge that you’ve studied?

First and foremost, I will give up my “5 Inefficient Working Habits”, which may affect adversely on our department’s performance. Second, “4 Principle Rules of Management and 10 Positive Emotion of Leader” will be applied to motivate my staffs and support them to do their daily tasks in better ways. I am very excited to see the good influences that these small changes will bring to our department.

Ms. Võ Thị Hồng Vân is one of the female managers at POSCO Vietnam. She is active and devoted to her work without losing her bright face. Currently, every CSR activities conducted by POSCO Vietnam are managed by her. She restlessly visits many regions where POSCO Vietnam can give a helping hand. Once she finds out where to, and what to, do for socially neglected people, she discusses the matter with local authorities and undertakes surveys to actualize feasible CSR plans for volunteering activities.

How It All Began…

When we asked how she first started working at POSCO Vietnam, Ms. Võ Thị Hồng Vân said it was almost like a destined path. “Working for POSCO Vietnam began as a coincidence and now it has become my destiny. In the beginning of 2008, I was working in Korea and I heard that POSCO Vietnam was recruiting secretaries. I was quite busy then so I couldn’t think of anything else than my tasks.” A year later, she finally joined POSCO Vietnam and started working as General Director’s secretary. “Over the two years I worked at the position, I had opportunities to develop my relationships with decision makers and top-level officers at Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, where POSCO Vietnam is located.”

It was later that she transferred from General Director’s office to Logistics Department as an assistant of General Manager. “I always love to have new experiences and this is why I was transferred. In my opinion, changing work position is a way to have new opportunities and challenges to learn new things and to study new knowledge.”

She added, “I loved the work at Marketing Logistics Department because I learned about trading and business, which I could also leverage with my experience from Korea. It helped my ability to coop with the works I was assigned to.” After a brief period, Ms. Võ Thị Hồng Vân was named as CSR Team Manager and moved to where she belongs now, POSCO Vietnam’s External Relations Department.

Becoming POSCO Vietnam’s CSR Team Manager

‘Hello, POSCO’ asked how working for the company’s CSR activities differs from her past work experiences. She smiled and said, “Regarding CSR activities, it was a big work and a new area to our company. CSR activity is not simply a concept but also needs to be carried out to give positive impacts on our surroundings, customers, partners, employees and communities. Therefore, this work needs specialized knowledge of all fields.”

We asked more questions about the quality one needs to become a professional CSR manager. Ms. Võ Thị Hồng Vân replied, “If you have a narrow set of experiences and knowledge for CSR, this work can be a challenging one. To fulfill all the roles required in this department, you need to study more about CSR, and master the principles and strategies of POSCO. This can help us to brainstorm how to engage the current social demands we face. If you succeed in meeting the demands, the result will naturally lead into building up a good image of POSCO Vietnam amid local communities.”

Awareness and Social Responsibility POSCO Vietnam Holds For Local Community

POSCO Vietnam is keeping its pace up to meet more economically and socially challenged people in local communities. “The principle of POSCO Vietnam is ‘Always Cooperate and Grow with Local Community – Business Go with CSR Activity.’ For the past few years, POSCO Vietnam has actively been implementing a wide range of social activities. This includes granting scholarships to the poor students who cannot afford their school fees and building houses with love for the households who have no shelters.”

“We also collected garbage at the beach to protect the environment and gave supports for the senior citizens, physically challenged people and children without parents. These CSR activities are all undertaken to contribute for the awareness and responsibility POSCO Vietnam conveys in the local community. The ‘POSCO Dream Village’ project is a great illustration of the purpose as well.”

Something To Be Proud Of And Worthwhile

Now, it was time to listen to her story: what she feels when working as POSCO Vietnam’s CSR Manager. “I have participated in almost all CSR activities at POSCO Vietnam since I joined. Each campaign has its own beautiful meaning, portrayed in different places and different moments. One of the beauties I witnessed was when the board members and POSCO Vietnam’s employees joined hands to collect garbage for drainage of Tan Hoa Commune.”

“It was a really hot summer day, burning everything underneath the Sun. Not to mention the awful smell we had to endure! However, the volunteers from POSCO Vietnam did not turn around. We continued our work there without losing smiles on our faces. The feeling I received at Tan Hoa Commune touched me and it is an unforgettable experience. “

Throughout the interview, we could see Ms.Võ Thị Hồng Vân’s face with full of joy and the sense of accomplishments. She truly believed that what she was doing for the local communities will open up bright future for those who received supports from POSCO Vietnam. We must say, she is not the only one counting for the change, because we all know POSCO’s global CSR activities will deliver a wonderful path for everyone around the world.