Setting the performance bar

Wittingly or unwittingly we don’t want to set a low performance bar? We may want to psyche ourselves up to give us the confidence to face our challenges – but not to take refuge and ‘justify’ our shortcomings? Athletes do it all the time – psyching themselves up and digging deep into their inner strength – but not to take refuge and justify poor performance?

What we need is dogged determination? And that means setting a high performance bar for both the public and private sectors – higher than what we’ve set all these years, decades?

International agencies are eyeing us like an eagle – and we should be getting them off our back? Granted that we need funding facilities but we must not lose our focus, the North Star – that of winning. We can say that their watchful eye is ‘an insult’ – but only if we start winning? (Disclosure: the writer represented US AID/IESC in Eastern Europe – and all they wanted was for client countries to succeed!)

It is important that the Aquino Administration demonstrate full confidence in their plans – whether being scrutinized by Congress or international agencies or dealing with industry. The pilot flies the plane, not the navigators?

For example, should they be presenting a ‘must list’ as opposed to a ‘wish list’? And given government revenues are woefully inadequate the Administration must then flesh-up its must-list and present it to foreign investors – that it satisfies the acid test of reality and thus actionable? It must have clear-cut priorities starting with those that will give the biggest bang, not the trivial many? It appears that the JFC (Joint Foreign Chambers) are working on a roadmap to pave the way for the development of our strategic, competitive industries? How does the Administration reconcile them with those the DTI is working on? What about their timelines – a plan is only as good as it meets its timeframe? On the other hand, Congress ought to enact legislations to facilitate the realization of the Administration’s plans?

Bottom line: The Administration must demonstrate confident leadership and get critical sectors of society on their side? There will always be detractors but confident leadership should be able to deal with them – not let them derail plans, for example? The key is transparency – because it wins credibility and goodwill for the leadership?

Integrity likewise wins credibility. It is laudable that the Finance Secretary is telling banks that tolerating borrowers to circumvent tax regulations is unacceptable. It is in fact a disgrace! Are we then surprised why ours is a culture of corruption? (Disclosure: many years ago the writer’s team told a business owner in an Asian country that they could forget about partnering with an MNC if they could not straighten their books. Today his Eastern European friends are telling potential partners the same thing.)

Have we set the bar so law that even financial institutions – supposedly an engine of economic growth – are not promoting integrity? Are we then surprised why we are economic laggards? Competitiveness is what makes for a strong economy – not bogus bookkeeping?

How can a banker worth his salt say that our economy would suffer if it is founded on integrity? Where is the outrage? We must recognize when the compassionate heart ceases and crab mentality takes over – it takes the whole country down?