ACV36: Leading On The Ground (Prof Ong Biauw Chi, Chairman, Medical Board, Sengkang Health, Part 1)

In this episode, A/Prof Ong Biauw Chi and I discuss her on-the-ground style of leadership and the journey she took to become Chairman of the Medical Board in Sengkang Health.

ABOUT A/PROF ONG
A/Prof Ong Biauw Chi is Senior Consultant at Singapore General Hospital Department of Anaesthesiology. She was the Head of Anaesthesiology, SGH from 2009 till 2014 and the Director of Patient Safety and Director of Clinical Governance in Singapore General Hospital for a period of 9 years. She is also appointed Chairman Medical Board, Sengkang Health.

A/Prof Ong’s work has been recognised with the Public Administration Silver Medal in the National Day Awards, 2013 and the National Medical Excellence award for National Outstanding Clinical Quality Activist in 2014.

Prof Ong is also a member of the Specialist Training Committee for Anaesthesia (now Residency Advisory Committee) Ministry of Health, Singapore and chairs the Examinations committee for Anaesthesia Examinations in Singapore.

3 THINGS I LEARNED

1. Leadership is not always sitting in the boardroom and attending meetings. It involves going to the ground and seeing the truth for yourself. Sometimes it is difficult to know what’s really happening on the ground unless you are personally there. As a leader, you need to go see how things are on the ground.
   
   
2. So, how do you know when you need to go down to the ground to check things out for yourself? That’s where experience comes in - it gives you a gut feel for when something doesn’t quite fit, or when your presence as a leader might be needed.
   
   
3. Passion and curiosity: When you are passionate about what you do, you give it your all and become the best you can be. Curiosity goes hand in hand with passion. If you are passionate about something, you’ll always want to go the extra mile and learn more. Curiosity compliments passion.