I have been truly awestruck by the scale, beauty, grace and ingenuity of Angkor Wat* and the temples of the Angkor Archaeological Park in Cambodia.
A journey to such a destination is a privilege. It could also be said that it’s a once in a lifetime experience, a measure of its magnificence. However, I sincerely wish to visit Angkor Wat, Siem Reap and Cambodia again and believe that is entirely possible if I follow the plan that got me there in the first place.
Franklin Covey’s Signature Program ‘7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ was the starting point and mainstay of my plan. Our business Avant, becoming industry accredited and our team becoming certified recruiters, was the next phase.
Team communication, business values and goals were clearly defined in our business planning and all members of the Avant team provided input - ensuring ownership of their respective roles and the contribution they make. Away for three weeks, I was able to ‘Sharpen the Saw’**, as I had faith and trust in my team. I knew my presence would be missed but that it would not affect the team nor the business itself.
The wonder and the inspiration for me comes from the fact that Angkor Wat is man-made and is the culmination of the capacity and talent of all those involved. Their contribution is there for all to see. The orchestration of such a creation is truly majestic. Built in the first half of the 12th century, in a remarkably short period of time, it has survived the ravages of all manner of degradations from both man and nature.
The greatness of Angkor is not just in its temples and monuments – it’s also in the genuine smiles of the local people who have suffered beyond the reach of our imagination and yet are so welcoming. They make you feel like an honoured guest in their country, not just a tourist.
What I wish to share with others is that you can discover greatness on any scale in your organisation, your team, yourself.
* Angkor Wat general information
Spread over an area of approximately 400 sq km, including the surrounding forest Angkor National Archaeological Park was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1992. Within this park, Angkor Wat is the largest and the best-preserved temple at the site. It is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre from its creation through to today. Believed to be the biggest pyramid in the entire Asian continent, the whole complex lies within a moat and an outer wall 3.6 km long. The temple is 65m high and it is said that its foundations reach 18m below ground level. It is an architectural, cultural, spiritual and engineering marvel. At the heart of the temple there is a quincunx of towers, symbolizing the five peaks of Mount Meru, home of the gods in Hindu mythology. The temple has three rectangular galleries, decorated in exquisitely carved bas relief, each raised above the next. It is truly a sum of all its parts.
** “The 7th Habit, this is the single most important investment we can ever make in life – investment in ourselves” – Dr Stephen R. Covey.
