Working from home has changed the ways business is conducted
Updated: Jun 21, 2020
As COVID-19 continues to spread, few industries remain untouched, virtual meetings & conferences will soon become an integral part of how we conduct our businesses to achieve continuous productivity and continuity. With a great IT infrastructure, Yoma Land has been able to align numerous offices, keep employees working from home engaged with clients and partnersToday, we had the largest conference ever, with over 1,000 employees from the group engaged in virtual conference with the Executive Chairman Mr. Serge Pun and CEO & Executive Director Mr. Melvyn Pun. Q&A covering a wide range of topics allowed the leaders to address many issues with a much wider reach. The atmosphere was engaging, interactive and participatory.
As virtual offices and meetings are likely to become a daily work routine, it is impetus for us to learn virtual meeting etiquette. GoToMeetings shares seven rules of virtual meetings every individual should know:
1. Leave the keyboard alone
Whether you’re diligently taking notes like a model employee or sneakily chatting with your work bestie, the sound of your typing is distracting. It’s not only distracting everyone else in the meeting (because your laptop’s internal microphone is inches away from your keyboard), it’s also preventing you from devoting your full attention to the meeting. Opt for a quality headset or pick up your notebook and pen to take meeting notes instead.
2. Dress appropriately
One of the magical things about working remotely is the freedom to wear anything to work. It’s the dream, right? Still, there’s no reason to show your co-workers your PJs and bedhead. (Unless it’s a joke the whole team agrees on, in which case we approve). Take a few minutes to throw on a clean shirt and brush your hair. The best part of actually getting ready while working remotely is that you’ll put yourself in the right headspace to be productive.
3. Be aware of your surroundings
Your coworkers won’t be able to hear your ideas or take you seriously when there is a pile of dirty clothes in the corner behind you. You also want to avoid looking like you work from the inside of a cave because of bad lighting. Adjust your work setup so that you face a window or are exposed to plenty of light. And make sure your background is professional and work appropriate! This means:
No beds (unmade or made) in the background
No messy rooms or open closets where everyone can see your clutter
While kids and pets are adorable (and a much needed distraction when you’re feeling overwhelmed), your coworkers won’t love having to talk over a screaming child or barking dog.
4. Mute your microphone when you’re not talking
There’s nothing more frustrating than hearing that alien echo noise from conflicting microphones. Save everyone from the ear-splitting madness by joining the meeting while on mute! Unless you live alone, your house is probably pretty noisy these days. Muting your microphone when you’re not speaking gives other participants the ability to chime in and share their thoughts without distraction or frustration.
5. Speak up
When you enter a small meeting (around two to five people) announce yourself when you join. It can be awkward to hear the “someone-just-joined” ding followed by silence. When you hop on the meeting, introduce yourself and say hi – just make sure not to interrupt someone mid-sentence. Don’t be afraid to project your voice, too! Your team will appreciate being able to hear you without having to strain their ears or turn their volume all the way up.
6. No food allowed
Try to eat a snack before your virtual meeting. No one wants to see you stuff your face with chips while discussing important business matters. Not only is it distracting to others, you won’t be able to focus on the task at hand because you’ll be worrying about dropping crumbs all over your keyboard.
7. Stay seated and stay present
It may be tempting to check your inbox or carry on a side conversation during a dull moment in a meeting, but don’t do it! You might miss out on key information or an opportunity to give input. If you’re using your webcam, use attentive body language: sit up straight, don’t make big extraneous movements, and don’t let your eyes wander too much.
About Yoma Land
Yoma Land was launched in 2018 by Yoma Strategic Holdings and First Myanmar Investment to hold the real estate assets of both companies. Since 1992 Serge Pun and Associates (SPA) and these companies have established themselves as among the most influential and successful real estate developers in Myanmar.
The founding of Yoma Land allows YSH and FMI to consolidate their activities going forward. This creates benefits of scale and efficiency that benefit customers, employees and shareholders. Yoma Land has one of Myanmar’s largest landbanks, focusing on township projects and the mission of Building Better Communities for the Future of Myanmar. It is actively building out existing assets, targeting new acquisitions and developing innovative products. Current sectors in which Yoma Land is active include residential, hotel, office, schools and retail.
Yoma Land is transforming Yangon’s cityscape across three strategically located flagship developments, StarCity, Yoma Central and Pun Hlaing Estate. From aspirational urban residential developments to high-end luxury, Yoma Land aims to build communities that are attractive, safe and vibrant, while placing emphasis on innovative designs, building standards and product range.
Our Philosophy
We pride ourselves on nurturing customer for life relationships and the finest international and local partners. Our values are based on integrity, teamwork, innovation and respect. Everything we do is in pursuit of economic sustainability, social sustainability and environmental sustainability and by doing so we believe we can deliver the best results for shareholders. By incorporating the three pillars of sustainability into our business practices, we are increasing and future proofing the value of our stakeholders’ assets and investments.
Economic: To be sustainable, our business must be profitable, efficient and deliver value to shareholders, and, must have a clear plan for growth. Our team operates with integrity and is compliant with the Code of Corporate Governance 2012 in accordance to Rule 710 of the SGX-ST Listing Manual.
Environmental: We focus on reducing carbon footprints, packaging waste and water usage. Native gardens and vegetation are planted to preserve the natural biodiversity, working towards a low carbon society, and encourage the procurement of energy saving products. Formal accreditation of all current and future large development is ensured.
Social: We believe in diversity and inclusion, treat our employees fairly and provide learning and development opportunities. We support Step-In Step-Up a charity that engages the local community through career and job training, including fundraising and sponsorship that aims to improve the lives of the local community.
About our leaders
Mr. Serge Pun, Executive Director
Mr. Serge Pun is a Myanmar national and the Chairman of Serge Pun & Associates (Myanmar) Limited (“SPA”). In 1983, Mr. Pun founded Serge Pun & Associates Limited in Hong Kong SAR and eventually returned to the country of his birth to establish SPA in 1991. In 1992, Mr. Pun established First Myanmar Investment Company Limited (“FMI”) as one of the earliest public companies (unlisted) in Myanmar. In 2006, he led Yoma Strategic to a successful listing on the mainboard of the Singapore Stock Exchange, and in 2016, FMI became the first company to list on the Yangon Stock Exchange. Mr. Pun is a member of the World Economic Forum’s ASEAN Regional Strategy Group and ASEAN Regional Business Council. He is a standing member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference of Dalian and a member of the Asia Business Council. He is the Chair of the International Advisory Board of Singapore Management University for Myanmar, the Vice-Chairman and CEO of New Yangon Development Company (“NYDC”) and served as an Honorary Business Representative for Myanmar of International Enterprise Singapore from 2004 till 2006. Mr. Pun is a frequent speaker in international forums on Myanmar and ASEAN. Re-appointed to the Board of Yoma Strategic on 26 July 2017, Mr. Pun is the Executive Chairman of Yoma Strategic.
Mr. Melvyn Pun, CEO & Executive Director
Mr. Melvyn Pun was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Yoma Strategic in 2015, driving the move to diversify the Group’s businesses along the core businesses while building its recurring income streams. He has been extensively involved in developing the Group’s relationships with key partners, including Mitsubishi Corporation, IFC, ADB, Yum! Brands, New Holland, JCB, Telenor and Pernod Ricard, amongst others.
Prior to joining SPA, Mr. Pun spent 12 years at Goldman Sachs in Hong Kong, where he was Managing Director, Head of Asia Ex-Japan Corporate Solutions Group. In that role, he has provided financial and corporate advisory services to corporates and non-profit organisations in Asia Pacific for fund raising, investments and risk management. Mr. Pun is a founding member and an executive committee member of the Myanmar Institute of Directors. He serves on the Asia Pacific Council for The Nature Conservancy and is a Board Member of OneSky, a charity that helps the world’s vulnerable young children. He is also a Malaria Private Sector Leaders Advocate for the M2030 initiative, an effort organised by the Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance (“APLMA”) to eliminate malaria by the year 2030.
Appointed to the Board of Yoma Strategic on 27 July 2015, Mr. Pun is an Executive Director and the Chief Executive Officer of Yoma Strategic.