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Anirut Na Nan : Takes Up the Mission of Ensuring Everyone Works Happily
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Because SCGP really cares about its people, a LOT recently sat down with Mr. Anirut Na Nan, People Caring Director, to listen to his approach in managing the company’s multigenerational workforce and ensuring all people at the company have necessary skills, collaborate, and get well-prepared for the new-age business landscape – all while upholding their happiness.
Absorb the Practical Way of Working
Mr. Anirut began his HR career under the Building Materials Business before moving on to the Ceramics Business and then to various other companies under SCG or its joint ventures with foreign business operators. As a result, he has accumulated work experience in various countries, including the Philippines, Indonesia, and China. Through these experiences, he has gained insights into different work methods, perspectives, and management approaches.
“I had been responsible for both HR management and administrative functions, which allowed me to interact with people from diverse backgrounds. Experiences and lessons from those years can still apply today in many aspects. For a certain period of time, I worked with Japanese people and noticed their dedication, attention to detail, and teamwork. They also had a very clear work process. So, they knew what needed to be done and what they needed to deliver. The process clearly specified the person in charge and what information would be needed to complete the task. The Japanese also held discussions to explore solutions. Meetings were held on a daily basis, lasting about half an hour to address problems the team encountered yesterday to get solutions today. That’s the Japanese style. I have used such approach too. Discussions are held not to blame anyone, but to find a way to get jobs done,” Mr. Anirut said.
Business Transformation Requires People Transformation
“Over a decade ago, I was transferred to SCGP around the time the Pulp and Paper Business was preparing for its transformation. On the HR front, the company needed to do many things for the transformation and team formation so that the company’s businesses could evolve. Also, we handled HR system, organizational chart, and the work format of each unit as well as each new business. Our planning focused on not just business needs but also our people’s mindset. All our young staff knew full well at that time that the HR team was a crucial factor in the company’s transformation. We needed to put in our efforts. Because we pulled through that period, our company is getting strong once again today.”
People Caring Makes Employees Happy in Every Stage of Their Lives
“SCGP has named its HR Department ‘People Caring’ Department because our executives believe that happiness will be the key concept in the new-age HR management as well as related functions. How can we ensure that our staff are working happily then? Older staff, especially supervisors at all levels, have a role to play here because they are the persons younger staff will turn to when coming across a problem. From People Caring perspectives, people are assets. We also must understand that people are humans with preferences, anger, and love. To make everyone happy, we must talk and listen to one another.
“People caring pays attention to employees’ lives since they started working for the company. We have prepared their training, development, and learning opportunities in order for them to excel at work and enjoy career advancement. We have managed their wages, remuneration, and welfare. We take care of them until their last workday, making sure they work happily together no matter what their age. With these concepts in mind, SCGP has improved its guidelines and regulations as well as redesigned its training and employee development. For our retiring staff, we have tried to ensure they are ready for their retirement life by providing financial management training and advised them about rights and benefits related to social security scheme as well as the universal healthcare scheme. We have also updated them about possible threats from call-center scams. We have even invited police speakers who share real-life cases with our staff to boost their immunity.
“Today, HR management is much more challenging than before. As technology has evolved fast, we need to ensure our employees keep pace with the changes. Our training must enable our staff to leverage technology for better performance. More senior staff, through communications, have also tried to highlight the importance of technology adoption. AI, for example, is a good tool. It is not here to replace people. But if you don’t learn to use it, other people who know how to use it will replace you. SCGP’s people development now requires all employees to develop their AI skills. It’s just that their training programs may be different, as contents will align with their job responsibilities.”
Look for Opportunities from Changes
“Getting new assignments or job responsibilities comes with huge learning opportunities. It paves the way for us to meet capable people, see and understand different work approaches, and acquire connections that will be meaningful for future collaboration and career.
“Also, I would like to recommend all employees to pursue self-development. Only you can make it happen because the company can just provide support. Today, the world has been changing so fast. That means if you stay the same, you are falling behind. We always need to keep up. The more we develop ourselves, the more opportunities we create for ourselves.
“Last but not least, don’t be shy about trying to learn something. Don’t think that you’ll lose face if you ask for knowledge about technology or other subjects from those who are less senior or younger. We must acknowledge that the younger generation grew up with technology. Learn from them and apply what you learn. If it works well, develop and improve it further. If it doesn’t, take it as a lesson and avoid repeating the same mistakes next time,” Mr. Anirut concluded.