What went well?

The progress I made; what was achieved and done

This week I started learning about the filming of VR videos as part of my project under the larger #lovin tech #lovin eld project. It was really fun.

I also visited elderly people and taight them ICT-related skills and I shared with one of whom video editing skills using CapCut. I also assisted in other matters such as the work of the larger project to high school graduates from the Mainland of China who wish to understand more about the elderly people’s lives in Hong Kong and assisted in the filming of a video celebrating the DECC’s 25th anniversary.

What could have been done differently?

Things that did not get done and/or could be changed

I can be more active in that the social worker Shirley who accompanied me in visiting some of the elderly people I visited during the week. Another thing is that I should have checked more carefully about the opening hours of the attractions that I planned to visit with respect to the Tai Po Field Trip because I found out ultimately that the Railway Museum and the Old Tai Po Police Station would be closed every Tuesday. I was not aware of that. In addition, I did not know that Kadoorie does not allow any new entry starting from 4pm every day but still headed to the Kadoorie nonetheless after 4pm. It wasted some of my precious time in discovering other attractions that may visit. Ultimately, it was decided that Tai Po is not the best place to film the VR video with the young old.

What did I learn about myself when working with others?

Contributions, behaviours and values I exhibited

I was not as proactive as I thought, unfortunately. Nonetheless, I realised that I am a person who takes care of people’s feelings and pays attention to details. It may be ascribed to my professional legal training under the LLB programme. An example would be that I was aware that when filming outside with the elderly people for the DECC’s 25th anniversary celebration the elderly people had to put their belongings on the bench in a public park near a trail, and some of them thought that the bench was coated with sand and dust (as some were reluctant to place their own belongings on the bench at first instance) so I took the initiative to clean the bench with alcohol towels.

What did I learn about leadership?

Leadership attributes and insights I developed

It is that one should be proactive under any circumstances, not just when I feel good or have the mood to do so. As a general observation, most elderly people’s homes are very dark (I bear in mind that the visits were performed during day time). Perhaps it is because they do not to turn on the lights. Also, sometimes it feels like your energy level would decrease as you stay longer in a very dark living room. It is like your energy is drawn out of you. I cannot imagine how that particularly elderly person whose living room has no lights turned on and a bunk bed blocking the sun light can stay at home without feeling very tired. In the visit to that elderly’s residence I was not really proactive and I did not talk much (and left the talking to Shirley at most of the time) which was very regretful although it was because I felt really tired and energy drawn out of me (probably because the environment was very dark). Lifting up people’s spirits is really important as a leader and it is an important leadership trait and it is a great r reminder to me that I should be more proactive in maintaining good dynamics among participants of a conversation.

What do I want to develop or focus on next?

What I still need to develop

Be in good spritis at all times. Also that I should be more well-prepared and not rely on my understanding or pre-conception (e.g. museums according to my own knowledge closes on every Wed in Hong Kong so I thought the Railway Museum would be closed every Wed instead of Tue. Of course, my pre-conception is wrong.