The Contagious Leader
In October’s The Good Life Sessions, we had the privilege of hearing from Winnie Cheong, co-founder of The Red Collective in Singapore, whose sharing on Commitment left a deep imprint on many hearts. Winnie is also a member of the club.
Established in 2022, The Red Collective tackles the twin challenges of food insecurity and food waste in Singapore. It is a ground-up, non-profit organization dedicated to collecting surplus food from vendors and markets, redistributing it to communities and organizations serving people in need.
Winnie also shared stories of ground up communities initiatives like the Balam Road Community and Holland Village Little Library in Singapore.
They’re started by everyday people who saw a need and chose to act. No fanfare. No spotlight. Just pure intention to uplift lives. Just like Winnie and her team of volunteers.
Meeting needs where they truly exist. Not for aesthetics. Not for social media. But for impact. For dignity. For goodness.
I left the session reminded that true commitment is quiet, powerful and deeply human. It multiplies when we show up. Not perfectly, but wholeheartedly.
The stories showed us individuals who simply step up and started small to create impact. Leadership that unfolded in and as a result of the process. It drives home the message that anyone including YOU can lead from where you are.
And in December, we celebrate exactly that as we focus on the theme of leadership. Perfect reflection for the close of the year to prep for a brand new one.
When I started this club, I saw a vision of us many years down the road continuing to enjoy good vibes in good company living a good life. A community of positive catalysts and encouragers.
Increasingly as the months progressed and more people joined us, I realised that the club attracts a certain group of people. Heart led professionals and/or business owners who are also awakened individuals.
Awakened individuals are those who’ve begun to question the scripts they were handed. They’re no longer content to live by default. They seek alignment not just achievement. They value emotional honesty, inner truth and the courage to change even when it’s inconvenient.
Being awakened doesn’t mean having all the answers. It means being willing to ask better questions. It’s the quiet shift from “What should I do?” to “What feels true?” From “How do I keep up?” to “What do I want to grow?. They’re ready to live with intention and compassion, not just obligation.
I observed that awakened individuals often find themselves at a crossroads whether through burnout, transition or a deep inner prompt. They’re open to exploring joy, purpose, and emotional freedom in a world that rarely makes space for it.
Because you are awakened, you will find that increasingly, you want to step up even more as a person be it at work or in your personal space. And I like to encourage you to do exactly that.
The world does not need more leaders who are only intelligent, forceful, tasks driven or process driven. While those attributes are useful, we have plenty of such leadership.
The world needs more heart-led leaders who have the strengths and attributes to lead from every seat with compassion. And at work, you have the capacity and the opportunity to do exactly this.
Not because you are necessarily appointed as a leader (that’s quite an outdated model of leadership) but because you have the heart to lead others (colleagues, management, clients, vendors, partners etc) through your example, behaviour, insights, mentorship, wisdom, presence and being.
And if you are already an appointed leader or a business owner, you are called even more to step up. Because you are already blessed with the position, power and opportunity to amplify impact and goodness.
May we continue to be a beacon for others as a contagious leader in whichever shape, form or opportunity that comes our way.
To close, I’d like to share a clip from an interview with the late Dr Jane Goodall; primatologist, anthropologist and UN Messenger of Peace. In this quiet conversation, she reflects on her legacy and offers final words, knowing they would only be shared after her passing. It’s a moment of grace and deep intention.
I would say I was somebody sent to this world to try to give people hope in dark times because without hope, we fall into apathy and do nothing.
– Dr Jane Goodall (3 April 1934 – 1 October 2025)
Positively Impacting Your Team
Reflection
Action
Have a read of the following article written by my colleague at Positive Performance Consulting Dr Sunita Rai. She has a series of reflection questions worth your time to reflect on.
The Contagious ‘Leader’ – The Positive One by Dr. Sunita Rai
“Leader’s thoughts, behaviors, emotions and habits are a lot more contagious than anything else in the organisation or society. When leaders are aligned within themselves and exhibit positivity, they spread the ‘positive vibes’ of possibilities and creativity throughout the organisation. The reverse is also true.”
It’s not a disease, is it? Well, it depends on how you look at it.
I recently had a meeting with a senior HR personnel who talked about grooming their regional leaders and the word ‘contagious’ came to my mind. Well, in a positive way I mean. As I stepped out and went towards the bus stop to wait for a cab, I saw the word ‘disease’ on someone’s text book. Somehow the two words got stuck in my head and I continued reflecting.
Leader’s thoughts, behaviours, emotions and habits are a lot more contagious than anything else in the organisation or society. When leaders are aligned within themselves and exhibit positivity, they spread the ‘positive vibes’ of possibilities and creativity throughout the organisation. The reverse is also true.
Think of Abraham Lincoln who kept his people together through his conviction; Martin Luther King with his dreams and courage changed the USA; Mahatma Gandhi’s belief in non-violence and the independence of India led many to follow his footsteps; and closer to home, our very own Lee Kuan Yew’s courage and determination to transform Singapore from a shipping port to one of the wealthiest nation in the world remains fresh in thoughts of many leaders today. So what do they have in common? Why did people admire them? Why did they have so many followers?
Research shows that people generally follow people who have clear leadership styles, who stand for strong personal values and ideologies, who project positive thoughts, emotions and actions and who are consistent in their words and actions. For example, research by the University of Michigan, supports that when leaders exhibit positive moods, their staff show more cooperation, coordination and effort in completing tasks.
Such leaders also motivate others to become self-leaders. We see some common traits among such leaders: they promote leadership in others and will openly praise them; they promote creativity by encouraging innovation and risk-taking; they are supportive even in adversity; they care about their people and their dreams; they stand for their personal values; they have a clear vision of the future and talk and dream about it whenever they can; they communicate openly and honestly amongst others. One key feature we see across these leaders is their ability to stand for what they believe in, their focus on positive affect of self and others and their willingness to invest in their own and other’s growth.
Self Reflection
Practice for the Week
I fondly remember an initiative I recommended to one of my corporate clients that had rippling positive impact on team synergy and morale. The client was facing toxicity and strained relationships at the workplace. We decided to test out a monthly one-hour team get-together during office hours. Please avoid organising after office hours gatherings if possible as your team will have their own social/ family life.
In each session, one team member volunteers to lead a brief segment on a topic or interest close to their heart. Something meaningful to them and enriching for the group. Afterwards, everyone gathers for light snacks and shared connection.
For the first session, the speaker for that segment shared about what to keep in your first aid box at home. She had done extensive research and all her colleagues found her sharing useful. Many were inspired to buy a first aid box after her sharing! In another session, another colleague shared different leadership quotes and facilitated a conversation around that. She wanted to encourage all team members to start thinking about their leadership potential regardless of their current job role. These sessions build camaraderie quickly and tension eased. Because at our core, we are always human being first than human doing.
For this week’s practice, think about how you can create similar opportunities for your team members to step up, share and shine.
