IT’S NICE TO BE IMPORTANT, BUT IT’S MORE IMPORTANT TO BE NICE!-Abhilash Nair (Global CEO ISS Relocations)

For far too long, being nice has been mistaken for being weak. Niceness is a necessary quality of leadership for the world we are living in. It has become so rare that when someone does a kind act or goes out of their way to be nice to someone, it goes viral on social media. Being nice does not mean you cannot make tough decisions or stand up to difficult people, it just means you are respectful, kind, and show empathy to your employees. When kindness is not modeled in the workplace, we find ourselves in an environment that is, unhealthy and at worst, toxic.

Today people are clamoring for a more human style of leadership. In an age of automation and AI, leaders hard skills are easily being replicated by smart technology. What will make the difference in effective leadership is soft skills.

Here are ways I have found being nice can bring you more success as a leader at work. You can start to encourage a culture of being nice to others by carrying out random acts of kindness during your day.

  • Be considerate: Hold the door open for the person behind you. If you are going to the water cooler, ask someone close to you if they would like you to fetch water for them also.
  • Smile at a colleague. When you make eye contact and smile at someone you are showing that they matter which gives them a boost of happiness.
  • Mind your manners. Say “Good morning” or “Hello” to colleagues more often.
  • Show appreciation: Be more vocal in your praise.Acknowledge the contribution and efforts of others.
  • Listen more. Learn to listen with the intent to understand. Do not just dismiss or ridicule others’ viewpoints.Listening shows that you care.
  • Offer support and help to team members who are struggling.
  • Treat everyone with the same level of respect, whether it be the janitor or the CEO

Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind always.

The way you treat others shows your values and true character. You cannot influence others if you are not authentic. Employees are looking at you as a leader to determine if they can trust you.

In my experience, tough and nice does not have to be incompatible. Managers, please use the human-tohuman approach when dealing with employees. It is people you are dealing with, not just a statistic on a graph.Get to know your people, meet them where they are, and be flexible. Employees want to be treated as human beings.

In the end, people make companies successful. Any strategy or business plan relies on motivated and engaged people to make it happen! It is just like a relationship. For a relationship to last, there must be mutual respect, love, trust, understanding and appreciation.Without these, the foundation is shaky.

Therefore, the most successful companies focus on people and relationships, and make sure both are not just managed but lead and cared for.

THOMAS IN CHARGE OF CSS KINGSTON

cssI stepped on Dubai soil in 2004, and I was lucky to land a job as a sales coordinator with CSS. It was indeed a steep learning curve as I did not have any experience in freight forwarding. However, with the support extended by my seniors and departmental heads, I quickly learned the ropes.  

I moved into sales and then into Key Account Executive’s role and was further promoted as Manager – Key Information Desk. 

Today, I handle the responsibility of overseeing the CSS Kingston’s SAIF Zone Branch and Hamriyah Freezone Branch

CSS Kingston 

CSS Kingston Logistics (CKL) was opened predominantly to tap into the freight forwarding and 3PL opportunity in the northern emirates of the UAE. We have further extended our reach to Hamriyah FZC with our freight forwarding and 3PL services. 

With a total capacity of 110,000 sq. ft covered facility, we can store approximately 13500.00 cbm. We also have an 8000 sq. m open yard facility.

Riding the wave in 2020

No one predicted that a pandemic would have the world reeling under its aftermath. CKL made it an opportunity to expand by helping our customers cut their operational expenses by utilizing our service and expertise.  

Tapping into Opportunity

CKL intends to capitalize on the opportunity based on the current market situation. By expanding our reach to each customer, we can help them cut costs by partnering with CSS Kingston. 

The next on the books is to expand our presence with more branches in northern emirates like Fujairah, Ajman, Ras al-Khaimah, and Umm al-Qaiwain. Enlarging our footprint across the northern emirates will enable our customer base to reach all UAE parts. This will support our customers to expand their reach with our cost-effective offerings with high levels of service.

With an increased requirement of 3PL opportunities in the SAIF zone, we foresee CKL emerging as a brand name to reckon within, especially at strategic locations in northern emirates. 

CSS – Unlike Any Other 

The values and the culture that CSS inculcates is what sets it a notch above the other players in the industry. At CSS, we care for each other, identify talent by enabling people to grow. With a focus and clear vision to achieve the highest level of customer satisfaction, we have provided cutting-edge yet cost-effective logistic solutions.

Our customers are our greatest assets, and this is the maxim that drives each employee at CSS. As we increase our assets, we keep growing

CSS TO IMPLEMENT VIDEO SURVEILLANCE AS A SOLUTION BY ETISALAT

CSS’s top management team met with Etisalat for the initial discussions to implement the Etisalat Video Surveillance as a Solution (VSAAS) along with a Smart Messaging Platform. Etisalat Video Surveillance as a Solution provides business enterprises with value-added services that address their security and regulatory compliance requirements.

Enabled by the state-of-the-art onsite video surveillance technology that will be deployed at CSS, Etisalat can proactively use, manage, troubleshoot, and support this solution. Hamad Mohammed Al Marzooqi, VP of Etisalat Managed SMB, Khalid M Yateem, Director of Etisalat Managed SMB and Jithesh Vijakumar, Sales Manager, Etisalat attended the meeting, along with the CSS team, which included Chandrakala, Krishna Kaladharan, Susanth Shekar, Pothen Thomas, and Arun Snehajan. A visit to the Innovation Center has also been scheduled for the near future.

The first-of-its-kind video surveillance solution in the UAE, this one-stop solution, is for all our video surveillance needs. From end-to-end managed services, security surveillance with analytics, web and mobile access, business intelligence and upgradable cloud storage, other features include end to end managed services, heat maps, people counting, a security system, and a queuing management solution.

Enabling this solution at the CSS office premises will help us manage our business more efficiently while increasing our business productivity. This partnership resounds with Etisalat’s tagline, which says, ‘Your business grows with us.’ Enabling this solution will increase the safety and security of our premises, resources, and assets and allow us to optimize our operations.

Uncompromised Professionalism

CSS KINGSTON- A SUCCESS STORY FROM SHARJAH

The joint venture initiative of CSS Group and Kingston Holdings, CSS Kingston Logistics is sailing through its third year of operations successfully. With its strategic positioning inside the SAIF zone, CSS Kingston Logistics FZC (CKL), has got a significant role when it comes to service catering to the Northern Emirates region.

Initial focal area of CKL was Storage and warehousing within the SAIF Zone, however the company has grown to become the only authorised 3PL service provider today in the whole free zone area, with 110,000 Sq. ft racked facility. The racked space and infrastructure also comprise of a temperature-controlled area of 37,000 Sq. ft as well which is in high demand when it comes to storage of perishable items, furniture and other general commodities.

Catering to the Northern Emirates has never been so easy for CSS Group, till they had CSS Kingston in the right place. The fully integrated Supply chain processes, reverse logistics and the 3PL facilities within the system is controlled by highly experienced hands to ensure zero chaos. More than 15,000 CBM of cargo storage can easily be managed within the racked facilities of CKL.

“We know that the heart and soul of a successful business is a well-designed supply chain. The efficiency of product fulfilment throughout the shipping process is what drives revenue and increases your bottom line. Hence, we are committed to provide the highest quality 3PL services to our customers always” mentioned Thomas Mathew, Branch Manager, CKL.

Projects and over dimensional cargo go to the CKL open yard, a sprawling 45,000 Sq. ft, interlocked facility within the SAIF Zone. Well defined processes and infallible security system ensures a safe storage of your cargo here. The documentation division of CKL can manage Customs clearance in SAIF zone, Sharjah Aviation Services (SAS), Khorfakkan, Sharjah ICD, Sharjah Port (Khalid Port), thereby providing an enjoyable end- to end service to their clients. The well reputed names in the list of clients of CSS Kingston Logistics is an endorsement to their uncompromised professionalism in the area which they operate.