NILAI, January 16, 2018 – Good manners, my first boss told me, are a natural outgrowth of self-respect. They don’t have to be taught if you remember to treat others with the same consideration you would expect from them. Hopefully, this set of behavior will provide a groundwork for that attitude to become part of your career. It is conceivable that you will spend more time with your secretary or boss than with your kids, more time at the office than at home, and have more topics for conversation with colleagues than with your wife or husband..The key to getting along in this situation is to approach it with prudence and good manners. This is the base point of office etiquette for boss – secretary interaction.

Evidently, Professor Tan Sri Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, Chairperson of Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia who is the Founding Convener of Sejahtera Leadership Initiative (SLI) demonstrated this etiquette by hosting a recognition lunch at Restoran Japanese Muslim – Old Malaya Kopitiam in honor of his outgoing Office Secretary, Suhaida Ahmad and incoming Secretary, Haryanee Abu Bakar together with Wan Norliyana Wan Zulkifli, Assistant Registrar of Pusat Penyelidikan Mizan. Prof Tan Sri Dzulkifli was accompanied by his spouse, Puan Sri Masrah Abidin at this event.

Suhaida is taking-up position as Secretary to Director of USIM Alamiyyah after serving nine years at the Office of USIM Chairperson. She has served as Office Secretary to three Chairpersons namely Tan Sri Dr. Yusof Noor, Tan Sri Shukor and Prof Tan Sri Dzulkifli (since April 2016) respectively. She acquired the knowledge and experience working in high office and dealing with various levels of local and foreign dignitaries.

Haryanee had served as Secretary to the former USIM Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation. She looks forward to work in a new office environment, to learn and adapt quickly with the leadership styles and working sensibilities which is important at the office Prof Tan Sri Dzulkifli.

Wan Norliyana served as Administrative Assistant in 2015 when Prof Tan Sri Dzulkifli was the holder of Chair for Islamic Leadership. In August 2016 she was promoted as Assistant Registrar when Tan Sri served as the Adviser to Pusat Peyelidikan Mizan. She has learned that personal image is extremely important working in the office of Tan Sri Dzulkifli. She strives to acquire the knowledge in line with the mission of PPM.

In a nutshell, all the three of them have enjoyed working with Tan Sri Dzulkifli and along the way did learn to be competence and professional in serving USIM. There are time when the tension of the workday make them impatient but they must always practice to be courteous and humble.

Prepared by :
Dr. Zulkifly Baharom