Musings from Dennis #270. This was the A&P team at Takashimaya Singapore, where I served as Section Manager – Promotions from 1994 to 1996. Looking back, I’m reminded of what made those years so formative.
Our
department wasn’t just Promotions—it included Visual Merchandising, Public
Relations, Advertising, Creative, and even the HDTV Wall team managing the big
screen at Takashimaya Square. Altogether, about 30 of us worked side by side to
bring campaigns and experiences to life for shoppers coming to our mall each
day.
What stands
out most to me is a simple but powerful ritual: every Monday at 9am sharp, we
gathered in a circle in this very office. One by one, each person shared their
wins from the past week and what they were working on next. At first, I thought
it was a very Japanese-centric practice of accountability. But over time, I
realized it was much more—it was about learning from each other, celebrating
successes, validating effort, and building camaraderie.
When the
last person finished, our team head would close with a warm “Thank you all,
have a great week.” Then, in unison, we’d bow 15 degrees forward—a gesture of
respect before heading back to our desks or meetings.
It was a
small ritual, but it left a lasting impression on me: teamwork is built not
only through projects, but through shared moments of recognition and respect.
