Recently, the use of “abang” and “kakak” (big brother / big sister) at work became a hot topic on social media, even making the newspapers. Some say it's part of our culture — warmer, and a sign of respect. Others feel that at work, it's better to have clear boundaries. Reading about it made me think about my own team. Sometimes something as small as how we address each other can actually shape workplace culture.
That's why I've chosen to have my team get used to addressing each other as Encik and Puan (Mr. and Ms.) instead of abang and kakak. Not because I want to make the workplace overly formal or lose the warmth. We can still joke around, eat together and be close as a team. But at work, I want a clear line between personal relationships and professional responsibilities. When KPIs aren't met, we can call it out. When mistakes happen, we can correct them. When there's a hard decision, we still make it.
For me, culture isn't built through posters on the wall. It starts with the small things we do every day. Being close is good, but professionalism still has to be there. This is my choice for my team — other workplaces may be different. At your workplace, are you more comfortable with “abang/kakak” or “Encik/Puan”?