Kok Junsern

Kok Junsern HRDC certified and accredited trainer with 15+ years across L&D, broadcasting, tech, and e-commerce.

Also, an emcee who loves turning training and events into lively, memorable experiences.

Have we become too comfortable communicating casually?I had an interesting conversation with a CEO recently that got me ...
24/08/2026

Have we become too comfortable communicating casually?

I had an interesting conversation with a CEO recently that got me thinking. He mentioned how casual workplace communication has become.

Slang in formal emails. Very casual messages to clients or management.

Sometimes even difficulty articulating a thought when the situation calls for something more structured.

I think he has a point. I've received emails with no greeting, no thank you, no sign-off. Just the message.

There's nothing wrong with casual communication. I communicate all the time casually.

But here's the thought that stayed with me:
As we become more comfortable communicating casually, are we slowly losing the ability to switch back when we need to?

Because there are still situations where structure, tone and etiquette matter.

It's not about sounding formal for the sake of being formal. It's about recognising the context and adapting to it.

Good communication isn't about being formal or casual. It's knowing when to switch.

This time, I switched chairs. Just wrapped up another recording of NadiESG, but this time I got to interview our usual h...
22/08/2026

This time, I switched chairs.

Just wrapped up another recording of NadiESG, but this time I got to interview our usual host, Rizal Ahmad, and put him in the hot seat for a change!

I’ll admit, I was a little nervous going into this one.

It has been a really long time since I’ve done an entire session in BM, so there was definitely a little rust around the edges. A few moments where my brain knew exactly what I wanted to say… just not necessarily in BM.

But once the conversation got going, I started finding my rhythm again.

It was a fun experience switching roles and having a good conversation with Rizal about ESG, some of the common misconceptions around it, and how businesses can approach it in a more practical way.

Now I’m curious to see how the final recording turns out.

Do stay tuned for this episode of NadiESG!

Follow the ESG Association of Malaysia (ESGAM) page and ESGAMConnect page to find out more and catch the episode when it is released.

I've noticed something interesting about social media.Every now and then, I'll read a comment from someone I actually kn...
21/08/2026

I've noticed something interesting about social media.

Every now and then, I'll read a comment from someone I actually know and think...

"Wah... I didn't know you had that in you."

Especially when they're usually quiet, soft-spoken and easy-going in person.
Yet online, suddenly there's another side of them.

Strong opinions. Strong words. Sometimes things I never expected them to say.

It got me thinking.

Maybe social media is like steroids for our thoughts.

It gives a louder voice to things that might otherwise stay in our heads.

The interesting part is when you meet that same person in real life.

You talk. You laugh. You ask questions.

Suddenly, you get more context.

You might still disagree with what they said. You might even disagree strongly.

Yet you understand the person a little better.

Maybe that's something we sometimes forget when we're behind a screen.

Knowing what someone thinks isn't the same as knowing who they are.

Happy to have had the opportunity to emcee and participate in the recent ESGAM Quarterly Members Meeting.It’s always int...
21/08/2026

Happy to have had the opportunity to emcee and participate in the recent ESGAM Quarterly Members Meeting.

It’s always interesting being on both sides of an event. As the emcee, I get to help keep things moving, while as a member, I get to listen, learn and exchange perspectives with people working across the ESG and sustainability space.

One nice surprise was bumping into Maryam, who recently attended my Communicate Like a Pro session under National Training Week (NTW).

Always nice to meet participants again outside the training room. The world really is quite small!

Beyond that, it was a good afternoon of conversations, new connections and catching up with familiar faces, while hearing different perspectives on how ESG continues to evolve in Malaysia.

Thank you ESG Association of Malaysia (ESGAM) for the opportunity to play a small part in bringing everyone together.

Looking forward to the next one!

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend the SME Platinum Business Awards (PBA) 2026 Roadshow Grand Finale in Shah Ala...
18/08/2026

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend the SME Platinum Business Awards (PBA) 2026 Roadshow Grand Finale in Shah Alam.

It was a good afternoon connecting with fellow business owners, entrepreneurs and industry professionals, while hearing different perspectives on some of the things shaping the SME landscape today, from digitalisation and taxation to governance and sustainability.

Events like this are also a good reminder that running a business can sometimes keep us very focused on what is happening within our own four walls. It is useful once in a while to get out, meet people, exchange ideas and hear what others are seeing and experiencing.

Glad I made the time to be there, reconnect with familiar faces and make a few new connections along the way.

Congratulations to the organisers on wrapping up the nationwide PBA 2026 Roadshow with its final stop in Shah Alam.

Since Merdeka is around the corner, I've been thinking about something we Malaysians might actually be quite good at.Ada...
14/08/2026

Since Merdeka is around the corner, I've been thinking about something we Malaysians might actually be quite good at.

Adapting the way we communicate.

Think about it.

We grow up surrounded by different cultures, languages and ways of expressing ourselves.

Many of us naturally switch between English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, Tamil, dialects and, of course, our unofficial national language... Manglish.

Sometimes all within the same conversation.

We adjust depending on who we're speaking with. We change our tone, choice of words and sometimes even the language completely.

We probably don't think much about it because it's so normal to us.

Yet in a workplace that is becoming increasingly global and multicultural, that ability to adapt is incredibly valuable.

Good communication isn't always about speaking perfect English or choosing the perfect words.

Sometimes it's about knowing how to connect with the person in front of you.

Maybe that's one Malaysian superpower we don't talk about enough. 🇲🇾

One thing I've realised after nearly 20 years of working...One of the biggest misconceptions about communication is this...
12/08/2026

One thing I've realised after nearly 20 years of working...

One of the biggest misconceptions about communication is this.

Sending a message doesn't mean communication has happened.

Recently, I experienced another situation that reminded me of this.

Nobody had bad intentions.

Nobody was careless.

We simply had different assumptions about what would happen next.

That happens more often than we realise.

Over the years, I've learnt not to focus on sending the message.

I focus on making sure we're aligned.

Sometimes that means a conversation.

Sometimes a follow-up message.

Sometimes a quick confirmation before the actual date.

Not because people are forgetful.

Because assumptions are expensive.

I've learnt that communication isn't measured by whether I've said it.

It's measured by whether we're aligned.

So before I consider any important communication complete, I no longer ask myself:

"Have I sent the message?"

I ask myself:

"Have I done enough to ensure we're both aligned?"

I used to think confident people never showed their flaws.I don't believe that anymore.Sometimes during a training sessi...
10/08/2026

I used to think confident people never showed their flaws.

I don't believe that anymore.

Sometimes during a training session or presentation, I'll use the wrong word or mispronounce something.

When it happens, I smile, make a light joke about it, correct myself, and move on.

Years ago, I probably would've spent the next few minutes replaying that mistake in my head.

Now, I don't.

Over the years, I've noticed something.

The people who leave the strongest impression aren't the ones who never make mistakes.

They're the ones who recover from them without letting it shake their confidence.

I've realised most people won't remember the mistake.

They'll remember how you responded to it.

Sometimes, being able to laugh at yourself isn't a sign of weakness.

It's a sign that your confidence isn't built on being perfect.

It's Friday. Let's post something different and playful. Saw my friend and fellow trainer Dave Leong (AI Dave) - AI Depl...
07/08/2026

It's Friday. Let's post something different and playful.

Saw my friend and fellow trainer Dave Leong (AI Dave) - AI Deployment Specialist playing around with this AI prompt, so naturally I had to try it too.

Apparently AI has decided that I need my own movie poster.

Not quite sure what movie this is.

Jun Sern: Communication Coach sounds slightly too serious.

Maybe:
The PREP Method: Final Chapter
Fast & Fluent
Mission: Clarification

Jokes aside, it's quite fascinating how far AI image generation has come. Give it a photo, a ridiculously detailed prompt, and suddenly you look like you have a Netflix documentary coming out next Tuesday.

Thanks Dave for the inspiration.

Original prompt credit: Anik Singal.

I'll put the full prompt in the comments if anyone wants to create their own unnecessarily dramatic poster.

Happy Friday!

Do you ever feel nervous before an important business meeting?You're not alone.Whether it's meeting a client, presenting...
06/08/2026

Do you ever feel nervous before an important business meeting?

You're not alone.

Whether it's meeting a client, presenting to senior management, or sharing an idea with your team, I think we've all been there.

In fact, I felt it just a few days ago.

Whenever those nerves start creeping in, I have a conversation with myself.
"Relax."
"They invited you here for a reason."
"You know your stuff."
"Their questions aren't there to catch me out."
"They're helping me understand what matters to them."

It sounds simple.

But it works.

I've realised I'm usually not nervous because I'm incapable.

I'm nervous because I care.

The meeting hasn't changed.

The conversation in my head has.

Sometimes we don't need more confidence.

We just need a better conversation with ourselves.

Address

Petaling Jaya

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Kok Junsern posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category