Speakers at a conference in Dhaka yesterday stressed the need for proper training and effective education for building, supporting and empowering leadership in the country.
They said there are many challenges in Bangladesh for the future leaders, but many opportunities lies here as well.
Pattern of leadership has changed over time and culture of excellence is now needed to empower future leaders in Bangladesh, which can be gained through education, they observed.
They made the observation at a panel discussion of “Leadership Summit 2014” Bangladesh Brand Forum (BBF) organised at a local hotel. Dhaka Tribune Editor Zafar Sobhan moderated the discussion.
Under the theme “In Search of Transformation,” the summit aims to inspire leadership in Bangladeshi corporate sector to lead their teams towards making the steps changes.
“The biggest challenge for the leadership is creating a next level while lack of exposure is playing a barrier here,” said Mohammadi Group Managing Director Rubana Huq.
She said: “We need to invest and engage in the potentials of tomorrow to get the results.”
She emphasised on the need for changing the culture of mistrust and lack of transparency as the owners are suspicious about mid-level management that hinders them to reach at the top level positions. “The next tier of leadership has to be trusted and motivated.”
Managing Director of Reckitt Benckiser Thailand, Philippines and IndoChina Ata Safdar stressed on ensuring everybody is properly trained – otherwise the gap between directors and mid-management will widen and many people, who are coming out, would be irrelevant.
He also suggested being open and work very hard to make sure the next leaders are developed better than the existing ones.
Chief Economist of Bangladesh Bank Hassan Zaman said culture matters a huge degree irrespective of public or private organizations. Therefore, personality of fairness, honesty and ethics are important for the leaders.
On the barriers, he said reforms in seniority related bureaucracy and low pay comparing to the private sector would help people attract in making leadership in the public sector.
Aiming to inspire leadership in the Bangladeshi corporate sector and making a change towards a new era of progress and development, the daylong summit included six sessions on leadership skills.
Brac Chairperson Fazle Hasan Abed, Deputy Commanding General of US Army Asia Pacific Major General Richard M Burr, Grameenphone Chief Executive Officer Vivek Sood, Managing Director of Reckitt Benckiser Thailand, Philippines and IndoChina Ata Safdar, Global Executive Coach and Learning Facilitator at Human Capital Development Philippines Beth Macdonald and Thrive Labs Founder Priya Parker took part in the discussion.
Two publications namely “Bangladesh Now” and “Best Brand Award Souvenir” were also launched at the summit.
The programme was live streamed at 19 universities including commerce faculty and Institute of Business Administration of Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar university, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology.
Dhaka Tribune was the media partner of the event.
‘Make casual get together’
– Beth Macdonald
While planning on what to do next, you can organise casual meetings with your team members and share views with them to make your objectives successful.
Skillful application of science can help select leaders. To add value additions in your team, you have to hold the ability to know where to gather information and have to advise team mates for the relevant tasks at hand. Social psychology is involved with leadership.
‘Build coalitions to achieve your goal’
Richard M Burr
Building coalition and bringing out key issues with best efforts are important to make a difference with others in terms of leadership.
Leadership challenges are becoming complex gradually in the modern, globalised, and interdependent world.
To make a difference, understanding your capability would be the key fundamental. Make strong partnerships for achieving your goals.Leaders want successes.
‘A leader has to be a storyteller’
Vivek Sood
A leader has to have the ability to tell complex things in the form of a story.
A leader has to be a story teller. Hold confidence on your capability, share your thoughts, be transparent and clear, and exercise judgments as a leader.
In the age of modern technology, you have to be able to get information from the social sites like facebook and by utilising them, you could be a leader.
‘Be the best you can’
Fazle Hasan Abed
To be a leader, you have to do and be the best as you can.
You have to hold effectiveness, innovation and sustainability to bring a change.
Share your values to work on your vision on how you want to see Bangladesh.
Whatever you do, do it as high quality as possible. Be communicative and dedicated. Manage your time and be the best you can.
Catalyse the changes and create a system in which the poor people will have the access to control their own lives.
‘Think beyond the boundaries’
Ata Safdar
A leader has to plan ahead and think beyond the boundaries to meet success.
A leader is about change, is about transformation. Understand your target and work in accordance with it.
To make a better future, Bangladesh do not need to start from the scratch, rather it needs emphasising on talent development to make leaders. Bangladesh education system needs overhaul to meet success.
Source: UNBConnect
