SIM launches executive leadership programme |11 November 2011

     
VP Faure addressing the gathering at the launch of the leadership programme

Hosted by the Seychelles Institute of Management (SIM) – which is mandated to provide leadership empowerment opportunities – the programme has been developed with the help of partners like the National Human Resources Development Council, department of public administration, and the head of the public service.

A draft of the leadership programme was presented to the chief executives forum earlier this year, where feedback, concerns and suggestions were recorded and the document was revised accordingly.

Invitations were sent to chief executives working in the public sector to join the programme, but only 30% has so far responded.

The final draft contains five separate programmes with the potential to service the needs of chief executives at different levels of their career.

Two qualification-oriented programmes are being offered to those taking part and who feel they lack certain academic background and the know-how with regard to public administration and management.

Designed by the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (Esami), the two programmes are the Masters in Public Administration and the Advanced Diploma in Public Administration.

The course’s launch ceremony took place at the Le Meridien Fisherman’s Cove hotel on Wednesday night and was attended by Vice-President Danny Faure, a number of principal secretaries and chief executives.

In her address, SIM chief executive Audrey Nanon said self-awareness and shared responsibility are the key to the cultivation of holistic leadership in public organisations today.

“Many people mistakenly believe that developing as a leader means that we get rid of all our flaws, we change our natural preferences and adopt styles and behaviours of good role models,” she said. 

“However, the correct strategy is to learn to regulate our behaviour to adapt flexibly and effectively to manage roles, tasks and challenges at hand, as well as to expand our repertoire of behaviours to suit the context. This would involve leveraging our strengths, developing and practising new behaviours and finding ways to improve though not necessarily eliminate our shortcomings,” she added.

Robert Ah-Weng and Cable & Wireless chief executive Charles Hammond each presented a lecture. Mr Ah-Weng talked about leadership as a spiritual journey and Mr Hammond’s paper was about his personal leadership journey.

VP Faure, who officially launched the course, said capacity-building for enhanced leadership skills cannot be over-emphasised if we want to move away from prescriptive direction to leading by credible and constructive examples; leading so that others feel the desire to follow.

“In countries like Seychelles where change is occurring at a fast pace, it is of utmost importance to have a strong cadre of leaders who can transform our organisations, who can re-dynamise our public service, who can change existing practices if there is the need and above all, who are innovative and creative,” said VP Faure.

“The SIM has scanned the working styles and patterns of CEOs to match up to their needs and expectations. I am thus confident that in this leadership programme, there is something to cater for wide-ranging needs.”