Khaleej Times

Leadership is not about you — it’s about others

- Waheed Abbas — waheedabba­s@khaleejtim­es.com

dubai — Great leadership is all about listening to others and about ‘them’ rather than boasting about yourself, says Dr Marshall Goldsmith, a renowned coach and motivation­al speaker.

While addressing the Institute of Chartered Accountant­s of India members in the UAE, Dr Goldsmith told the audience that good leadership is about listening to suggestion­s without judging and helping others rather than spending too much talking about past glories or criticisin­g others.

“For a great leader, it is all about them. There is a great difference between a great achiever and a great leader. Let us help our partners and colleagues how they want to change rather than the way we want to change them. Whether you’re at office or home, use the traditiona­l model of a leader — ask, listen, think, thank, respond, involve, change and follow up,” he told the ICAI’s annual joint event hosted jointly by the Dubai and Abu Dhabi chapters.

“We spend a lot of time talking about how smart we are and that reduces productivi­ty. For a great leader, the most important factor for a successful change is the client ‚ not the coach. Coaching should not be about your ego,” said Dr Goldsmith, who is known as a world authority in helping successful leaders achieve positive, lasting change in behaviour for themselves, their people and their teams. Dr Goldsmith emphasised that the interperso­nal communicat­ion is pretty important for a good leadership but majority of people — 65 per cent — spend time about how smart, special and wonderful they are.

An author of a number of management-related books, he advised the attendees to enjoy what they have rather chasing what they don’t’ have, Spending time with families because they always need you and you need them.

Earlier, Naveen Sharma, chairman of the ICAI (Dubai Chapter); Suresh Panwar, chairman of the ICAI (Abu Dhabi Chapter); and Mahmood Bangara, vice-chairman of the ICAI (Dubai Chapter) addressed the members and gave welcome speeches.

 ?? Photo by Leslie Pableo ?? Dr Marshall Goldsmith speaking to members of the Institute of Chartered Accountant­s of India in Dubai on Saturday. —
Photo by Leslie Pableo Dr Marshall Goldsmith speaking to members of the Institute of Chartered Accountant­s of India in Dubai on Saturday. —

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Arab Emirates