How to be a leader scott jackson osc uae pioneers jan2014

How to become a leader in the UAE
Professor William Scott-Jackson
wsj@oxfordstrategicconsulting.com
+447785110910

And you thought leadership was complicated!
(Deeleadership is simple?
Hock, Founder Visa)
Leadership in 15 seconds:
Think back to the best boss or teacher and
the worst boss or teacher you ever had

1. Make a list of all the things done to you that you hated
DON’T DO THEM TO OTHERS – EVER!
2. Make a list of the things done to you that you loved
DO THEM TO OTHERS – ALWAYS!

© Oxford Strategic Consulting 2013

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What we will cover - together
• What are the opportunities for you to become leaders?
• What are great leaders like?
• What should you do to become a leader?
• Your ‘competitive advantage’
• What next?
Thanks to BP for their
great support for our
new research into
‘Maximising Emirati
Talent’
1/19/2014


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Oxford Strategic Consulting delivers practical consultancy and
training based on thought-leadership and research in HR
effectiveness, Leadership and Emiratization.
Partnerships with
leading GCC and
global organizations
and Universities

Sheikh Khaled Olayan (Host) presents
H.E. Adel Fakieh, Saudi Arabia
Minister of Labor (Patron) with OSC
Practical Business Toolkit at
OSC Employment Conference, Riyadh

OSC translates research and knowledge into practical action and support
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Research Base

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What are the opportunities for you
to become leaders in the UAE?

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Let’s assume that Emiratis, like anyone
else, want to run their own country

On average, one person can lead
12 other people

(based on average spans of control - ignoring matrix organisations etc.)
Dunbar, R.I.M. (1993), Coevolution of neocortical size, group size and language in humans, Behavioral and Brain Sciences 16 (4): 681–735

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Next level up

But the leader is also a member of his/her team.
So now let’s add 12 colleagues, each with their
team of 12, and an overall leader

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Next level up

Then add 12 more leaders,
each with their team of 12,
and the overall leader

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Next level up – and so on ……

Till you end up with the well-known hierarchy

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So how many leaders does a country need?
Strategic
Leaders
1%

Executive
Leaders
7%

Roughly 8%
of workforce

Supervisors &
non-leaders
92%

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United Kingdom
So less than 10% of
UK nationals are
needed as leaders

Strategic
Leaders
1%

Executive
Leaders
7%
Supervisors &
non-leaders
92%

Of the total 60m
population of UK, 4.8m
need to be leaders

There are
~55m UK
nationals

~5m
expats

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United Arab Emirates
So a very high
proportion (>64%)
of Emiratis are
NEEDED as leaders!

Strategic
Leaders
1%

Executive
Leaders
7%
Supervisors &
non-leaders
92%

Of the total ~8m
population of the UAE,
0.64m need to be
leaders
There are
~1m UAE
nationals

~7m
expats

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What about overall demand?
e.g. Oil & Gas Sector?


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But employers tell us that they find it
difficult to attract Emiratis.
Why?

Generally, its not an active, informed
dislike – but an absence of knowledge
In the last 12 months have you taken
part in any of the following?
Work placement
scheme
Voluntary work
Careers event

14%

It’s not for girls

I am not
scientifically
minded

8%

The work is
dirty

Low status,
manual work

3%

Part time work
Overseas study

The work is
tiring and
dangerous

0%

0%

None of the
above

Because I want to
do something else

76%

Its ‘Gross’!


Don’t want
to work in
the desert
Prefer to work for the
government in an
office job

15

Positive statements about a career in engineering
% of respondents who slightly or strongly agreed

Engineers are valued all over the world as
highly skilled and technical experts

65%

Engineers travel the world and are in high
demand

58%

Being a qualified engineer would be really cool

55%

Engineering is a job for life with high rewards

51%

I want to work overseas

I would love to work as an engineer for a
company in the oil and gas industry

I would love to work for a company in the oil
and gas industry but not as an engineer

35%

28%

29%


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We need to go from
‘Cool’

‘Gross’


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Opportunities to be a leader in the UAE

HUGE
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What is a great leader?

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So ……?
• What are the characteristics of a good leader?
• Can leadership be developed or is it all ‘natural’?

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What is ‘Effective Leadership’?:
meta-analysis of global research into best practice

Participative
Leadership:
Building
commitment

Shared
leadership
Servant Leader
Theory

New Genre Leadership charisma etc - raise higher
order values (altruism) and
raise aspirations. Emotional
attachment.

Followership The
attributes of the led are
inputs not outputs
Cross cultural Transformational
Project Globe Leadership
Leader-Member
Executive
(House et al
Exchange Theory LMX
Presence
2004)
Authentic (within
High Performance traditional styles of
Complexity
Leader
participative, directi
leadership
ve, inspiring)
dynamic, holistic, non
Leader Substitute transactional
Theory e.g.
E-leadership Technology, tools, pro
Situational
leading virtual cess,
Leadership Transactional
teams etc
dynamic, holistic, n
Leadership reward
on transactional
for output. (seen as
dysfunctional)

Academic research
suggests that
leadership should be
seen as participative
and part of a
complex system

Driving
Performance:
Leading from
the front
Leadership as a
distinct discipline

Leadership as part of
complex system

21 21

What is ‘Effective Leadership’?:
Review of global best practice exemplars
Participative
Leadership:
Building
commitment

Builds relationships with
honesty and authenticity for
themselves and their teams
Uses recognition and
feedback to create and
open and confident culture
Fosters trust, accountability
and self -awareness as
fundamental management
behaviours in the organization
Articulates goals and vision
more frequently and clarifies
priorities to create meaning
and inspiration
Plays to win for the
success of the
Sets
organization by
direction, narrates
collaborating and
and simplifies goals
working across
and vision for teams
functional

Creates an innovative and
learning culture through
openness, drive for
improvement and learning
from failure.
Creates high performing
virtual teams by having clear
team goals, cross functional
groups, clear and resourced
roles and
tasks, diversity, creativity
,co-operation and review of
results.

‘Best Practice’
suggests a
Leadership focus on
Drives for results
Displays unwavering sense of
driving Performance short
and holds
professional will in face of

Driving
Performance: themselves and
Leading from others to account .
the front
Leadership as a
distinct
discipline

term set-back for longer term
sustained high performance

Has an intelligent
risk taking approach
aligned with
company
values, beliefs and
compliance

Doesn’t have to be an expert
in change management but
there is evidence of an
adopted change model
, ideally as a common tool
across teams / the
organization
Scans the external
environment and
promotes strategic
and agile thinking
by asking great
questions

Leadership as
part of complex
system

22 22

Can Leadership be developed?
or is it all ‘natural’?
Set as strategic priority
Measures Rewards &
recognition
Exhortations

Strategic
focus on
Leadership

Individuals pay
attention to their
own and their
subordinate’s
leadership

Traits
(~30%
hereditary)

Leadership
capabilities

Psychological
capital
Low
Drive
anxiety
Emotional
Learned
Intelligence
through
Risk
Experiences
propensity Assertiveness
(~70%)
Authoritative
Life

experiences
Training
Work
experiences

Leadership
behaviors

Intervening
effects.
Motivation

Building
group
identity

Commitment
Goal
clarity

Passion

Cost
control
‘Wastage

Sense of
identity
and
loyalty

Recognizing

Personable,
‘Presence’
Charisma

Productivity

Engagement

Inspiring
Setting
goals, vis
ion

Individual & team
performance

Listening

Quality
Staff
turnover

Organizational
performance
Profit, Re
venue
Cost
Income
Ratio
Market
Share
Market
reputation
Shareholder
value

Reductionist


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What is Effective Leadership?:
New World Leadership
Key to effectiveness in the new world is engagement and
values:
Employees who are most committed to their organizations
expend 57 percent more effort and are 87 percent less
likely to resign than those who are disengaged.

Leadership is THE main driver of engagement
BUT globally 78% of employees say they are not engaged

So ‘best practice’ leadership models
are not working

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What is Effective Leadership?:
‘Old world’ vs. ‘new world’ Leadership

OLD WORLD LEADERSHIP

I’m the leader!
(you are the followers)

My decisions are right!
(no need to involve followers)


We’ll do it my way!
(a great way to lose great people!)

25

New World Leadership:
The Gulf Leadership Style


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The Gulf Arab Leadership Style:
Building Lasting Relationships


Building Lasting Relationships
“It is vitally important that people be loyal to their leaders, but it is even more important that a leader be loyal to
his people. A leader and his people share a bond of faith in each other, which, if broken, is extremely difficult to fix.”
H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum
“I apply not my sword where my lash suffices, nor my lash where my tongue is enough. And even if there be one
hair binding me to my fellowmen, I do not let it break: when they pull I loosen, and if they loosen I pull” Caliph
Mu’äwiyah AD 661-680 in Muna :63
For the Gulf Arab Manager, relationships are extremely important in all aspects of life, including
business, and the power of relationships sets them apart.
Actively seeks to build wide and influential relationships.
Operates in a manner that builds trust in others.
Is honest at all times and displays openness to colleagues and customers.
Respects other people’s views and customs (politeness).

Invests time in maintaining existing relationships.
Supports friends and family in all aspects of life - and gains support from them.
Demonstrates trust in others.
Sees long term relationship as more important than short term gain.
Values loyalty.
Adopts a ‘person-oriented’ rather than impersonal approach to business.
Shares knowledge and ‘discloses’ to those in close relationships.
Manages conflict

Leading as Head of the Family


Leading as Head of the Family
“The relationship between the leaders and the people of the UAE is one of the secrets behind the nation's success…Our
leadership style is to make the organisation a family with a head whose job is to make the family strong and successful
but also to look after the members of the family.” HE Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem
The Gulf Arab Manager sees the company or their team as like their family - with the same obligations
and responsibilities to those being led and leading.
Leads the team as ‘head of the family’ with the same duties, responsibilities and authority.
Recognises obligation to colleagues and duty to support, guide and nurture team members.
Demonstrates strong loyalty to their boss and expect strong loyalty from their team.
‘Learn from our fathers’ – respect for experience, age and knowledge.
Every employee made to feel part of the ‘family’ with obligations and benefits.

Seeks to be a strong role model for their people by gaining knowledge and guidance from their leader and
sharing it freely.
Informal constant communications both upwards and downwards.
Seeks to get to know the personal issues of their people and help them where possible.
Consults extensively to understand the thoughts and feelings of colleagues and create a sense of
involvement.
Balances duties to ‘work family’ with duties to ‘non-work family’ and other communities.
Has an ‘open door’ policy where people of various levels can gain access to the ‘head’ at any time (re
majlis).
Supports the ‘head’ in public but also say what you really think in private without implying disloyalty – it’s
your decision but …

What is a great leader?

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What should you do to become a
leader?

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First – the perceived problems.
Does anyone recognise these kinds of statements?
Jamie Oliver

I am astonished by the attitude of many of
the young [nationals], who even if they
possess little academic ability were unwilling
to undertake hard work!
immigrants make far better workers - my
businesses would close immediately if I
depended on national staff!!
a growing hard-core of young people
aged between 16 and 18 are not
prepared to put in a hard days work.

“they have a poor work
ethic, punctuality, appearance, and
manners”


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Solutions
• What are the best ways for young people to become leaders?
• Do the UAE have any advantages when it comes to creating an
exceptional percentage of leaders?
• Can we ‘fast-track’ Emiratis into executive leadership positions?

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How to become a leader?

Be a
Leader!

Organise a
volunteer group

Get a team
Practice being a
leader

Run business:

Invent
Take charge of
something

Take a Challenge
and risk

Get
a Mentor

Market yourself
Volunteer for
internship

Get support

Create something new

Do something useful

Get business skills
1/19/2014

Organise
a club

Learn
from
leaders

35

Do young Emiratis have any
‘competitive advantages’ in
becoming leaders?

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1. The motivations of young Emiratis
Which of the following motivate you the most?
High school students

Vocational college and university students

Help the country

54%

29%
38%
38%

Money
Challenge

34%

Development

34%

Contribute to society

27%
22%

Easy life
10%

Pride

Excitement

1/19/2014

38%
40%

27%

19%

10%
12%

Influence
Travel

40%

8%
8%
6%

10%


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2. The Role Models chosen by young Emiratis
Role Models
Relatives (e.g.
Father, Mother, Uncle, Sibling)
Public figures (e.g. Dahi Khalfan, HH
Sheikh Khalifa, HH Sheikh Mohamed)
Work-related role models
Don't know
Teachers
Friends
0

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2

4

6

8


10

12

14

16

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3. The Gulf Arab Leadership Style


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Can we ‘fast track’ Emiratis
to leadership positions?
Does a person need to have cleaned rooms, in order to run a hotel?
To have laid bricks in order to run a construction company?
To have flown or maintained a plane in order to run an airline?

• Armies
• Graduate schemes
• Family businesses

40

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Conclusion: Whose job is it to make you a leader?

There are HUGE opportunities to
become leaders in the UAE

You can develop your
leadership potential
You can become a leader

You can ‘fast-track’ your own
leadership career

It’s up to you
1/19/2014


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If you want to become a leader:

Be a leader
Email wsj@oxfordstrategicconsulting.com
call +447785110910

1/19/2014


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