Charismatic character, ability to persuade the hearts and minds of an audience during a public speech could be some traits that distinguish a leader, but they are not everything. What makes a true leader is his ability to drive change, to make a difference, to touch the lives of the people he or she serves. Steve Jobs, the late CEO of Apple, was an example of a leader who had both, the charisma and the ability to make life-changing decisions, while Jack Welch, the former CEO of GE, was a leader who delivered more than he talked.
A contemporary example in the local scene is our Minister of Commerce Tawfiq Al-Rabiah. I cannot remember a time I heard him speak although he has been at the helm for quite some time now, but as the ministry’s customer, I felt the change he has brought about in the market. The Ministry of Commerce’s name and influence can be felt in the market now; retail outlets respect it if not fear it, adhere to the system that it has applied, realizing that there is a regulator, a system administrator who is keeping a close eye on the market. Above all, what he really did is that he gave us all hope, that even in a public sector environment that is usually laden with bureaucratic rules, change is possible and that catching up with modernity is within reach.
What he did to change the image of the ministry, to reactivate and renovate its rules and systems is barely known to anyone outside the ministry. It would be really interesting that one day he would publish a memoirs about his experience in the ministry, about change and challenges, something that is rarely done in the Arab world. We also need to hear from Prince Khalid Al-Faisal about his management philosophy in the Asir and Makkah regions, we need to hear about the challenges Al-Mulhim went through when he privatized the Saudi Telecom Company. We need to hear from Lubna Al-Olyan and her journey as a CEO and a board member in the Saudi male dominant meeting rooms.
We are in dire need to learn from such experiences and stories because as tough as it is to admit, I think we have a shortage of leadership skills in the market. That does not mean true leaders do not exist, they do, but we did not hear a lot about their stories. Perhaps many true leaders have yet to get a chance to lead the change.
The Saudi business culture, in the public or the private sectors, is very traditional. It is built on vertical hierarchies, seniority, bureaucratic rules, and a deep fear of change. On the contrary, modern and dynamic business environments are built on change, innovation, disruption, and pursue of new challenges. Thinking against the norm in typical environments is an adventure in itself, making it hard for pioneers and authentic leaders to prove themselves, to find their ways to the seat of leadership. Our business world has been plagued with “wasta” and managers who just want to play it safe
Change of mentality and breeding new leadership talents can’t only happen in the business world I am afraid, it needs to start at home, in the school, in the whole society. When soft skills of leading, speaking, and not fearing to think and doubt and question are nurtured and encouraged in the society, then we will be on the right way to build the talents that will lead the future economy of the country, the economy that is truly built on human capital and their abilities to lead and innovate.
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@smaldosari
