Training to lead

Some say leadership is a natural talent. Others contend that it comes with practice and within specific contexts where leadership can be demonstrated. Either way, it is agreed that leadership skills can be developed and improved with time.

The Mohammad Bin Rashid Programme for Leadership Development (MBRPLD) trains UAE nationals of all ages in leadership in order to prepare them for their future positions.

Among the programme's activities and workshops held almost every month is a Book Summary Review in which participants discuss a book they are assigned to read. Notes sat in for its most recent session when a book on leadership was being discussed.

But first things first: Notes highlights the various aspects of the leadership programme.

Programme stages

The leadership programme consists of four stages, each lasting two years. The first stage trains Promising Leaders – as they are termed in the programme – between 22 and 25 years in age. They are placed in junior management positions in governmental and semi-governmental institutions. Experience is not necessary, but leadership potential is a must.

The next stage trains "Young Leaders" in the 28-32 age bracket in management skills and acumen and technical knowledge. Those successful in this stage move on to the Government Leaders (35-45 years old) stage to qualify as the future leaders of Dubai Public Departments.

They finally end up in the Director General (DG) Majlis and are selected to the top senior official level of the Dubai Government and public departments. As they move upward, the training becomes less technical and more focused on leadership.

According to Adel Al Sharid, Director of the programme, 310 people graduate from the programme every two years.

Partnering with the pros

The purpose, Al Sharid told Notes, is to see a pipeline of leaders in all majors such that it falls in line with the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015. "Fresh graduates enter this programme before they go into the governmental sector and acquire bad habits," Al Sharid said. "They are trained to retain their good habits."

The programme incorporates some of the world's best educational practices and expertise as it holds training sessions in partnership with INSEAD in France and Duke University in the US. Professors, experts, CEOs, business leaders and authors of best-selling books are invited to lectures and discussions with the students.

"Strategic thinking, customer focus, leadership, problem solving and interpersonal skills are the capital that young leaders are supposed to have in order to grow further," Al Sharid said. Upon graduation from one programme, they are assessed at different stages.

Multi-purpose training

The Book Summary Review had a number of aims: strengthening leadership skills, and debating and presentation skills. "The Book Summary Review is a networking event. A team of young leaders comes together every month to analyse and discuss assigned books. They summarise the books and present them to their fellow participants," said Al Sharid.

At the session Notes attended, participants discussed Why Should Anyone Be Led by You? What It Takes To Be An Authentic Leader by Robert Goffee and Gareth Jones. Al Sharid said that books are usually chosen to fall in line with the programme's objectives and are usually worldwide bestsellers.

The participants, scheduled to discuss the book for around two hours, got into such a heated debate, that the session went on until late. Each participant gave his or her point of view on what leadership is, how it should be practised and how it could be exploited.

No discrimination

The participants were confident that the training they were receiving was strengthening their skills and knowledge.

"The leadership programme is one of the strongest in the UAE and all of the Middle East because it is benchmarked against worldwide standards," said Aisha Al Suwaidi, Director of the Women Development Leadership Department in Dubai Women's Establishment.

"Dubai Women's Establishment aims to build future leaders and provide professional development opportunities for women. This strategic focus matches the objective of the Mohammad Bin Rashid leadership programme. It does not discriminate between gender as both males and females are involved," said Aisha, who is enrolled in the programme.

"It is a great experience and I have an ambition to advance in this programme. My personal and technical skills have improved," she said. "No one leaves this programme inexperienced. It should be used to the maximum because those not committed … are losing."

Another participant, Dana Al Marashi, spoke about the benefits of the book review session. "The focus on reading helps us learn more.

Even if you don't read the entire book, the review sessions summarise the points for you and give you a deeper knowledge of it," Dana said.

"The programme helps us learn about global business and exposes us as much as possible so that we become true leaders," she added.

Maktoum Al Maktoum, a business management consultant and participant in the programme, commended the course, saying that it teaches new trends about the industry, encourages reading and meeting with speakers and experts. "It gets you to interact with the local community," he said.

Tough selection

Out of 2,500 applicants, 280 were accepted last year. Applicants go through a screening process, followed by a selection process and a final assessment. Shortlisted candidates are further shortlisted after a panel interview. After that, applicants take a computerised competence test that tests their communication skills, strategic thinking, customer focus, problem-solving and interpersonal skills and leadership potential.

"People must apply because learning should be continuous …. This kind of training teaches what it is like to think outside the box," Al Maktoum said. "It makes you think, are you really a leader or not?"

Who can apply?

UAE national applicants from all schools and universities are welcome to apply. The focus is on leadership assessment and not grades or the GPA (Grade Point Average). Selected graduates for the programme are also eligible for university scholarships.

For the Promising Leaders stage of the programme, which is the first stage of the course, candidates must be:

• A UAE national;
• A graduate of a recognised university;
• Between the age of 22-25;
• Known for his/her competence and achievements;
• Proficient in English and Arabic;
• Acquainted with computer applications.
• He/she must also have the passion and motivation to achieve.