IPM kicks off Business Leaders Forum

By Devin Jayasundera

The Institute of Personnel Management (IPM) recently kicked-off a business leader’s forum under the theme of ‘Yesterdays behaviour will not deliver tomorrow’s results’. The forum saw the attendance of leading corporate personalities in the field of human resource development. 

Sensei International’s founder and senior partner Omar Khan who delivered keynote remarks is recognised as a global authority on leadership and development and is one of the early pioneers in using neuro-linguistic programming for effective business practices.

With ‘organisational culture’ becoming one of the most talked about topics in management science, Khan stressed that effective strategies are often a by-product of strong enterprising cultures. He added that the objectives of the strategy can only be achieved when they are aligned with the company’s cultural capabilities. 

Khan argued that the organisational hierarchies do not perfectly describe how work is conducted and allocated in companies. “Hierarchies provide clarity and a clear line of command for the organisation but the problem is, it has transformed from a decision making tool to be the basis of relationships,” said Khan. 

The current macro-economic environment demands organisations to rapidly adapt their strategies to stay competitive in business. Most often business leaders tend to fail in convincing their employees to change their mindsets from static to dynamic. Khan professed that those employees with a high influential power have the ability to effectively persuade their fellow staffers than senior management to adapt their behaviour. “Influentials are people who have disproportionate impact in comparison to their organisational status. It is imperative to facilitate them by incentivising their performance.”

In referring to a Gallup study Khan opined that in order to create an energised, focused and adaptive environment the management should make employees feel they could accomplish their objectives, perceive the workplace as a sight of valued relationships and also a place for future career growth.