NIM charges women leaders on organisational leadership
With more women taking the lead in management and leadership positions across the board, the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) has urged women leaders that they must be prepared to explore managerial and leadership positions needed to take their organisations to the peak.
The institute advised that they must also be ready to rise above every limitation by breaking the glass ceiling to get to the top.
NIM gave the advice at this year’s edition of Women in Management and Leadership (WIMLEAD) conference with the theme ‘Leading Through Challenging Times’ and maintained that they must be able to swim against the tide to lead their organisation or enterprise through periods of turbulence, economic downturn and rapid change.
President and Chairman of Council, NIM, Patience Anabor, who noted that it took unusual leaders to navigate businesses through the maze, said greater emphasis is now being placed on excellent leadership that is innovative, technologically inclined, thinks out of the box, and guarantees optimum performance and productivity.
She commended women, who have continued to prove their mettle having acquainted themselves creditably in all walks of life, adding “They exhibit the highest level of excellence, determination, and inspiration by managing human as well as material resources with accountability, transparency, efficiency, effectiveness, equity, honesty, and integrity, which are the core values of the institute.”
In her keynote address, Principal Consultant, Lonadek Global Services, Dr. Ibilola Amao, said there was a need for collective leadership to deliver on Sustainability, Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG).
She said it was paramount for leaders to deliver their contribution to a joint purpose while putting priority on the common good, and a balance between the needs of people, profit, and the planet.
An Associate Professor of Business Administration, Kaduna State University, Dr. Maryam Abdu, who spoke on ‘Family Ties: Opportunity or Obstacles for Women in Leadership?’ said there was the need for proper integration between family and work life.
She said: “There should be more advocacy for measures to increase the presence of women in leadership positions, with mindsets of women more tailored to leadership positions.”
According to her, there should be a change in mindset from the perspective of family, tradition, culture, and society to encourage women in leadership positions.
Speaking on ‘Dealing with Workplace Negativity, Founder, Workplace Channel, Deborah David, said the effects of workplace negativity would create financial inflow, psychological sickness, and fear, high-cost turnover, and depression.
To deal with workplace negativity, she said, “Forget everyone else – deal with yourself, work on your self-esteem.
“Speak with a coach/counsellor to exclude personal biases, be emotionally intelligent, have honest conversations, improve your craft, develop your skill and move on.”
