Academician outlines the Qualities of a Great Leader

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8, 2006: What makes a leader great? About 70 senior executives of top Malaysian corporations as well as several government officials found the answer over an hour-long luncheon talk here yesterday.

The participants were given an insight into leadership qualities by Manfred Kets de Vries, the Clinical Professor of Management and Leadership at the European Institute of Business Administration (INSEAD), during the luncheon hosted by RHB Islamic Bank Bhd under its “Partners Circle” Series.

Prof Kets de Vries, who is also Director of INSEAD’s Global Leadership Centre, spoke of the qualities that make a leader, as well as the irrational side of some that would eventually cause their downfall.

Peppering his presentation with examples and anecdotes that drew laughter, the professor took the audience through the pitfalls of being in a position of leadership and authority, and how one could overcome such obstacles.

He also emphasized the need for various characteristics in a leader to ensure that his organization not only survived, but also thrived. Among the factors, he said, that could be disastrous for an organisation and its leaders were self-importance and the absence of a succession plan.

Among those present at the talk were RHB Islamic Bank Chairman Encik Vaseehar Hassan Abdul Razack, RHB Sakura Merchant Bankers Bhd Chairman Dato’ Abdullah Mat Noh, as well as several directors of the RHB Group of Companies, including Dato Sri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib, Dato’ Paduka Nik Hashim Nik Yusoff and Dato’ Mohd Salleh Haji Harun.

The RHB Islamic Bank “Partners Circle” Series is a forum for business partners to share ideas and experience with the objective of enhancing business relationships for mutual benefit.