The Human Side of Leadership – CBL Leadership Dev. Program

Advertisement

NASSAU , BAHAMAS – Over the past two nights, our special series “Leading Forward” has explored Cable Bahamas’ year-long leadership development program and some of the lessons participants say are already shaping the way they lead.

In part three, Kendeno Knowles looks at the human side of leadership, the qualities that make people feel heard, supported and willing to follow.

Javier Bowe, director of B2B sales, says leadership begins with access, not a closed door or a title, but a willingness to listen.

Javier Bowe – Director, B2B, Cable Bahamas

“My leadership style is one of openness and open-door policy, more or less. So where my team knows that they can come to me with anything and I will do my best to try and assist. So for the most part, it’s all about collaboration and ensuring that the employees know that their feedback is taken and definitely acted upon.”

It’s one of the perspectives being explored through Cable Bahamas’ year-long leadership development program, where participants are examining not only what leaders do, but how they make people feel.

Stacy Johnson, director of financial planning and analysis and data governance, says effective leadership is rooted in example.

Stacy Johnson – Director, Financial Planning, Analysis & Data Governance, Cable Bahamas

“Leadership to me means being an example for persons who I manage. And being open, being relatable, being transparent.”

For Bowe, it’s collaboration.

For others, it’s service, patience and the ability to guide a team through challenges before they become setbacks.

Dion Cox, supervisor of Eleuthera outside plant, says successful leadership starts with listening, being proactive and helping others grow.

Dion Cox – Supervisor, Eleuthera Outside Plant, Cable Bahamas

“For me to make a successful leader, I think it would be the ability to be able to listen to your staff, to foresee unforeseen circumstances, issues that may arise, be proactive instead of reactive, and basically try to be the best that you can be every day. Every day you meet with different challenges. So for me, it’s to just have my ear to the ground, be open and willing to listen and to learn and to help guide my team by teaching.”

That range of perspectives is part of what makes the program’s approach broader than traditional leadership training.

Participants are not being asked to lead the same way.

They’re being challenged to understand their own strengths and how those strengths can be used to support the people around them.

International leadership consultant Ernesto Uscher says identifying leadership potential means looking beyond performance alone.

Ernesto Uscher – Partner & Managing Director, The RBL Group

“When we talk about high potentials, we talk about people that have the possibility to grow in the organization, not only in their job or in the area they’re working at. We’re talking about people that are able to develop. The first is that they demonstrate ambition and aspiration to keep on growing. They have potential if they have ambition and aspiration, that they have ability, they have agility, they have a track record of achievement. They have the right attitude, they have self-awareness, and they’re able to be adaptable.”

Ambition, self-awareness, adaptability, listening and collaboration.

Different words from different leaders, but all pointing to the same idea: leadership is not just about managing work. It is about understanding people.

And throughout Cable Bahamas’ leadership development program, participants say that understanding is becoming central to how they define success.

Javier Bowe – Director, B2B, Cable Bahamas

“So for me, from an inspiration standpoint, I want to ensure that I collaborate with my employees and my team members because ultimately, a happy employee is a productive one. And the more that they feel included, then definitely I’m going to get the best production out of them.”