One of the foremost business strategy thinkers in modern times, is credited as profoundly observing that leadership is the most influential and critical element of all businesses.
Effective leaders have the necessary tools and skills to inspire and impact their teams allowing firms to run competently and smoothly. As a good leader, you should understand the mission statements, objectives, actions, plans, and goals of the company to be able to lead your workforce into realizing them.”
Only strong and trained leaders can envision the right and appropriate future for organisations. Where leaders do not possess the attitude, aptitude and skills that are relevant for the times, they become fundamentally flawed in any attempt to craft a beneficial and compelling vision for their organizations. And, as we all know, in the absence of vision, the people perish as the institutions become rudderless and their journey becomes one without a map.
Trained, visionary and, therefore, strong leaders will also beneficially impact their organisations by being able to inspire the people in the organization to enthusiastically buy into the vision crafted by the leadership. There is no effective leadership without a mobilised and enthused follower-ship. Thus, the Lagos State Public Service and the organised labour and trade unions operating within it will benefit from the work and example of labour leaders who can inspire their followers to supporting beneficial policies. Indeed, a strong leader who resolutely believes in the vision of the organisation will magnetically attract followers who will join the movement to fulfill the mission and realise the vision.
There is also the need for excellent communications and relational skills to form part of the fabric of any leadership development strategy. Of course, the promotion and propagation of an organisation’s vision and mission calls for the presence of excellent communications and relational skills in the leaders of organisations. One of the stated objectives of leadership by the Lagos State Government to train labour leaders is the inculcation of strong communication skills in the participants. These skills is expected to stand the officers in good stead in their commitment to ensure the effectiveness of their organisations.
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s investments in the public service and in matters of interest to the labour and trade unions are incomparable to those of any other state government in Nigeria. I am certain that, within a short while and for a very long time to come, the good people of Lagos State will reap the dividends of the superlative services derivable from a public service that has been properly trained in the art of modern governing and administration.
I consider the trainings for labour leaders as perhaps the most strategic and consequential in terms of preserving, enhancing, and solidifying the admirable and commendable relationship of industrial harmony that has existed between the organised labour unions in Lagos State and the administration of Governor Ambode. One can never over-emphasise the need to underline and underscore the efforts of both the leadership of the organised labour unions in the Lagos State Public Service and the personal interest and dedication of the Governor to this noble enterprise of ensuring industrial harmony by embracing a team spirt in the approach to addressing and resolving matters with industrial relationship implications.
Indeed, the need for ensuring and assuring the efficiency and effectiveness of public institutions has never been greater than now. In a dynamic age of constant changes, it is widely agreed that institutions must have clearly-defined missions that are relevant to the needs and aspirations of its stakeholders. Following this, the human capital at the helm of leadership in these institutions, including the institutions comprising organised labour and trade unions, must have the courage to envision a future that realizes the attainment of the defined mission of the institutions.
In order to actualize the vision, however, leaders must be trained to possess both the hard and soft skills that are fundamental for success. Thus, the importance and relevance of the training. Leadership Trainings Increase productivity, Help Retain People; Help Nurture Future Leaders; Increase employee engagement; Implement an Effective Leadership Style; Help People Make Better Decisions; Maximises efficiency; Initiates action; instills motivation; Provides guidance; Creates confidence; Builds morale; and Builds an efficient work environment.
It is clear that the various examinations of leadership and the organised and systematically intentional attempts to cultivate the quality are sine qua non in any organisation’s pursuit of progress.
Thus, as the progress of Lagos State is of paramount importance to the administration of Governor Ambode, so is the progress of the Lagos State Public Service and the leaders of the unions representing the officers of the service. In this objective, lies the ultimate rationale for training and retraining.
The trainings have transformed officers of the public service into better leaders, admirable leaders of the unions who can be entrusted with responsibilities and projects, having been equipped with the skills that can enhance service delivery.
The readiness of the leadership of the labour and trade unions operating within the Lagos State Public Service to participate in trainings of this nature testify that their roots in sophisticated union administration runs deep. Without such roots, it will be difficult, if not impossible to draw the connection between continuing education in form of trainings of this nature and effectiveness in performance and the accomplishment of set goals.
Commissioner, Lagos State Ministry of Establishments, Training, and Pensions, Dr. Akintola Benson
