IAG bolsters leadership skills of senior insurance practitioners

The Insurance Association of the Gambia on Friday commenced a two-day leadership retreat for managing directors and chief executive officers alongside other senior officials of various insurance companies in the country to equip them with advanced leadership and communications skills so as effectively and efficiently lead, motivate and maximise team performance.

The retreat, which also drew participants from the Central Bank of The Gambia including the Commissioner of Insurance, Pa Alieu Sillah, was conducted by the Executive Group, Gambia-based international consulting firm, and held at the Kairaba Beach Hotel in Kololi.

It was meant to augment the knowledge and skills of the senior insurance practitioners in order to broaden their understanding of best practices in leadership and communication with a view to attune some attitudes towards performance as well service oriented culture.

Officially opening the programme, Mr. Dawda Sarge, president of the Insurance Association of the Gambia, said the training will equip participants with various leadership and communication styles hence enhance their productivity as leaders.

Mr. Henry Jawo, executive secretary of the association, said the programme is in fulfillment of the aims and objectives of the IAG, to enhance and empower the manpower of the insurance industry.

In her presentation, Mrs. Donna Rodney, said leadership is not “one size fits all” thing.  Often, she said, leaders must adapt their style to fit a situation or a specific group.

“This is why it’s useful to gain a thorough understanding of other leadership styles, after all, the more approaches you are familiar with, the more tools you will be able to use to lead effectively,” she said. 

Mrs. Rodney took the participants through different leadership styles from autocratic to democratic leadership for the participants to develop new perspectives on their respective leadership styles and discover how to lead towards greater business success.

At the end of the programme, the insurance practitioners are expected to gain knowledge of how to create sustained business performance through identifying what to change and what to let flourish.