The Aga Khan Social Welfare Board (AKSWB) reinforced its commitment to leadership development by organizing a second seminar for its members and the PDF team. Held at the Ismaili Centre in Lisbon, the half-day session was led by Vazir Saheba Nimet Rener, an experienced Leadership and Organizational Wellbeing Coach, Consultant, and Trainer. The seminar focused on strategies to enhance communication, performance, and overall wellbeing within the team.

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The session explored four key areas:

Working Together Towards a Common Goal
The seminar began by highlighting the importance of unity in achieving a shared objective. Nimet Rener used the example of metaphor of geese flying in a ‘V’ formation to illustrate the power of collective effort. As each goose flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird behind, enabling the entire flock to fly 71% further than if each bird flew alone. This demonstrated the effectiveness of collaborative work towards a common goal.

Leveraging Diverse Working Styles and Strengths
The team discussed the value of appreciating diverse working styles and strengths, leading to a new understanding of how diversity enhances creativity and performance.

Personal Responsibility and Collective Impact
The importance of individual accountability in fulfilling commitments was highlighted, showing how personal responsibility drives the success of the entire team.

Empathy and Understanding in the Face of Challenges
The seminar concluded with a focus on nurturing empathy and understanding, particularly when faced with challenges. The importance of maintaining these qualities in difficult situations was emphasized, ensuring that the team remains supportive and compassionate, even during tough times.

The feedback from the participants was overwhelmingly positive. Many members found the seminar “extremely beneficial and useful for the entire team.” They noted that it fostered synergies, encouraged the exchange of ideas, and facilitated valuable conversations about the challenges they face in working together, especially in supporting vulnerable families. The sharing of experiences allowed team members to better understand each other’s struggles, creating a stronger sense of unity.

Inspired by the insights gained, participants requested a third session to build upon the themes explored in the previous seminars. They left feeling reinvigorated and hopeful, with a renewed sense of purpose to continue their important work with the AKSWB and make a meaningful impact in the lives of the families they serve.