Smarter Collaboration Amid Crisis: Leadership Lessons from Bahrain
- Dr. Heidi K. Gardner
- Jun 23
- 2 min read
What an extraordinary day to be working in the Middle East – leading a senior executive development program just hours after US bombs hit Iran.
Kudos to the 50 Bahraini executives who powered through a full Sunday of learning about smarter collaboration, despite the geo-political tensions and resulting disruption (kids being sent home from school, 70% of local workers moving to remote, etc.).
If ever there was a time for us to seek new perspectives and build trust across boundaries, this is it. Here are some highlights of the day:
Smarter collaboration drives F1: Khalid Hussain Taqi, Chairman of Gulf Air, explained how employee empowerment and leader transparency across levels have been crucial in building a collaborative corporate culture that underpins the national carrier’s support of the high-profile Bahrain Grand Prix.
Smarter Collaboration Profiles boost C-suite effectiveness under pressure: Debriefing results of the psychometric assessment helped executives develop personalized plans to deliver stronger leadership during high-pressure situations. Figuring out how to optimize collaboration across the chief-level takes it to the next level.
Influence hinges on collaborative insights about stakeholders: How well you “read the audience” (e.g., Risk seeker? Complex thinker?) to guide conversations with board members or core partners can dramatically affect your outcomes. Even without seeing the stakeholder’s SC Profile results, familiarity with those dimensions sensitizes execs to consider different ways of preparing and influencing.
It was a privilege to experience leaders’ determination to push the country forward, while reserving appropriate space in our hearts and minds for everyone affected by strife and uncertainty.
Special thanks to Ahmed Matar of EMIC Training, Caroline Wright of Harvard Business Impact, and all the teams who supported such a strong program. Fingers crossed we can bring the same energy to the next cohort in July!
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