Introduction
The leadership retreat for Chartered Accountants themed “Modelling Expectations and Building Trust” was held on 13th September at U. I Hotel, University of Ibadan. The retreat brought together the Executive Committee Members of the District, chairmen of standing committees and highly experienced and senior members of the profession who were also invited as resource person to discuss key issues, share best practices, and chart a course for the future of the district and the profession. This report summarizes the key discussions, findings, and recommendations from the retreat.
Summary of Discussions
The retreat featured several sessions, including:
- Trust in Leadership :Building Stronger Team (Elder Adetunji Adepeju FCA): Discussions focused on what leaders should do and what leaders should avoid in order to build stronger team, how the leaders of the district can win the trust of general members , how to fix the broken trust. The Leader should carefully relate and deal with his or her team.
- Nurturing Relationship :Attaining Future Expectations (Deacon Solomon Adeleke FCA): The discussant explored practical ways by which Executive Committee can achieve it’s objectives for the chairmanship year, how to promote better understanding and cement harmonious relationship.
- Building Capacity for Growth Through Mental and Emotional Wellness (Pastor. Mrs. S. Olajunji): Importance of mental and emotional wellness was emphasised, mental and emotional health challenges faced by Chartered Accountants were discussed, Evidence of mental wellness was also explored and finally, application of psychological capital (Psycap) to build both organizational and employees’ growth.
Key Takeaways
- Leaders of the District should build a stronger team and win the trust of members: The term “team” means: together each achieves more. Stronger team archives better. There is need for members to trust their leaders, leaders also should earn the trust of their subjects. There will always be mistrust where trust is low, faked or non existence.
- Attaining Expectations and Nurturing Relationships: Attainment of objectives of Chairmanship year depends on Chairman getting the buy in of his/her team and general members. Ensuring proper relationship with government and general public will enhance the relevance of the Institute and the profession. Promoting better understanding is germane to cementing harmonious relationship
- Mental and Emotional Wellness: Accountants are prone to mental and emotional health challenges due to nature of their works. Mental and emotional issues are curable. Every organisation should build psychological capital (Psycap) to ensure organizational growth and employees’ growth.
Recommendations
- Build a stronger team and win the trust of the members: empower team members to realize their own potentials. A leader should be ready to be criticised and opposed, he should not get affected by everything said to him/her. To build strong team and win trust, sometimes, leader needs to subdue ego, eat his/her words it is not giving up it is rather called growing up. Team members should always keep positive thoughts as happiness of life depends on quality of your thought. There should be trust among team members as trust develops strong sense of belonging thereby facilitating achievement of set objectives. Intelligence, energy and integrity are qualities of good team member, however absence of integrity nullifies the presence of other two. The leader should carefully select his/her team as some people will sink the whole ship just because they can’t be captain. Broken trust can be repaired if all parties involved are committed to healing process.
- Nurture the Relationship: The leader should get the buy in of his team and general members on his/her Chairmanship objectives this will motivate them to work towards attainment of the objectives. The Chairman should communicate his/her vision clearly and there is need to encourage intra-exco exchange of ideas by encouraging members to contribute. Enlist the commitment of members of the team to facilitate achievement of set objectives. The Institute at national level and District at local level should establish relationship with public by serving public interest. They should speak on issues that affect general public especially financial aspect which is their area of jurisdiction this makes their presence to be felt. Research team should be formed as fraction of Technical Committee to carry out empirical researches for members development and public issues. To cement harmonious relationship among team members, selfishness should be avoided, prejucide (fair of what we are unwilling to try and understand) should be avoided and individual differences should be respected.
- Stay Healthy Mentally and Emotionally: Accounting profession is one of the most stressful profession, most accountants suffer burnout, physical and emotional stress. Take brake whenever you are stressed. Capacity for personal and organizational growth is affected by mental health of employees. Organisation should create support system. Organisation should build psychological capital (Psycap) to ensure organizational and employees’ development. Psycap refers to an individual positive psychological state characterised by self efficacy. Psycap is a strong predictor of personal growth, it improves employees’ commitment and readiness for change through mental toughness. Leaders in accounting profession must priotize mental wellness of their colleagues to avoid mental illness pandemic. Both personal and organizational efforts are requires for change. Psycap are cultivable and can be developed in employees through coaching, counselling and training.
Side Attraction
The participants also visited the zoological garden of University of Ibadan as part of the retreat activities.
Conclusion
The leadership retreat provided a valuable opportunity for leaders of Ibadan and District Society of ICAN to discuss key issues, share best practices, and chart a course for the future. The recommendations arising from the retreat will help shape the future of the District, the profession and ensure its continued relevance and success.
Nasir Saheed Adeniyi FCA
General Secretary
Ibadan & District Society of ICAN
