Creating Impact Through Active Interaction

Dr. Rawas addressed an audience of current and emerging leaders, delivering valuable insights on the distinct nature of transformational leadership as a unique discipline within the broader field of leadership. He explored the specific qualities that set transformational leaders apart, including their ability to inspire change, foster innovation, and motivate teams toward a shared vision. Dr. Rawas emphasized how transformational leaders not only drive meaningful, lasting improvements within their organizations but also positively influence the well-being and growth of their stakeholders. His discussion highlighted the profound impact these leaders have on shaping a company’s present and future trajectory, creating a legacy that extends beyond immediate business goals.

In his keynote presentation during the Conference on Second Level and Leadership Preparation, Dr. Rawas outlined the best practices that organizations should implement to embrace artificial intelligence and achieve optimal results. He emphasized the importance of engaging employees through a clear vision of AI's role within the organization and demonstrating the benefits it will bring to their work. He also noted that adopting AI without a well-defined strategy can be counterproductive, as it will dictate the approach, tools, and change management required for a successful implementation.

This full-day workshop, designed for top executives, delved into the concept of a leadership brand, its importance, and emerging leadership trends. Highlighting agility and adaptability as crucial for today's leaders, the comprehensive session equipped participants with valuable insights and practical skills to strengthen their leadership capabilities in the face of contemporary challenges. It emphasized fostering a safe space for growth for themselves and their subordinates, focusing on the leader's role as both an enabler and a protector.

As part of the Finance Department IGNITE WEEK, this workshop explored how to enhance the emotional intelligence of the 130 attendees. Dr. Rawas focused on developing self-awareness, self-regulation, self-motivation, and empathy to ensure personal, professional, and corporate growth. He distinguished between emotional intelligence, mental intelligence, physical intelligence and spiritual intelligence, and discussed the essential skills needed for transformative leadership and success in the age of AI, with a special focus on agility. The highly engaged audience actively participated, appreciating the practical applications and relevance of emotional leadership in today's dynamic workplace.

In his presentation, "Effective Strategies for Change Management," Dr. Rawas equipped leaders with specific tools to navigate change initiatives. He stressed the importance of a structured approach and unwavering commitment. This dedication should be evident in leaders' communication, prioritization, time management, and resource allocation. Dr. Rawas also addressed navigating resistance to change. He encouraged leaders to understand it as inevitable and focus on building buy-in from those receptive to change, ultimately turning resistance into an opportunity for growth.

Dr. Rawas was a driving force at the Value of Values event, making significant contributions across three key areas. On day one, he moderated a dynamic panel discussion titled "HR and Leadership Capabilities vs. Future Businesses," featuring the notable Dave Ulrich. The following day, Dr. Rawas presented a thought-provoking paper on future work trends, emphasizing the importance of hiring based on skills required in the coming years. He addressed the rise of technology, the prevalence of the gig economy, and the resulting structural changes organizations must navigate. Dr. Rawas further solidified his role as a thought leader by participating in a Future of Work panel discussion, delving into the impact of AI on work culture and the workforce. He offered valuable insights on how Oman can best prepare for these upcoming transformations.

During OHRM's HR-X event, Dr. Rawas' presentation, titled "Taming the Beast", explored how organizations can harness AI for positive impact. He emphasized the importance of understanding the symbiotic relationship between organizational culture and AI. To guarantee success, Dr. Rawas proposed a four-part approach: first, eliciting company goals to identify specific objectives for embracing AI. Second, enabling employees through upskilling and reskilling to ensure they can work effectively alongside AI. Third, educating employees about the advantages of AI to foster buy-in. Finally, enacting a well-designed strategy for integrating AI into the organization.

Dr. Rawas spearheaded the development and delivery of a full Culture Change Program aimed at helping Infoline, an Omani-based company with around 2,000 employees, embrace new perspectives, approaches, skills, and competences. The program, delivered over the span of 6 months, included a series of workshops and coaching sessions targeting Management. It began by redefining the company's brand essence, defining its core values and related behaviors, then diving into each value and exploring the new habits, learnings, and ways of conducting business as a company and as a team that it mandates. From customer centricity, agility, collaboration, efficiency, effective communication, and emotional intelligence, the insights were inspiring and motivating, coupled with practical tools to take action towards the needed change. The program also addressed leadership, with a specific focus on managing effective teams in times of transformation.

Contrary to what many believe, the role of emotional intelligence will only grow as technology takes over more tasks than we could have ever imagined. While AI is still unable to understand human feelings and respond to them in adequate ways, we will continue to communicate in the real world on both personal and professional levels. With the growing role of AI, humans must be able to manage their feelings and emotions in a way that contributes to the achievement of a better personal and common good. They should also be agile enough to adapt to the rapid and complex developments in the world that will be driven by AI. This is what Dr. Rawas explained to a crowd of 80 upcoming leaders.