Feature

'Rocking session' at BAT Bangladesh

Quazi Zulquarnain Islam

The impact an individual leaves upon the world he inhabits is marked by his influence of those around him. So it's easy to see why leadership as a quality is pursued so relentlessly by almost all corporate houses both here and abroad.

With that in mind before the Battle of Minds (BOM) entered its national phase with the semifinals, British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB) took an initiative which led to them hosting a day-long grooming session titled as 'Leadership Experience' (affectionately referred as 'rocking session') in their own premises for the bright students who had made it thus far.

Keeping the leadership stratagem as the focal point, the initiative was built to nurture the influential capacities of the applicants who were present on the day.Teams stretched from DU (Dhaka University) to NSU (North South University) while both KU (Khulna University) and BUET also had a participating team each, among others.

Under the shade provided by shamiana at what was BATB's own cricket ground, the participants went through a variety of exercises that helped build necessary skills for the corporate world.

Hosted by an energetic Human Resource Manager, Saood Bin Masood and anchored by Sanzid Alvi Ahmed, the event kicked off with Head of HR BATB QM Shahed sharing his views.

The initial session comprised of nurturing the communication skills of the individuals as they mingled with the other teams, making friends with strangers and a learnt a variety of other tricks of the trade to help them become better communicators and street-smart ; or in the case of the accomplished few, street-smart-er.

Next presenter was Head of Marketing BATB, Shehzad Munim who talked about how BAT shapes people's leadership skills and what it takes to succeed in professional life.

Before the teams got engrossed with the workbook to structure their personal and collective vision, there was still time for a true leadership story as Head of HR BAT Cambodia Syed Imtiaz Faruq, a graduate of Shahjalal University, narrated how he realized his vision and became a leader.

It was important for the participants to remember however that while confidence was what was being strived for through every exercise, like all other things, too much of it was not advisable.

It was a warning signalled early by the wily Saood Masood, and the teams who failed to ware it found themselves short come the final reckoning - - the song writing or lyricist contest, arranged to develop teamwork and case-solving skills.

While at face value, the unseen comprehension from Queen's very famous 'We will rock you' resembled a publicity stunt, in truth it was a gimmick that bought the best (and worst) out of the participants.

For the first time, they weren't just sitting there taking it all in, but out there flaunting what they had.

This form of informal learning may not be the most popular method of education but as evidenced by the one day at BATB, students seemed more inclined to spend the whole day learning when hour long classes seem long and dreary. But before we digress into other matters, the teams were back out facing the audience, microphone in hand prepared to ring out their own rendition of words they had composed themselves.

The lyrics were diversified, ranging from the melodramatic, to the patriotic but every team gave their best. Some shone, others shunned but most showed an enthusiastic zeal for taking charge under difficult circumstances a quality that will stand them in good stead come the next chapter of their lives whether in BATB or anywhere else. After all building futures, is what Battle of Minds is all about.

The program ended with the 56 participants, divided into 14 teams handed their cases for the semifinals which is set for the 29th of December. The cases now the teams would be solving are no more related to brands or business per se. They have been handed over real life national or regional issues. Creative solutions to these issues could mean better shaped future for the nation.

Here is to wishing the teams put in the same kind of hard work and are blessed with luck for the challenges ahead.