Misconceptions About Leadership in the Arab World
- The concept of leadership in the Arab world is often misunderstood, with many people believing that leaders from this region do not know how to lead and are sent to the West to learn, which is a notion that does not sit well with many, including Marilyn Zakhour 10s.
- Growing up in a Lebanese family, Marilyn Zakhour was exposed to incredible role models, including her mother, who was the head of IT and HR at a bank and demonstrated joyful and connected leadership, inspiring her to pursue a career in leadership development 2m6s.
- After working in Europe and North America, Marilyn Zakhour moved to the GCC and started Cosmic, a leadership and organizational development firm, where she had the opportunity to work with incredible leaders in the Arab world 4m42s.
- Marilyn Zakhour became obsessed with the question of what leaders in the Arab world have to teach the rest of the world and spent the last couple of years researching and gathering data, including conducting a global survey and speaking with young Saudi leaders 6m15s.
Defining Openhearted Leadership
- The research revealed that the answers pointed to hospitality, generosity, selflessness, compassion, community, relationships, and leadership that is oriented towards the other, which is referred to as openhearted leadership 8m30s.
- Openhearted leadership is characterized by qualities such as ketam generosity, hospitality, and welcome, as well as respect and reverence for others, making every person feel seen and important 10m45s.
- This type of leadership is also marked by shura, or consultation, where wisdom is recognized as emerging from the collective, and leaders prioritize listening and inviting others to speak 14m10s.
- Examples of openhearted leadership can be seen in the actions of leaders such as the Emirati CEO who welcomed Marilyn Zakhour to the country with a text message saying "Welcome home," and her grandfather's home in the village, where the front door was always open to strangers and neighbors 12m20s.
- Openhearted leadership is based on the concept of amana, which means that leadership is entrusted to individuals by others and can be revoked if they stop serving them, with the goal of returning things better than they were found 10s.
- The qualities of openhearted leadership, including kam generosity, reverence, consultation, and amana trustworthiness, have been passed down across generations and were exemplified by leaders such as the Emirati leader and the Saudi CEO 42s.
Historical Foundations of Openhearted Leadership
- The Arab Empire, which existed in the 8th century, was a 600-year empire that was built on these foundations and was the largest empire in the medieval world, stretching from Spain to Pakistan 2m6s.
- The empire was home to a diverse population, including Muslims, Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, Indians, Greeks, and Persians, and its leaders practiced openness and acceptance, allowing people from different backgrounds to contribute to the empire's knowledge and governance 2m6s.
- The empire's attitude of openness and acceptance led to breakthroughs in various fields, including optics, algebra, medicine, and astronomy, and its invention of a society where strangers could feel at home was a key factor in its success 4m30s.
- The empire's trade network was based on the principle of offering hospitality and free passage to everyone, regardless of their background, and this led to the exchange of ideas and goods from different parts of the world 5m40s.
- The early days of the caliphate had a system of leadership selection, advice, and accountability, known as the measur, which allowed citizens to bring their grievances and expect to be heard by the califf, and this system was known as Shura 7m10s.
- Leaders like Harun Rashid, who wore a disguise to walk among his people and hear their concerns, understood the importance of serving their people and practicing radical hospitality, acceptance, and consultation 8m20s.
- The Islamic golden age was built on the principles of openhearted leadership, but the empire's decline began when its leaders started to narrow the circle of who could speak, stopped funding science, and treated other people's gifts as a threat 10m30s.
Modern Examples of Openhearted Leadership
- The lesson from the Arab Empire's history is that the foundation of prosperity is openhearted leadership, and this is still relevant today, as seen in the way that leaders respond to challenges and crises, such as the shutdown of the airspace over the UAE 12m40s.
- The government took initiative to support people by paying their hotel bills and meals, making them feel at home until they could safely return to their own homes, with no application forms or queues required, simply treating them as guests and taking responsibility for their well-being 10s.
- Leaders were faced with the challenge of guiding their people and organizations through a storm of geopolitical instability, business shutdowns, and existential threats, all while dealing with their own uncertainty and fear, and the expectation was that they would provide stability and momentum 42s.
- Tala, a colleague, recognized the weight that leaders were carrying and the need for a space for them to come together, feel, think, and talk through their challenges, leading to the creation of a three-week conference with only two weeks' notice, despite the team members from Beirut, Dubai, and Riyadh being under daily attack 1m6s.
- Tala and her father opened their home to the children of the team members, providing a sense of normalcy and allowing the team to focus on delivering the conference, which ultimately brought together a thousand leaders to support one another 2m6s.
- The act of opening their home and hearts allowed the company to do the same, creating a space for leaders to hold and support each other, and highlighting the importance of feeling held and supported during times of uncertainty 2m42s.
The Western Perspective and the Risk of Closing Off
- The Western world often views acts of kindness and openness as secondary or "nice to have," but this approach can lead to a crisis, as the instinct to close off and protect oneself can ultimately change and harden a person, making them less open and more guarded 4m0s.
- A card from the Almanac of Birds, pulled during a coaching session, emphasized the danger of living with a lean heart, always on guard against being wounded, and highlighted the importance of keeping an open heart, even in difficult times, as it is a sign of strength, not weakness 5m30s.
- The pressure to harden and close off will not go away, but choosing to keep an open heart in small moments can ultimately lead to a more humane future, and it is hoped that enough people will make this choice to write a new chapter in the region's history 7m0s.
Practical Choices for Openhearted Living
- When feeling hardened, individuals have a choice to make, such as opening up to newcomers or keeping them at a distance, and this choice can be influenced by asking oneself a simple question 10s.
- In interactions with colleagues, it's essential to be present and attentive, rather than being preoccupied with the next meeting or decision, as this can help create a more open and receptive environment 42s.
- Leaders often face decisions that require them to choose between protecting their position or prioritizing their people, and in such situations, considering the perspective of an open heart can be a valuable guiding principle 2m6s.
