Africa-Press – Angola. The former Vice-President of the Republic, Bornito de Sousa, and the former president of the European Commission, Durão Barroso, will be the main speakers at the second edition of the International Congress on Assertive Leadership’ 2024, taking place in Luanda , on September 9th.
According to news, the event, which is expected to bring together more than 400 participants, including business leaders, academics and professionals from different areas, aims to promote the exchange of knowledge and experiences about assertive leadership, through effective strategies , which boost productivity and management at various levels.
Also former Portuguese Prime Minister, Durão Barroso, currently non-executive president of Goldman Sachs International Bank, was one of the main architects of the Bicesse Accords for peace in Angola, and should be at the congress to share his vast experience in global governance and international politics.
Bornito de Sousa’s presence at the event is due to the fact that he is a respected jurist and university professor, in the discipline of Political Sciences and Constitutional Law, and his intervention should be limited to an in-depth analysis of the “Importance of Law in Building Democratic and Stable Societies”.
It is also confirmed, according to sociologist Francisco Destino, who organized the event, the presence of businesswoman and international trainer, Tathi Deândhela, considered a reference in productivity and high performance, with her methodology having been adopted by companies from various parts in the world, also known for transforming professionals into effective leaders.
At the conference, Tathi Deândhela will speak on “Practical Strategies for Improving Productivity in the Corporate Environment”.
Francisco Destino, who will also speak at the conference, addressing the theme “Best Leadership Practices for the Development of High Performance Teams”, has worked with leaders in different sectors, to promote high performance and effectiveness in organizations.
Importance of assertive leadershiThe International Congress, according to Francisco Destino, can leverage the Political and Economic sector, guaranteeing performances to broaden the range of skills in assertive decision-making, taking into account that assertive leadership in Angola, as in other contexts, faces a series of specific and broad challenges, which can be analyzed in several dimensions.
The sociologist also said that in the political and social context, Angola has a history marked by internal conflicts and a relatively recent transition to political stability, where assertive leadership can be challenged by established hierarchical structures, with the need to navigate due to political complexities.
In addition, social issues such as inequality and regional disparities can require leaders to be sensitive and adaptable.
The organizational culture in many organizations, he said, can bring a tendency toward more authoritarian or paternalistic leadership styles, in which assertiveness is confused with aggressiveness.
For this reason, he explained, assertive leadership must be introduced and maintained, which balances clarity and empathy.
In relation to Human Resources and Training, he considered the scarcity of qualified professionals and the need for continuous development of skills can limit the effectiveness of assertive leadership, which is why a continuous effort is necessary to train leaders and teams, which requires time, investment and a cultural change.
Francisco Destino also clarified that the Angolan economy, despite being one of the largest in Sub-Saharan Africa, due to its natural resources, faces challenges related to economic diversification and infrastructure development.
To maintain communication and perception, he added, it is necessary to be assertive in a context where direct communication is not always the norm, because it can generate misunderstandings. In this context, the challenge is to balance the need to be clear, firm, culturally sensitive and diplomatic.
The sociologist also considered that the expectation of transformation in a developing country is high when leaders promote rapid and effective changes, highlighting that assertive leadership can be perceived as necessary, but must also be conducted in order to manage these expectations and avoid unnecessary disruptions.Angola, continued Francisco Destino, is a country with great ethnic, cultural and linguistic diversity, therefore leading assertively requires a deep understanding of these diversities to ensure that decisions are inclusive and respect cultural differences.
In the first edition of the congress, the sociologist recalled, the impact was positive, arguing that there was a deep reflection on assertiveness in leadership, which required the courage to act and do differently, bringing, firstly, the responsibility of the manager to create space so that communication and assertive actions can take shape in institutions.
The last edition, he said, was more focused on business assertiveness, ensuring that, for this year, the presentations will be comprehensive, as the intention is to reach political, corporate and social leaders.
“The meeting is a unique opportunity for professionals and companies that wish to reach new levels of excellence and leadership in their respective fields”, he stated, informing that to participate in the congress, registrations are now open and can be made through the website ticket.ao.
Source: ANGOP
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