The HRDP Training Center offers leadership courses to managers and supervisors. – This course is very useful for my professional development, says Aynur Aliyeva, finance manager at Viator Microcredit and course participant.
Twelve participants from Viator and Norwegian Humanitarian Enterprise came together in Ismayili, Azerbaijan, for three days for a leadership training course. Led by ILO certified master trainer Azad Rahimov, the participants discussed the importance of communication among their co-workers.
- A leader needs to be approachable and make their employees feel valued; this is true leadership, Rahimov said in a session on motivation and the importance of affirmation to an audience of Viator and NHE managers. The subjects covered by the course range from salary discussions to teamwork, various leadership styles, solving conflicts in the workplace, visions, strategies and goals.
Work with the team
Aynur Aliyeva is finance manager for Viator Micro Credit Azerbaijan. She is participating at a professional development leadership course for the first time.
- The course is very useful for me. In this session we are working on good ways to interact with colleagues and co-workers and I am learning a lot for instance about internal and external motivation and what kind of person makes a good leader.
- What do you think are the most important qualities for a good leader?
- In my view a good leader should be honest, fair, and treat all employees equally, not give preference to anyone but showing kindness to everybody. I also think it is important for a leader to be polite and to not set himself/herself apart from the team, a good leader should work from within the team. When you work closely with your team, the team is devoted to you.
Professional development
Aliyeva is an accountant by profession and rose through the ranks at Viator, starting as a chief accountant, today she is heading a big team as finance manager supervising accountants, cashiers and credit consultants at six Viator branches.
-Would you recommend the leadership course to others?
- Yes, everybody needs to work at their professional development. I started as a secretary, now I am finance manager. It is possible to work your way up.
Aliyeva is particularly impressed with the different teaching methods. - I am a certified trainer myself and often teach courses. Azad Rahimov who is teaching this course is a professional and good course tutor. For instance I learnt a lot from a task where we had to make decisions under pressure by acting out a scenario about being mountain guides trapped in a dangerous situation and we had to make a decision about who to save. I decided with my heart, I am a mother and I decided to save the child in the group. It is very interesting to face these scenarios and try them out. It taught me a lot about making difficult ethical decisions under pressure.
- What do you think are the main challenges for leaders in Azerbaijan?
- To work against corruption, treat people equally, know your job. A leader needs to work well in his/her profession, upgrade experience and knowledge and develop professionally.
Over a period of four sessions Aliyeva together with Viator and NHE department heads will have completed a total of 80 hours and then be expected to apply learned skills in the work place.
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