Uncorking Your Leadership Genie

MELA DAY THREE, 15 MARCH 2011

There are genies in these bottles. One part of MELA is about releasing your inner genie. Character and imagination fizzed and flowed today as MELA members looked inwards to consider how their personality types and cultural styles complemented and conflicted with others around them.





Know yourself first: You can’t lead others if you don’t understand yourself. Hania explains to Gamil and his crossarmed friends that women require hand gestures to communicate fully.






Facilitators Tom McCandlish and Andrew Summers demonstrate their own forms of expressive communication.








Planning a trip with a P-type (“Perceiving”) personality preference. Radwa and Sarah have decided to go to Croatia for their holiday. Italy is also an option. Or maybe to India? Or maybe nowhere?

Force Lyutha to go to a party when she isn't in the mood? Not a chance!












All stop, time for a break. Clearly, the message hasn’t reached Lama and Steven yet.

The message certainly has reached Omar and Faye, though.














For Haya and Hitham, relaxation means continuing an intense discussion.

But the busy bees in the MELA office are already working on the next session.

In today's world, successful leaders must be able to communicate with people from many different regional and global cultures. Clark Plexico (Country Director for Uzbekistan, National Democratic Institute) shows how.





So, a nice, simple question to kick off the proceedings. Your starter for ten: What is culture?

Hazem, Sandra, Adey assess their cross-cultural proficiencies.

Afternoon tea, and it's Happy Birthday Part 1 to Mr. John and Ms. Shamma (celebrating her official passport birthday today).

Happy Birthday Part 2: Arabian warriors John and Shamma wield a sword to slay their cake in a one-sided battle.

See you tomorrow for more MELA!