Commercial Bank of Dubai becomes the first bank in the Middle East to earn the ILM Level 5 Award certificate

Commercial Bank of Dubai becomes the first bank in the Middle East to earn the ILM Level 5 Award certificate in Coaching and Mentoring

CBD invests in its staff by creating a corporate coaching culture

• Bank’s senior managers lead the way in developing this coaching culture
• Thirteen managers have completed the program in July; 14 will finish in September; while another 38 will complete the training by the end of 2013

The top management of the Commercial Bank of Dubai received their Level 5 certificates for Coaching and Mentoring from the UK-based Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) during a ceremony held in the Bank’s headquarters in Dubai.

ILM is an awarding body for leadership and management qualifications in the UK. Aligned to the UK’s Qualifications and Credit Framework, ILM qualifications begin at Level 2, such as the ILM Award in Team Leading, and continue up to Level 7.

CBD is the first bank in the Middle East to earn the ILM Level 5 Award in Coaching and Mentoring, the highest rate achieved by a corporate institution in the region. This qualification enhances a practicing manager's capability as a leader to influence, guide and develop those around them through the power of coaching.

Thirteen CBD managers have completed the program in July; 14 will graduate in September; while another 38 Senior Management will complete the training by the end of 2013. The bank undertook this training within its initiative of “CBD leading the way”, a strategy meant to propagate the corporate coaching culture. The program and the graduation ceremony conveyed the message that CBD is investing in its staff, and that its senior managers lead the way in a corporate coaching culture. More managers of the bank are expected to receive their ILM qualifications by 2014.

As per ILM research, a corporate coaching culture has the following benefits: improved self-awareness; increased confidence; better business knowledge and skills in specific areas; improvements in communication and interpersonal skills, leadership 
and management, conflict resolution, motivation, preparation for a new role or promotion and, on occasions, combating aggressive behaviour.

In honour of the 13 senior managers who completed the first batch, the bank held an ILM Level 5 Coaching and Mentoring Graduation Awards Day, attended by CEO Peter Baltussen; Deputy CEO Yaqoob Yousuf Hassan; Shorouk Al Redha, HR Head; and Wiaam Hashem, Head of Employee Development.

Congratulating the top CBD managers who received the ILM Level 5 certificate, Baltussen said, “Coaching ensures that you can empower delegates. Empowering delegation is not just about improving your creditor; it’s also about empowering people to provide the best service, whether it is internal or external. And coaching empowers people to do this.

“Staff empowerment helps enhance their performance and skills, creates pleasure at work, and results in a more motivated team. I am very pleased that our senior managers have taken the time to undergo this program. It gives me great confidence that you will all take this course to the next level. I would be pleased to be able to say that everybody in this bank, from all levels, can say ‘I have a coach’.

Deputy CEO Yaqoob Yousuf Hassan added, “I hope that this initiative will inspire other staff and other organizations to develop their staff in coaching because at the end of the day, coaching has a real direct effect – from improved performance to bringing on enhanced bottom line results.”