As part of its Capacity Building programme, the WCO organized a Leadership and Management Development (LMD) workshop from 13 until 23 March 2017 in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Twenty senior managers of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) were inspired to strengthen their leadership and management capacities, as well as their personal effectiveness to drive reforms within their organisation.

The workshop was attended by a very diverse but strong group of participants whose enthusiasm and eagerness to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to lead and manage more effectively, was displayed from day one. With participants from different senior levels and divisions an important start was made to break down walls and barriers, especially between the different hierarchical levels. Building trust and openness and moments of honest feedback contributed highly to this development.

Top management of Bangladesh Customs showed by own active participation how important improved leadership and management for NBR is. With many activities and projects for the reform and modernisation of NBR, top management explained and demonstrated that it is the leadership and management skills, attitude and behaviour that are of key importance to NBR. The 20 participants were invited to pick up and further propagate these ideas. With personal testimonies at the end of the workshop participants demonstrated their motivation and commitment to use the workshop as a starting point for organisation-wide implementation of changes.

In the LMD workshop participants learn that knowing yourself and self-awareness, really understanding others, managing strategically, people management, outstanding communication skills and change management are the foundation for all actual and future challenges and changes of customs organizations.

For more information on the WCO Leadership and Management Development Programme, please contact Capacity.Building@wcoomd.org.