“Have you ever wondered what makes a manager great? And how can they spot and keep talented employees who really make a difference?”

That was the question Sir Mick Nades, the founder of IBSUniversity, asked to kick off an exciting three-day training event.

From November 22nd to 24th, IBSUniversity hosted a yearly in-house training for staff at the Mt. Eriama Campus in Port Moresby. Fourteen participants from different departments took part in the event, all eager to improve their skills and learn more about being a great manager and recognising talent.

The training was based on the book “First, Break All the Rules” by Marcus Buckingham. The event was led by Sir Mick Nades, IBSUniversity’s Founder, along with other experts, including Mr. Arnold Harriman, Senior Lecturer in the School of Business and Management, Dr Emmanuel Aquino, Head of the School of Economics and Development Studies, and Professor Ramachandran Arunachalam, Vice Chancellor of IBSUniversity.

Day 1: Setting Up for Success

The first day of training kicked off with two big questions: What do great employees need to succeed? And how do great managers keep their teams happy and motivated? The session was full of useful tips and practical ideas for building strong teams that work well together.

After the discussion, everyone got involved in a fun sports activity. It wasn’t just for fun – it helped everyone understand what makes a great manager and talented employees. Think of it like a coach and their team. The goal was to show how a great manager supports and guides a team of skilled employees, concentrating on four key factors that keep the team strong and successful.

Day 2: Measuring Success and Learning from Great Managers

Day two started with a session called The Measuring Stick. In this session, the group learned how to create a workplace that attracts and keeps talented employees. They also talked about how happy employees can lead to better results for the company.

Next up, Sir Mick Nades shared The Wisdom of Great Managers, which followed a video on managing people, giving the trainees key concepts of becoming better leaders. In the afternoon, the group learned about how companies today pick the best employees and help them grow. They also learned the first key: Selecting for Talent. Sir Mick explained that having clear goals helps managers pick the right people for their teams.

Bradley Honge, Team Leader in the Student Services Department, said, “I learned that hiring for talent is just as important as hiring for skills and qualifications because skills and knowledge can always be taught. Not talent.”

Then, the group played two more sporting games to help them understand the idea of selecting the right people for the team. After that, Mr. Arnold Harriman led a session on the second key: Defining the Right Outcomes. The group also watched another video on Motivating Your Employees, which showed how creating the right work environment can help employees do their best work.

After two sports games for engaging the concept of selecting for talent, Mr. Arnold Harriman led a session on The 2nd Key: Defining the Right Outcomes. A video on Motivating Your Employees showed how creating the right work environment can help employees do their best work.

Day 3: Building on Strengths and Finding the Right Fit

The last day of training began with another fun sports activity to get everyone in the right mood. Then, the group moved on to the 3rd Key: Focus on Strengths, led by Dr. Emmanuel Aquino, the Dean of the School at IBSUniversity. The session was interactive, and participants learned how focusing on people’s strengths can help both individuals and teams do better.

The day also featured a video on Valuing Diversity at the Interpersonal Level, showing how recognizing and respecting different talents helps teams to succeed.

Finally, the group moved to The 4th Key: Find the Right Fit, where they learned how to match the right people with the right jobs for long-term success. Two more sports activities were played before the second last session, Turning the Keys, which was led by IBSUniversity’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Ram Arunachalam.

The event wrapped up with a Game of Puzzle, a fun hands-on activity that reinforced the notion of how problem-solving can make a big difference. The final day’s session ended with Living the Culture, which was also facilitated by Professor Arunachalam. This session taught everyone how to apply what they had learned to their everyday work-life.

‘I support the idea of “First Break all the Rules’, because traditionally managers will focus on the weakness of an employee and helping them to grow. But I believe that should not be the case because, for instance, one of the sports activities we played as part of the training was volleyball, I am a good volleyball player but my team mates were not, and so it slowed the game down. So likewise in your team or department, you can be a talented employee but if you are surrounded by people who are not sure of what they must do, you bet the team will not produce the best outcome, “Tanya Tore, Quality Assurance Analyst, IBSUniversity.

Certification and Closing Ceremony

After three days of professional learning, all the participants were awarded certificates to recognise their hard work. Melissa Hatabia, a Research Assistant Officer, shared her thoughts, saying, “What I’ve learned from this training is to concentrate on the strengths of talented employees.”

IBSUniversity’s Centre of Excellence was proud to offer this valuable training to its talented employees in Port Moresby. We’re excited to keep helping future leaders grow, helping them spot talent and create successful workplaces in Papua New Guinea.

For more details and to sign up for upcoming programs, visit IBSUniversity’s website or contact:

About IBS Centre of Excellence

Officially opened on 13^th March 2020 by the then Prime Minister Peter O’Neil, The IBSU Centre of Excellence has been helping people and organisations grow for over ten years through its professional training programmes. Well-known companies like the Bank of South Pacific and the National Gaming Control Board (NGCB) often send their staff to learn new skills here. With a fresh approach to sharing its story, the Centre is set to reach more people, strengthen its reputation, and continue training the leaders of tomorrow.

Editing & Narrative Direction: IBSU Library & Information Department