Gulf businessmen and executives were today urged by Edward de Bono, a leading creative thinker, to challenge boundaries and dominant ideas in order to improve themselves, their organisations and their communities.

De Bono was addressing a sell-out crowd of more than 300 delegates, VIPs and dignitaries from 10 countries during an interactive one-day event in Bahrain, organised by Global Leaders.

He said: “I ask you all to look at everything you do – even if it is satisfactory – and consider the alternatives. If something is adequate, it blocks any further thinking on that subject forever.

“We are so used to dealing with problems, we ignore all the areas where we can improve – simply because they aren’t causing us problems at the moment. But I want you to challenge it all,” he said.

Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, the Minister of the Prime Minister’s Court in Bahrain, opened the event.

De Bono said: “I am delighted to be back in a region that constantly breaks through the barriers of “what is possible”; a region whose leaders – both in government and in business – have facilitated an environment where nothing is impossible.”
 
Tina Schneidermann, president of Global Leaders, said: “Globalisation means we have access to better products, wider choice, and faster delivery times. But it also means that the very products and services we sell are becoming increasingly homogenised.

“The only way we can stand apart from our competition is the way in which our employees and our organisations think.”

Introducing Dr de Bono on stage, Yousef Al Essa, CEO of Addax Bank, said: “Gulf firms have a duty to re-invest in the region, whether through ideas, innovation, or people. They should look to add sustainable value to companies and projects.”

Addax Bank was the headline sponsor and TradeArabia.com was one of the event partners. – TradeArabia News Service