Wednesday, 1 May 2013

OUTSMART AND OUT GROW YOUR COMPETITORS – 3 Irrefutable Business Leadership Lessons from Outgoing CEO of BSP Mr. Ian Clyne



Mr. Clyne speaking to the media
I am extremely proud of what BSP has accomplished since my arrival in October 2008. Many people did not believe we could change and modernize BSP as much as we have” was the remark from Ian Clyne, BSP group Chief Executive Office who will be will be stepping down from the role he has served for 4 years.

Papua New Guinea is country where geographical constraints to provide much needed financial services to the large unbanked population in the rural areas as well as the low income earners in towns and cities around PNG possess greater financial and logistical challenges. But if there is a will, there is a way. This old adage holds true in this sense. Mr. Clyne otherwise has proven and I quote Mr. Clyne; “There is nothing and I mean nothing PNG can’t do”. 

This commentary has nothing to do with BSP’s achievement. It is not about the WHATs. It’s about the HOWs. The WHATs I live it to the other media to talk about.  Pacific Business Review as the intellectual business voice of PNG, providing insights into business, investments as well as economical, social development in the country, we take a more businesslike approach in looking at Mr. Clynes achievement over the 4 years. 

Yes. BSP has achieved so much. The roll out of ATMs, the Go Green Projects, One Million Kina competition, chairs to sit on the main branches, sponsorships, Student Accounts. Online and Mobile Transactions and soon to be introduced Wantok Money are just few of many things that happen along the way. I call all these the WHATs.

There were sleepless nights as Mr. Clyne worked 27/4 away from his family based in Australia. But has Mr. Clyne said;

You’ve got to be trustworthy and keep a professional image for thousands of people who money you look after”.
 
As a matter of fact, banking business is very challenging business to run. The smartly dressed executives you see every day must not only be smart in their physical appearances but also be very smart in their thinking. That is basically an ingredient of success Mr. Clyne brought into the then old pretty much localized BSP. Mr. Clyne brought a global business perspective into BSP given his long and globalised banking experience in Australia, Pakistan, Hong Kong, China, France, UK, Singapore, Indonesia, Italy and Poland. 

Mr. Clyne is a leader who I describe as globally literate. Meaning he has what it takes to lead a big organization such as BSP in the global financial playing field. When others saw a struggling BSP, Mr. Clyne saw BSP in his mind, as an emerging market leader. He saw the business potential in linking the unbanked rural mass with effective financial services. In the wake of the heated discussions on the topic of Financial Inclusion, discussed widely amongst corporate players and those in the corridors of power in Waigani, Mr. Clyne was already there. He made himself visible to those who really needed financial services, gaining favor and criticism all at the same time but capturing a lucrative market segment. And as every successful business leader would do, he used the power of network to drive his visions forward. He used the Bigger Better Network coverage provided by Digicel. 

Many will see the results and go woh! But not so many people will ask how he turned that localized bank into a globally competitive bank. Of course many Papua New Guineans are known for their ignorance attitude. The attitude to learn and model successful people and organizations. Most know how to brutally criticize when you fail, a characteristic that prevent many Papua New Guineans to realize their true potential and to rise to greater heights in career and business success. 

Few days ago I was listening to Jim Rohn, the foremost American business philosopher and self made millionaire. One success strategy he recommends is to learn from those who have been successful. Mr. Rohn said; “To become a lawyer, you study law. To become an engineer, you study engineering. To become an accountant, you study accounting. So to be successful, you must study success”
Pacific Business Review has taken the challenge to educate you with the success lessons, strategies, and principles or philosophies by interviewing successful business leaders and bring to you the key lessons that you need to change yourself and your organization and become successful as those successful business. Let me repeat what Mr. Clyne said, 

There is nothing and I mean nothing PNG can’t do”. That is the catch phrase for every Papua New Guinea, old, young, able, disable, literate, and illiterate, university graduate or street vendors. 

On his departing media conference, Mr. Clyne outline few but very powerful lessons he used to grow BSP to what it is known by many today. Transformation is the key word he used. To transform simply means to change from old to new. So how did he transform old BSP to a globally recognized bank? Using what I call Clyne’s 3P Leadership Strategy. These are the HOWs. WHATs as we know are the results of the HOWs. So it’s crucial to have the HOWs working efficiently and effectively in order to have the WHATS.
 
Clyne’s 3P Leadership strategy
1.       Process
2.       Product
3.       People 

The First P – Process

 The Second P – Product
The Third P - People 

Note: Clyne’s 3P Leadership strategy

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