Total E&P Qatar recently conducted its ‘Working together in a team’ training, part of the Total Management Programme, for the first time in the Middle East. It was held in two sessions - April 16-18 and April 21-23 - at Qatar National Convention Centre, Doha.
The management training was organised with the objective of providing employees with necessary tools to develop their performance while working in a team. The event also included participation by employees from Dolphin Energy and Total ABK (Abu Dhabi).
The training focused on specific situations that young managers faced in their day-to-day work, emphasising on public presentations, leading meetings, negotiation, team meetings, setting objectives, time management, constructive criticism and management change.
In addition to presentations and interactive sessions, cooking was a surprise activity that was appreciated by the participants. It was designed to test their ability to manage themselves effectively under time constraints.
Hend Hassan from Total Research Centre Qatar, who participated in the training, said: “The ‘Working together in a team’ training was very helpful and professional, and the topics covered were powerful. Some of the things I have learned is how to be patient even if I am not comfortable with a certain situation, how to say no in a polite manner, how to deliver unpleasant messages in a good way, how to run a constructive meeting and many other communication skills. It was fun, interesting and educative, and I am glad to have been a part of it.”
The training, a key component of the compulsory training for young managers of Total worldwide, usually takes place in Paris. By bringing it to the Middle East for the first time, Total E&P Qatar substantially increased the opportunity for locally recruited young managers to participate in the training.
Carolina Pretzel, deputy HR manager at Total E&P Qatar, stressed the importance of team-building programmes.
“Teamwork is not only about getting the work done satisfactorily, but also about involving people in creative roles and ensuring that success is achieved by working together. We conducted our first ‘Working together in a team’ training with great success so as to enable our employees to familiarise with each other and learn how to work together. It also helped us understand how we could better delegate, become more efficient, successfully exchange ideas and support each other,” said Pretzel. “At Total, we realise that a strong team environment is a support mechanism for all staff members. So, we will continue to develop opportunities to encourage team growth within the company.”
Stephane Michel, managing director of Total E&P Qatar, said the initiative marked a major contribution to Qatarisation. “The ability to get people of different nationalities and cultural origins to work together is a key success factor for a manager here in Qatar. Successful Qatarisation means that a newly recruited Qatari in a managing position should be provided with the most recent leadership training available within the company, and eventually contribute to improving it,” said Michel.