Dr. Mike Egboh is well-known in the international development sector as a visionary leader, an activist, pioneer, advocate, educator, and innovator per excellence. A specialist in the healthcare development sector and currently a Principal Associate with the Abts Associate Incorporated based in Bethesda in the United States of America and the National Programme Manager/Chief of Party of the UKaid (formally DfID) biggest funded health project in the world, the State Lead Program, Partnership for Transforming Health Systems, Phase II (PATHS2), with a focus on transforming Nigeria’s Health system through astounds in service delivery and strides in governance. In this interview with Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf he shares his experience in managing material and human resources
Talking about management style, what works for you?
I follow the doctrine of Jesus. Jesus came with a mission and because he knew that he needed to succeed he got people, in this case, disciples that would understudy him, and possibly take over from him when he leaves. There is a book called Jesus Is My CEO. It is one of the books I have been reading which tells you how Jesus Christ trained and mentored people and all of that. People like Peter and Paul were able to take over and do exactly the same thing that he did.
Having said that, I will say, I’m result-focused. I took the current job because I was able to visualise how the future would look like from the beginning. I think outside the box.
People sometimes call me autocratic but I tell you as a leader, there are times you have to take hard decisions. Even if that person is your wife, if you’re a leader you must not shy away from taking that decision in order to ensure harmony in the system. Because there is this management principle that if you don’t get rid of your baggage, the baggage will get rid of you.
There are times for such moment of decision. Of course, there would be hues and cries but as a leader you must not falter as this point. The project is moving or the system is moving and the problem is removed.
Do you ever micromanage?
I don’t micromanage. I have a weakness. My weakness is I don’t know why people don’t get it. If I ask you to do something and you don’t get, I cannot understand. Though I’m getting better now. I’m an impatient person that gives you assignment just now and want you to deliver it to me yesterday and very fast too! I can’t just understand why you don’t get what I’m getting , as such I think you should be inside my brain to know where I’m coming from and where I’m going; which is wrong!
I don’t micromanage at all but I give people responsibility because as I said earlier Jesus mentored and nurtured his disciples. So, it gives me joy to see my subordinates are also delivering on assignments. That is only possible if you invest time and resources in training your staff.
I just came back from the US, and two of my staff who went with me were making presentations and I watched them and I immediately sent them emails congratulating them on a job well-done. I also sent the emails to their colleagues.
So, for me, I see myself as a human capacity builder. If I say I have over 1, 000 professionals that I have personally trained across the world I ‘m not exaggerating. They are in US, South Africa, UK, you name it. I’m not joking. Some of them are in very senior positions. I have mentored their career. I believe in it.
I don’t micromanage. I can tell you what to do. I use my pen to mark like a teacher and say have you done this or that, what about this one, what about that one? Or I can tell you go and do it even if it’s painful for you, I’ll tell you to go and do it because I don’t just see myself as a manager, I see myself as somebody who is molding a character.
I recall one of my staff who was always going to the toilet whenever she hears my voice, I’m not joking. (Laughs). But she is better for it. It is just like what happened after the death of Jesus, his disciples took over his mission. That is why we have the Acts of Apostle, Ephesians, etc. those are the things they did based on the master. So, I want more members of my staff to take the driver’s seat. I do visionary leadership, but it is result-oriented.
You talked about taking decisions, what are some of the toughest decisions you have had to take as a CEO?
It is letting somebody go, especially someone close to me. I have also had to take decisions based on my personal conviction and not in sync with management’s thinking. But I knew deep down within me that it was the right thing to do even though the organisation did not support it. So, you do it. I’m a risk taker; I take a lot of risk. If you fail, they would trash you, but I take those risks it doesn’t matter.
In terms of motivation, how do you go around it?
It’s God that rewards, we only award. I praise people. I gave an example about the presentation. That is motivation. The other thing is that I encourage them to go for in-service training for may be two to three weeks, because I believe that would boost their morale. It’s a learning process. A number of them, I give them career chats and I take regular feedback from them.
But I must say human beings are pretty difficult to manage. The next thing I will do is to probably go into farming. You know, you just water plants and go to sleep but in dealing with humans you have to be ready to undergo a lot of stress, sleepless nights. (Laughs).
What puts you off?
One thing I hate most is corruption. I’m very vocal, blunt, brutal and fair. I don’t get along with some people very well because they don’t like my guts. Some people would not want me on their panel not because I can’t deliver on the job or assignment but because they think I will expose.
What drives you as an individual?
I have always this desire to give. If both of us are struggling for something, I would rather leave it for you instead of the other way round because if you leave it for me, I will feel guilty at the end. If you borrow money me, if I see you coming I will run instead of the other way round because I don’t want you to see me and think, oh, he wants to ask for his money? So that is why I don’t do business because I can’t handle it. I’m being honest. I’m very passionate about people, especially people who are handicapped. I have trained more men than women. I’m moved by needy. I like to see people succeed. Though some of them don’t return to pay homage but I cherish training my staff any timer any day.
How do you unwind, do you have a choice holiday resort and all that?
Oh yes, it’ Seychelles. I also prefer to go to Ghana rather than US, or UK.
