𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧’𝐬 𝐂𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦: 𝐀 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

…𝑯𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒃𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒊𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑩𝒉𝒖𝒕𝒂𝒏’𝒔 𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒂𝒍𝒔, 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝑴𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑪𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒍 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎

By Yeshey Lhadon

At the recent Bhutan Innovation Forum, a distinguished panel of experts engaged in a thought-provoking discussion on leadership’s pivotal role in shaping Bhutan’s ongoing transformation. The session brought together four accomplished figures in leadership Keith Ferrazzi, Gertrude Ingestard, Christian Grazer, and Dasho Karma Tshiteem who each offered unique perspectives on transformational leadership and its relevance to Bhutan’s future growth.

Keith Ferrazzi, the founder of Ferrazzi Greenlight, conversation by stressing the power of setting “audacious goals.” He drew parallels to the bold vision of entrepreneurs like Elon Musk, whose moonshot goals have revolutionized industries, and urged Bhutanese leaders to think similarly.

According to Ferrazzi, Bhutan is already on a remarkable trajectory, led by His Majesty the King and the Prime Minister, who have set extraordinary national objectives. These goals include doubling the GDP and creating a “mindfulness city,” initiatives designed to transform Bhutan into a beacon of growth, sustainability, and well-being. Ferrazzi underscored that once these grand ambitions are outlined, the next critical steps are to break them into actionable tasks, ensure strategic alignment across various sectors, and build a culture of performance.

Collaboration and teamwork, he emphasized, are essential in realizing such goals. Leaders must embrace agile processes to foster a results-driven mindset, leveraging the collective strengths of teams to drive change. For Bhutan, these insights underscore the importance of a united national effort.

Gertrude Ingestard, former Director-General at the European Commission, expanded on the importance of authenticity in leadership. Authenticity, according to Ingestard, is the bedrock of effective leadership. For Bhutan to succeed in its transformational journey, leaders must foster environments where trust and open communication flourish.

Ingestard emphasized the importance of clarity in leadership, ensuring that all team members understand the overarching vision and feel supported in their roles. Leaders, she said, must not only communicate effectively but also be brave enough to admit when they make mistakes, cultivating an atmosphere of transparency and humility.

Authentic leadership builds trust and fosters resilience within teams, which will be key as Bhutan continues to navigate the challenges of national reform and transformation.

Christian Grazer, an executive coach and former partner at the Boston Consulting Group, offered a nuanced perspective on leadership. In today’s world, leadership is not solely about vision and execution but, as Grazer explained, about leading with heart, building meaningful relationships with those one leads.

Drawing inspiration from Martin Luther King Jr., Grazer noted that leadership is about service, collaboration, and inspiring collective action. For Bhutan, this aligns well with its focus on Gross National Happiness, where well-being is prioritized alongside economic growth. The concept of mindfulness, which Bhutan has championed globally, ties directly into Grazer’s call for leaders to connect deeply with people.

Grazer’s insights reinforced the idea that leadership in Bhutan must not only guide the nation toward progress but also ensure that the journey is deeply connected to the well-being and happiness of its citizens.

Dasho Karma Tshiteem , Chair of Bhutan National Bank, brought a local perspective with his “Triple D” leadership framework, setting direction, ensuring delivery, and driving performance. Sitter stressed that transformational leadership in Bhutan requires an increased emphasis on people and effective risk management, especially as the nation undertakes large-scale reforms.

Dasho Karma Tshiteem highlighted Bhutan’s ongoing civil service reform, a critical part of the country’s broader transformation. Initiated by His Majesty the King in December 2020, this reform is designed to bring Bhutan’s civil service into the 21st century, better equipping it to handle the challenges of a future dominated by AI, big data, and robotics.

Civil service reform, as Dasho Karma explained, is not without its challenges. Resistance to change is common, and leaders must inspire and connect with individuals to overcome such hurdles. Dasho Karma’s “Triple D” approach provides a roadmap for Bhutan’s leaders to steer the nation toward success while keeping people at the heart of the transformation.

Dasho Karma’s presentation on Bhutan’s civil service reform provided a deeper look at one of the country’s most ambitious initiatives. Announced by His Majesty the King in 2020, this wide-scale reform aims to align Bhutan’s civil service with the evolving demands of a modern economy.

The reform initiative includes streamlining performance management processes, fostering innovation, and ensuring that civil servants are equipped to meet the challenges of the 21st century. A significant part of the reform involves restructuring, including the exit of many senior officials and the promotion of younger, dynamic leaders ready to lead Bhutan into the future.

As Bhutan builds a high-performance culture within its civil service, the nation is becoming a global example of how small countries can leverage leadership principles to implement bold reforms and national transformation.

One of Bhutan’s most exciting and ambitious initiatives is the development of the “Mindfulness City.” This project aims to transform Bhutan’s capital into a space that embodies the values of well-being, sustainability, and innovation. The Mindfulness City seeks to be a model for future urban development globally, focusing on democratizing access to resources, fostering learning, and embedding mindfulness into the fabric of daily life.

Keith Ferrazzi highlighted this project as an example of how transformational leadership can turn visionary goals into reality. He pointed out that while ambitious, the Mindfulness City also faces numerous challenges that will require strong leadership and clear purpose to overcome. Bhutan’s commitment to mindful progress, however, places it in a unique position to execute such an innovative project successfully.

Another key element of Bhutan’s transformational journey is the recently launched National Service Program, initiated by His Majesty on September 5th, 2024. This ground-breaking program aims to shape Bhutanese youth into future leaders by providing an 11-month residential training program that covers military training, national education, and essential life skills.

The National Service Program is a bold initiative that seeks to instill discipline, character, and accountability in Bhutan’s young citizens. It represents a crucial step in nation-building, ensuring that the next generation of Bhutanese is equipped to lead and contribute to the country’s progress. As Dasho Karma noted during the conference, the program aligns with the Triple D framework, providing direction, ensuring effective delivery of skills, and driving national performance.

The Bhutan Transformation Conference offered a comprehensive look at the role of leadership in guiding the nation’s ambitious transformation. From setting audacious goals to fostering authentic relationships, the insights shared by Keith Ferrazzi, Gertrude Ingestard, Christian Grazer, and Dasho Karma highlighted the essential traits needed in Bhutan’s leaders.

With initiatives like the civil service reform, the Mindfulness City project, and the National Service Program, Bhutan is taking bold steps toward a prosperous and mindful future. The nation’s leadership, rooted in both visionary goals and a deep connection to the well-being of its people, serves as a model for transformational leadership on the global stage.

As Bhutan continues to navigate its transformational journey, the importance of leadership excellence is characterized by boldness, authenticity, and empathy that remains ever more crucial to the nation’s continued success.