Leaders Should Develop Coaching Skills, Says Outgoing OCBC Chief

It helps in communicating, understanding people and building networks: Helen Wong

- Sheila Chiang

Coaching is not just applicable to sports teams, but can also be a highly effective way of molding better leaders in the ever-competitive field of business.

That is the view of OCBC's outgoing group chief executive officer Helen Wong, who noted: "I highly recommend coaching. It opens up so much about the way you learn how to communicate, understand people, and... also helps you to build a network."

Ms Wong, who was speaking at a fireside chat at OCBC Campus on Aug 22, added that becoming a better leader does not happen overnight.

"As you gain more experience, you learn the skills and the communication, then you become a better leader," she said.

"I learnt, through the years, that as a leader, you cannot just order or instruct. You have to communicate."

Ms Wong, 64, will be stepping down on Dec 31, ending her time at OCBC that began in February 2020 as deputy president and head of global wholesale banking before assuming the CEO role in April 2021.