SKOPOS Consulting, a leading organization development (OD) solutions firm in the Middle East and Africa, has called on business organizations in the GCC to focus on the development of soft skills as part of a concerted effort to improve the overall performance of employees and enhance the business climate. SKOPOS Consulting pointed out studies that have shown that interpersonal skills, communication skills, responsiveness, ethics, inventiveness, ability to work in a team, and a positive attitude towards change have significant impact in boosting performance across all levels of the organization, from entry-level employees to senior management positions. Organizational capability to respond to change is increased through organizational development. The approach used by SKOPOS, changes the behaviors and beliefs of employees so that they can better adapt to new challenges. Soft skills enable employees and managers to perform optimally across all job categories and levels. Dr. Hussein El Kazzaz, managing director of SKOPOS Consulting, said “there is a pressing need to promote organisational development in the GCC to complement the growing reputation of the region as a fast-emerging business and investment hub. In particular, enhancing the soft skills of the regional talent is crucially important at this time of recovery after a challenging period during the global financial crisis. Employees should not only be able to handle challenges that are purely technical, but also be able to manage problems that are emotional, social or cultural in nature.” “The Middle East has been a priority area for SKOPOS Consulting because of the region's strong business and growth potential. The organizational development solutions offered by SKOPOS are customized to serve as a powerful tool in boosting organizational effectiveness and performance in the GCC,” added El Kazzaz. SKOPOS Consulting has also noted that increasing numbers of firms in the region are seeking soft skills solutions to help with employee retention. This is crucial considering that employee turnover has been proved to be a costly and time-consuming exercise, ultimately affecting the performance of business organizations and losing valuable talent to competitors. SKOPOS Consulting uses both soft and hard management tools to implement organizational change with its clients in the Middle East and Africa. The company utilizes a mix of coaching, conflict management, team building, leadership development, communication, succession planning, performance management and other proven organizational development tools to help its clients become highly effective. Originally founded in 1991 in San Jose, CA, SKOPOS Consulting moved to establish its Middle East presence in 2002. It is now fully-owned, managed and operated independently by the Middle East team. It currently offers its services across a range of industries, including technology, government and telecommunications. The company has offices in Dubai, Cairo, Bahrain and Kenya.
