MANAGERIAL EXCELLENCE: RAISING THE STANDARD IN NIGERIAN ORGANISATIONS

In 2025, good management is not enough to keep businesses afloat, especially in Nigeria's fast-moving and unpredictable landscape. Rising inflation, shaky infrastructure, and fierce competition demand something more: managerial excellence—leadership that combines strategy, adaptability, and purpose.

What Is Managerial Excellence?
Managerial excellence isn't about memorising KPIs—it's about achieving consistent results through people, process, and purpose. It's leading with clarity, empathy, and accountability. It's about empowering teams to perform under pressure, make wise decisions, and stay aligned with mission-proof values.

A Real Case: Ada's Turnaround
In Lagos, Ada led a fintech team drowning in project delays and high turnover. Through Tom Associates' leadership coaching, she learned goal setting, feedback delivery, and team alignment strategies. Today, her unit hits every target and boasts one of the highest retention rates in the company. That's managerial excellence in action.

The Five Pillars of Excellence (With Nigerian Examples)

1.   Vision & Purpose
Managers need to do more than assign tasks—they must paint a picture of why the work matters. When Nigerian managers articulate how everyday tasks drive broader outcomes, confusion clears and motivation rises.

2.   Execution under Pressure
Infrastructure delays and bureaucratic challenges are common. Managers who excel anticipate risks, create workarounds, and deliver despite obstacles.

Example: A logistics leader in Aba rerouted deliveries overnight via WhatsApp coordination and GPS traffic insights to dodge fuel scarcity zones. The deliveries arrived on time, and clients stayed loyal.

3.   People-Centred Leadership
Whether in commercial banks or startups, Nigerian teams respect leaders who show genuine interest. Building rapport through listening and empathy connects people to the vision. 
Tunde, at a telecom firm, saw productivity dip until he began personal one-on-ones. Learning about personal challenges and career hopes improved trust, and output soared.

4.  Agility & Innovation
In volatile Nigerian markets—fuel price spikes, currency swings, changing policies—excellent managers pivot quickly.

Example: During COVID lockdowns, a Port Harcourt bank manager revamped operations: mobile banking via motorbike teams and tablets. Branch transactions rose 18%.

5.   Integrity & Accountability
Ethical leadership drives credibility. In Nigeria, where corporate scandals hit headlines, managers who uphold integrity stand out.

Example: A supply chain manager discovered vendor kickbacks and proactively tightened procurement controls, averting millions in losses and earning wider respect

Why It Matters More in Nigeria
Economic instability and brain drain have left a leadership vacuum at many Nigerian firms. High-performing managers are no longer optional—they're the backbone. They drive employee engagement, customer satisfaction, and operational resilience. Whether in Enugu, Port Harcourt, Kano or across West Africa, managerial excellence is the differentiator between survival and success.

How Tom Associates Builds Managerial Excellence
It's not innate—it's taught. We move beyond theory with localised training, real-world case studies, and peer learning.

• Workshops and simulations rooted in relatable Nigerian business scenarios
• Executive coaching to help managers build real emotional and strategic muscles
• Peer learning circles where leaders across industries share wins and challenges

Our attendees lead change at top banks, multinationals, government agencies, and tech startups—transforming teams into purpose-driven performers.

Final Thoughts: It Starts with Great Managers
Managerial excellence is authentic leadership in action, not just delegation. It turns team members into owners. In Nigeria's dynamic environment—which demands speed and flexibility—managers who can lead strategically and ethically elevate organisations.

You don't rise to ambition—you rise to execution. And execution starts with excellent managers.
Ready to elevate your managers? Get in touch with Tom Associates and start the journey.

Temitope Jegede,
July 31, 2025