One of my friends loves dragging me with her whenever she goes to buy a new abaya not only because I have the patience to haggle, but also because my being there has resulted in her receiving her first properly fitting abayas in a long time.
It all started when I first accompanied her to a boutique to try on one of the ready-made designs on display. My friend stepped out of the fitting room wearing an abaya that looked like it was made for someone twice her size. The tailor made my friend stand facing three mirrors and his assistant stood behind her awaiting instructions from her boss and me.
The assistant started pinning the abaya and marking the garment for alterations. After she finished, she stepped back and the tailor and her both looked at me. I pointed to the shoulder and the sleeves width and shook my head no. The assistant made further marks to tighten the sleeve. She looked up at me and I shook my head no. I could see that my friend was losing patience.
The tailor and his assistant then both suggested that the fitting would be better if we tightened the abaya from the top. Bingo. The fitting process and discussion took almost an hour, but I left content knowing that my friend would look awesome in her abaya and would not have to go back and forth to the tailor to fit it properly as she had done before.
For my friend, the experience was long and boring, and she was relieved the minute we stepped out of the boutique. In the car she asked me why had I not just grabbed the pins and chalk and shown the tailor exactly what to do instead of wasting all that time.
With my experience in dealing with numerous tailors for my small fashion line, I told her that if I had done as she suggested then I would be solely blamed for the outcome had the abaya turned out to be bad, because they would say that they had done as I said. Instead, if I tell them what the desired end result is, and they had to achieve it, then they would be responsible for the outcome. Plus they will do a better job because they had a say in it.
This lesson that I learnt from my fashion experience stayed with me, and I often use it when I deal with different suppliers in the office or for my small business.
The office is no different. When I first started at work, I remember having to deal with graphic designers to lay out a monthly publication. At first, I used to send them a lengthy email every month detailing how every page should look, where the tables and figures should go. I often got the result exactly the way I wanted, leaving no room for their creativity, and if there was a mistake in the design then I was to blame, because I was the only one with a say in it.
And so I tried a different approach, where I gave the professionals autonomy and trusted their skills. The end result was less stressful for me, and almost error-free when it came to design and layout.
Unfortunately many managers and leaders do not provide room for their employees to be creative. They sometimes forget that their subordinates are professionals who want to save time and achieve their goals as error-free and swiftly as possible.
Ever notice that you were more excited to work on an assignment when your teacher gave you a general guideline instead of a detailed one and you had the choice of topic and presentation? Perhaps you even scored higher on that one.
Dealing with businesses and employees is no different than the classroom. Describing the end outcome and then letting the skilled professionals get to it in their own way result in remarkable outcomes. No worry is needed. If they did not understand what the manager meant, they will ask.
But if the supervisors just provide the employees with insight on the company's direction and mission, and then gives them space to achieve it, they might be surprised at their employees creative and innovative ways, especially when it comes to sales and marketing.
They would be surprised at what a little autonomy could result in.
Manar Al Hinai is an award-winning Emirati writer and fashion designer based in Abu Dhabi
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The%20specs
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Empire of Enchantment: The Story of Indian Magic
John Zubrzycki, Hurst Publishers
Race card
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m
7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 2,400m
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
IF YOU GO
The flights
FlyDubai flies direct from Dubai to Skopje in five hours from Dh1,314 return including taxes. Hourly buses from Skopje to Ohrid take three hours.
The tours
English-speaking guided tours of Ohrid town and the surrounding area are organised by Cultura 365; these cost €90 (Dh386) for a one-day trip including driver and guide and €100 a day (Dh429) for two people.
The hotels
Villa St Sofija in the old town of Ohrid, twin room from $54 (Dh198) a night.
St Naum Monastery, on the lake 30km south of Ohrid town, has updated its pilgrims' quarters into a modern 3-star hotel, with rooms overlooking the monastery courtyard and lake. Double room from $60 (Dh 220) a night.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Review: Tomb Raider
Dir: Roar Uthaug
Starring: Alicia Vikander, Dominic West, Daniel Wu, Walter Goggins
two stars
The Sky Is Pink
Director: Shonali Bose
Cast: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim, Rohit Saraf
Three stars
MEDIEVIL%20(1998)
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The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
ARGYLLE
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
At a glance
Fixtures All matches start at 9.30am, at ICC Academy, Dubai. Admission is free
Thursday UAE v Ireland; Saturday UAE v Ireland; Jan 21 UAE v Scotland; Jan 23 UAE v Scotland
UAE squad Rohan Mustafa (c), Ashfaq Ahmed, Ghulam Shabber, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Shaiman Anwar, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Naveed, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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THREE
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