Interviewer: Mahmoud Mansi
Edited by: Nada Adel Sobhi
- 1-HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: How do you describe your job as a police officer?
Ziad Amer: I like disciplined life. Being a police officer is about how to serve and provide security not being a bully. This is the (武道) “Budō” way of life. [‘Budō’ is a Japanese term which means the ‘Martial arts way’].
- 2-HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: You have taken several management courses. As a police officer you deal with different kinds of people, did management principles have any influence on your job?
Ziad Amer: The hint is the hadith of our prophet Mohamed (PBUH):
“I was obligated to communicate with people each according to their awareness.”
It is important to note that while dealing with others, the main aspect is to be modest and a good listener. You don’t have to know everything as much as you need to learn how to cope.
- 3-HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: Tell us about your career with the UN, and how you were rapidly promoted there in a short time?
Ziad Amer: I joined two missions with the UN. The first was in the years 1999-2000 in Bosnia and the second was in 2007-2008 in East Timor. I guess the main aspects were based on how to improve myself and my language. This gave me the power to move forward easily along with others.
- 4-HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: When you were young, you used to be a scout. What did you learn most from that?
Ziad Amer: Discipline, how to be responsible for others, how to depend on myself as well how to deal with and solve puzzles.
- 5-HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: You practice Taekwondo and Aikido. How do you define martial arts? And what did you learn most from them?
Ziad Amer: It’s already defined by itself. It’s an “Art” and to follow the path of Art you have to be full of passion. It is wrong to link the definition of martial arts with how strong you are. This pattern will no doubt warp the meaning of the Art. My reference in this is the hadith of Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) that the strong is that one who can control his antagonism. This Art in particular gave me self-confidence.
- 6-HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: Who are your role models in martial arts? What did you learn most from these people?
Ziad Amer: The one that I am still learning from is Sensei Gawad Adham, as well as my Aikido teacher Sensei Medhat Darwish. The main thing that I learnt from both is to practice the art for self-discipline. What is interesting about this is that even though I reached the peak. I’m still on the path of learning.
- 7-HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: How can a manager become a great Sensei to his or her employees?
Ziad Amer: To be humble, a good communicator, full of faith and to be one who can easily transmit positive energy to his/her employees. The most important thing is that the employees believe in this manager.
- 8-HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: Tell us please about your experience in Indonesia?
Ziad Amer: I performed my duty as a firearm instructor and self-defense tactics instructor at the Local Police Academy in East Timor. The situation there was intense. The strange thing was that in order to be secure, you had to be protected by a gang!
- 9-HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: Why are you interested in Sufism and how do you define it?
Ziad Amer: Sufism is the way you are in your own shrine. It involves dealing with others with decent manners. Never ever differentiate between people. Sufism is the bright way of life. Never hate or never feel distressed, always smile, be optimistic when everyone is feeling the opposite. Never lose hope in Allah.
- 10-HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: Do you think reading about the concepts of Sufism would make one a better manager?
Ziad Amer: Sufism is how to manage yourself with others using manners. This verifies the Hadith of our prophet Mohamed (PBUH): “I was sent to fulfill morals.” So if we fulfill this particular concept while dealing with others at least we manage ourselves. This will positively influence others and our relationships with them.
- 11-HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: You are enrolled in several studies, and currently you are having your diploma in Law. This is the case with many ambitious officers too. How do your superiors feel about that? Do they encourage you or is it irrelevant to them?
Ziad Amer: Being ambitious is a characteristic of mine and it has nothing to do with my superiors. I want to challenge myself, build my world and improve it, so I can easily convey this positive message to senior officers. I’d like to think that I gave sincere confidence to those who asked for my guidance.
- 12-HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: Can you share with us a personal lesson that life has taught you?
Ziad Amer: It was so hard on me when I first learnt that my father had cancer in the bladder, which was at a critical stage. The day he began his medication course was the same day I came back from the UN mission. It was considerable challenge to embrace the idea that he had cancer and to avoid telling him about it. I managed this feat by asking his doctors to create a fake story about his condition. He lived with the cancer for almost a year before he passed away. In my opinion, I think it was a good thing that I did this as it protected him and kept his spirits high, as opposed to his state of mind if he’d known he was living with cancer.
- 13-HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: What advice would you give students and young policemen who want to establish a good career in this field?
Ziad Amer: We must work hard, study, fight to serve others, and remain a good example for others if we are keen to change our situation and world.
- HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: Thank you so much for this interview Sensei Ziad, and for your continuous passion towards learning and making a difference.