leadership

Are you a risk taker?

I think entrepreneurship lies within everyone, though not all possess the discipline it requires. While anyone can become an entrepreneur, not everyone aspires to be one; some prefer to rely on others, thinking it means less effort. I believe true entrepreneurship demands leadership, and a genuine leader never delegates tasks they wouldn't undertake themselves. Contact me via email for short discovery meeting when you are ready to take the next step on your journey.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, an entrepreneur is defined as "a person who sets up a business or businesses, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit."

““The caterpillar does all the work but the butterfly gets all the publicity.””
— George Carlin

The power of silence

A seed grows with no sound, but a tree falls with a resounding crash. The quiet, persistent process of growth contrasts starkly with the loud, sudden act of destruction. This stark difference illustrates a profound truth: destruction has noise, but creation thrives in silence. True growth happens quietly, away from the spotlight. I think those who seek to lead should embody this principle, nurturing progress through steady, silent effort. Leadership is not about loudly pointing out the flaws and weaknesses of others; it is about fostering growth and strength with patience and humility. Real leaders understand that the most impactful changes often happen quietly, beneath the surface, and their actions speak louder than their words.

““The most basic function of leadership is to tell people what needs to be done and help them do it.””
— Lolly Daskal

Five key attributes

The world is becoming increasingly interconnected, I think future leaders must possess these five key attributes to navigate the complexities of a globalised landscape effectively.
1. Global thinking
2. Cross-cultural appreciation
3. Technology savvy
4. Building alliances and partnerships
5. Shared leadership

“The leader of the past was a person who knew how to tell. The leader of the future will be a person who knows how to ask.””
— Peter Drucker

Create a pathway

c/o LinkedIn

I think leaders need to take ownership of this dynamic and commit to seeking guidance from experts like “myself” to navigate and implement effective policies. And by doing so, they will ensure that their employees feel valued. When employees feel valued, they contribute diverse experiences and perspectives to decision-making and problem-solving, which provides a significant competitive advantage.

Making people feel valued

c/o LinkedIn

Genuine leadership is not about asserting authority; it’s about earning the trust and respect of others through your words and actions. Inclusive leadership, in particular, is the foundation of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). I recently heard that 70% of employees’ sense of being valued comes from what they observe and hear from their leaders. I think that while leadership can implement policies and programs, the essence lies in the leader's ability to create an inclusive environment.

One string in my bow

As a seasoned leadership coach and consultant specialising in training and organizational development, I have successfully designed and delivered sales leadership programs for individuals and teams across various industries. My approach focuses on fostering self-awareness, enhancing communication skills, and cultivating leadership competencies that drive organisational growth.

““The best of all leaders is the one who helps people so that eventually they don’t need him.”
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— Lao Tzu

Benefits of an audit

As a leader, knowing the cultural frameworks of your team members can be very helpful to block your own bias and adapt your leadership style to ensure that your team members are performing at their best. I think by conducting a DEI audit within your team or organisation may be beneficial to get a sense of where bias and discrimination lie and what challenges need to be addressed. Contact me via email and let’s arrange a DEI audit for your organisation.

““Empathy is the most powerful force that makes us human and one. Designing from a place of empathy elevates the human experience.””
— Dr. Puleng Makhoalibe

It's about control

A true leader doesn’t just direst others but inspires them to be the best versions of themselves. Here are some things that you can control:
-       Your time
-       Your circle
-       Your effort
-       Your words
-       Your actions
-       Your integrity
-       Your thoughts
-       Your reactions
-       Your boundaries

Stop making excuses

Successful leaders often rely on mentors and coaches to provide guidance, support, and valuable insights, enabling them to navigate challenges and develop their skills effectively. They also demonstrate the ability to address uncomfortable truths with honesty and compassion, which helps to build trust and credibility within their teams. Emotional intelligence is recognised as a critical skill for leaders, as it allows them to be genuine and transparent, thereby inspiring and influencing others positively. In my experience, leaders with strong emotional intelligence are adept at holding themselves and their team members accountable for results without resorting to excuses.

Transforming your work culture

I think cultural transformation creates a positive working environment. A good company culture supports recruitment, retention, productivity and engagement. And as leaders create culture, and culture drives behaviour, and behaviour produces results.

  • When we learn about diversity, what are we learning?

  • Why is your diversity training failing?

  • How can we create a psychological safe space in your organisation?

  • What can we do to really drive organisational change?

  • How do we learn and truly embed change into your organisation?

Contact me here or via e-mail for a confidential meeting.

“Everyone must choose one of two pains: The pain of discipline or the pain of regret.”
— Jim Rohn

The daily practice

It's not merely about the individual events or their intensity; rather, it revolves around the aspect of consistency. It’s an accumulation of lots and lots of little things that any one by themselves is innocuous and useless leadership practices. When executed consistently and in conjunction with other minor gestures, for example, making eye contact with employees when greeting them in the morning. In my experience, the organisations that flourish under the guidance of leaders attuned to their internal culture and bottom line do so because they understand consistency in the mundane, day-to-day grind is what makes everything work. I think that it’s these practices that transform into the backbone of successful leadership.

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Managing for the future

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If you are a manager or leader at any position in an organisation, here is what Mr. Drucker would want you to practice:

  • Do what you say and say what you do. When you are a leader, people carefully observe you. People try to derive some meaning from every small gesture of a leader. Make sure that your gestures enable people to derive a positive meaning. Keep your promises and be as authentic as you can.

  • When you are a leader, you are here to ‘serve’ your people. You serve your people and enable them when ‘leadership’ springs from your heart. But when it gets into your head, that is where problem starts!

  • Leadership is all about performance. You, as a leader, have to build an integrated team and empower them to deliver great results. Leadership is a means to an end. We don’t lead because we want to, or because of our charisma or because of (a romantic idea of) power that comes with leadership. We lead because we seek results.

  • An ambiguous leader leads an ambiguous team. Clarity in thoughts, words and actions is one of the most important aspect of leading others. When you lead, people depend on you to give directions to them. If your directions are ambiguous, you will easily mislead them. Clear directions are the ones which clarifies expected outcomes, expected behaviors and establishes priorities, standards. Clarity also means that all decisions/directions are aligned with organization’s mission and values.

Most of what Peter Drucker mentioned in his book, “Managing for the Future” is more of common sense (at least from today’s perspective), and I think practicing them consistently is difficult. Have a fantastic Friday and a happy weekend!

Take action

Being a lifelong learner isn’t about taking pride in your knowledge. It's about having the humility to know what you don’t know. I think the most effective employees have excellent self-management skills. Once they know what to do, they will independently navigate the methods for how to do it. All they need is a common goal, and leadership is about creating and articulating a vision that resonates with them, and then building consensus around the common goal.

““Take action!
An inch of movement will bring you closer to your goals than a mile of intention.””
— Steve Maraboli

As a leader

In my role as a leader, humility shapes my approach, and I don’t think that I have all the answers. I have a huge thirst for learning, and I know that I can learn something from anybody, so it’s not about me, it’s about us. Embracing inclusivity defines my leadership style, manifesting in strategies and visions carefully woven with input from stakeholders and team members alike. This collaborative synergy ensures that perspectives are valued and integrated, nurturing a cohesive and dynamic collective vision.

Managerial experience

The higher up you are in an organisation, the more important vision and creativity become, but you still must have the skills required to manage and lead well. Some young entrepreneurs start with the vision and creativity and then develop their management skills as they scale their companies; others start with management skills and develop their creative vision as they climb up the ladder. Just like great musicians, all great managers have both creativity and technical skills. And no manager at any level can expect to succeed without the skill set of an organisational engineer.

““Knowledge is having the right answers. Intelligence is asking the right questions. Wisdom is knowing when to ask the right questions.” ”
— Professor Richard Feynman

Dear manager's

When framing employee performance issues, it can be helpful for managers to analyse the root cause by considering whether the problem is related to skill (lack of expertise), will (lack the motivation), or hill (difficulty of task). I think by identifying whether the issue is rooted in skill, will, or hill, managers can tailor their approach to address the specific challenges employees are facing. This analytical framework helps in developing targeted solutions, fostering a more effective and supportive work environment. Also, it enables managers to provide constructive feedback and guidance that is aligned with the nature of the problem at hand.

Leading with wisdom

Average leaders are effective at accomplishing tasks, while exceptional leaders excel in establishing environments conducive to others' success. I think that average leaders focus on solving immediate issues, whereas exceptional leaders concentrate on fostering growth as they bear the responsibility of cultivating a culture that empowers individuals to contribute their best. It's amazing how productivity, morale, and mutual respect increase when team members hold each other in high regard, and this contributes to stronger interpersonal relationships. Wise leadership derives from the pursuit of diverse perspectives, embracing open listening without defensiveness, and leveraging knowledge for the collective benefit rather than personal gain. What type of leader are you?

All that glitters is not gold

Optimism is essential to achievement and it’s also the foundation of courage and true progress. I think optimism can be a powerful driving force that motivates individuals and leaders to take risks, overcome challenges, and work toward their objectives. While optimism is crucial, leaders must also be grounded in facts and reality. Blind optimism without considering the practical aspects and potential obstacles can lead to poor decision-making. As an authentic leader it’s important to remember to balance this optimism with facts and reality.

““Knowledge is having the right answers.
Intelligence is asking the right questions.
Wisdom is knowing when to ask the right questions.””
— Professor Richard Feynman

Articulate a perspective

Leadership is fundamentally about serving others, fostering trust and loyalty through a commitment to the greater good. I think the true essence of leadership lies in service, self-discovery, and self-esteem. And in my experience I have found that effective leaders begin with a deep understanding of themselves, recognising their strengths, weaknesses, values, and beliefs. Healthy self-esteem also plays a vital role, bolstering a leader's confidence and ability to inspire and motivate others. Therefore, understanding oneself by mastering one's own thoughts and actions is essential and ultimately leads to an effective and influential leadership style which benefits both executives and organisations.