9 Incredible Leadership Lessons I Learned in South Africa's Most Under-Resourced Communities

Our non-profit called The Simunye Project (https://simunyeprojectus.org/), worked in some of the most under-resourced communities on the planet again last month. Here are the 9 leadership insights I gained from partnering with power-full community leaders:

The power of vision: Effective leaders have a compelling vision. They have clarity on their purpose, their future and their values. The effective leaders we worked with in the communities helped their teams understand what they are working towards, what their goals are, and how they can achieve them. This gave them a common goal, something to strive for and a reason to put in extra effort.

The power of choice: Stephen Covey said it best: “We are responsible for our own choices and have the freedom to choose based on principles and values rather than on moods or condition. Proactive people are agents of change and choose not to be victims, to be reactive, or to blame others.” Given the incredibly challenging conditions these leaders work in, their ability to choose joy, love, and courage almost on an hourly basis is notable and inspiring.

The power of team: The tasks facing these leaders seem insurmountable. The only way to create change and sustain progress is to have a strong team. Effective leaders recognize that collective effort is greater than the individual, and that allows wonderful things to happen. These communities exist in extremely challenging conditions. There is limited access to food, water and essential resources. Only by being able to tap into a collective team effort can progress be attained.

The power of purpose: Purpose gets leaders up in the morning. It provides the fuel to manage the complexity of the day. It serves as a moral guide, a north star. It’s a constant reminder of “why we do what we do” and gives us the energy to get it done.

The power of joy: Joy was evident at the centers. Singing, dancing and music was ever-present. Joy has a significant impact on the overall atmosphere and culture. When employees experience joy at work, they feel more engaged, motivated, and committed to their job. This, in turn, can lead to higher levels of productivity, creativity, and innovation.

The power of adaptability: Working in South Africa requires high levels of adaptability! Highly effective leaders showed the ability to adapt to ever-changing circumstances. This skill is essential for success in today's fast-paced and ever-changing business environment too.

The power of gratitude: Leaders created opportunities on a daily basis to share gratitude for God and for peers. Praise and worship played a role in the overt giving of gratitude. Expressing gratitude in the workplace helped to create a positive and supportive environment. Employees felt that their contributions were recognized and appreciated. This created a sense of belonging and loyalty to the organization, improved relationships, and helped reduce stress.

The power of positivity: Leaders danced, sang, and laughed in spite of the massive challenges of the environment. Positivity is a powerful leadership trait because it can create a more optimistic, supportive, and energized work environment that can lead to increased motivation, engagement, and productivity among employees. It can also improve relationships, inspire growth and innovation, and promote success and achievement.

The power of love: Leaders showed love for the children, workers and the community. Love in action creates effective leaders because they create a more positive and supportive work environment that fosters trust, respect, and collaboration.

We feel truly fortunate to partner with these powerful leaders who are seeking and creating change in their communities.