BAREFOOT LEADERSHIP: A CALL FOR DATA-DRIVEN LEADERSHIP

Since I started writing this blog, I am attracted to many things bodaboda. I recently came across an article that gave shocking bodaboda accident statistics. My imaginations have therefore started capturing risky practices. There is this one bodaboda guy, Kyalimpa, who parks right outside our offices. Kyalimpa wears slip-on sandals or slippers and absolutely no safety wear at all. This Blog is about Talking Shoes, not slippers. However, the point is to use lessons learned to challenge leaders to reflect upon, and hopefully enhance, their leadership behaviors. So, why not expand the definition of shoes to include all footwear? Such is my thinking as I present my case-study, Kyalimpa. I was wondering what entices him to engage in such a dangerous job without any care about his safety?

“Hi Kyalimpa, I am curious about something. Can you give me a moment?” He quickly responded in the affirmative, stepping off his bike. “Those sandals, are they comfortable for riding?” Kyalimpa chuckled and glanced at his tattered footwear. “Comfortable? Sure, Ma’am” he replied. “They’re comfortable, cheap, easy to wear, and to clean. I like my feet out, I’ve been riding like this for years.” Pushing on with a gentle and inquisitive tone, I probed further, “how safe are they?” With not a care in the world, Kyalimpa responds without hesitation, “I haven’t had any problems with the sandals Ma’am. So, I guess they’re fine. Is there a problem with my sandals, Ma’am?” That was the opening I needed, and so I explained, “Recently, I came across some shocking statistics about accidents and bodabodas …” Before I sought his permission to share, he asked, “What did you find?” and I continued, “the article reported that lower extremity injuries are among the most common non-fatal injuries for motorcyclists. It also showed that proper protective gear, including sturdy, over-the-ankle footwear, is crucial in mitigating the severity of these injuries. I further learned that riding without appropriate footwear increases the risk of fractures, crush injuries, and, in severe cases, amputations. By-the-way, did you know that nearly 50% of road accident fatalities in this country involve bodaboda riders? Most of them didn’t have helmets, protective clothing, or even sturdy footwear.” Kyalimpa started by being very defensive but as the conversation went on, his expression shifted. What I gathered was that he had never considered these issues seriously. What mattered to him was having something comfortable as he made a daily living; and because he had not personally experienced anything to cause him to start caring about safety, there was no prompt in his mind.

Reflections on Leadership

Kyalimpa’s image and conversation stayed with me. His sandals, and overall lack of any sense of safety and security for him, reflect more than just personal choices. For me, they mirror decisions that many leaders make ignoring risks, prioritizing short-term convenience, or underestimating the importance of planning. Here are the leadership lessons his story revealed to me:

1. The importance of establishing the Key Success Factors

Kyalimpa’s livelihood hinges on being alive and able to ride. This requires essential tools such as: sturdy boots, a helmet, and protective clothing. Similarly, leaders need to identify and secure the critical success factors that underpin their success. It could be a skilled team, robust processes, or speed and quality of service. These are what should determine how work is done.

1. Risk awareness and mitigation

Just as Kyalimpa hadn’t considered the consequences of his choices, leaders who neglect risk assessments leave their people and organizations exposed. Leadership requires not just reacting to challenges but anticipating, mitigating, and preparing to handle risks in case they materialize.

1. Data-driven decision-making

The part about bodaboda fatalities startled Kyalimpa. It illuminated risks he had overlooked. For leaders, data serves a similar purpose. It turns unknown risks into actionable insights. Ignoring data is akin to Kyalimpa’s ignorance about the magnitude of risk related to his unintentional choices.

1. The cost of ignorance!

Whether it’s Kyalimpa’s lack of protective gear or a leader’s failure to assess risks, ignorance carries a high price. Knowledge and preparation are non-negotiable where resources are finite and consequences of poor performance are dire.

Protective Gear as Leadership Tools

As I reflect on Kyalimpa’s situation, I imagine how his choices parallel the tools leaders need to navigate challenges:

• Helmets symbolize strategic planning. Protecting the “head” of the organization by ensuring clarity of strategic intentions and a set of values that provide a frame for how business is done.
• Leather clothing represents resilience systems. These shield teams from external shocks and uncertainties. In this era of Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear, and Incomprehensible (BANI) business environments, setting agile systems given institutions a competitive edge.
• Reflective gear highlights visibility and transparency which ensures that the leader’s direction and intentions are clear to others.
• Sturdy boots stand for a strong foundation, equipping leaders to progress even on rough terrain. This could be training, skilling, and exposure to relevant experience. Having appropriate interventions like coaching, mentoring, consulting, or even counselling also enhances a leader’s sturdiness.

Reflective Questions for Leaders

Kyalimpa’s story invites us to pause and reflect on our own leadership choices. Consider these questions:

1. What are the “slippers” in your leadership, choices made for convenience but leaving you exposed to risks?
2. How often do you identify and plan to achieve the key success factors critical for your team’s or organization’s success?

1. How well do you understand the risks in your environment, and what steps are you taking to mitigate them?
2. What are the “helmets” and “leather gear” needed for your long-term resilience as an institution?

1. How are you using data to inform both daily decisions and long-term strategies?

Leadership, like riding, isn’t just about navigating the road ahead. It’s about preparation, foresight, and equipping yourself with the tools to face inevitable bumps along the way. Let’s continue the conversation. What resonates with you from Kyalimpa’s story? How might you apply these lessons in your own leadership?