KINDNESS; the new leadership Competency

While having a catch-up call with a senior business leader at my organization - Ken Belanger we talked about leadership and the new theme of sustainable leadership. It was an interesting conversation as it became clear to me that In a rapidly changing business environment delivering sustainable business strategies and operating sustainable business models is the best way of ensuring your business is going to be the norm. Organizations need to look beyond just the financial and ensure environmental and social strategies are in place.

To drive a truly sustainable business model, you need a sustainable leadership model driven by sustainable business leaders.

With sustainable leadership, themes like Trust, Authenticity, Logic, Empathy and Empowerment resonate. Many thought leaders on leadership have shared so much on these themes; however, KINDNESS has become quite relevant in these times.

My recently completed International MBA thesis involved my doing a lot of research on sustainable leadership. One theme that resonated was Kindness; getting the basics of Trust and building great relationships is the key to delivering sustainable individual and business performance.

Kindness is the new Leadership competency.

Looking back to May 2018, when I took up a new position as Head of People and Organization for Middle Africa while still straddling the People and Organization manager role for Nigeria and French West Africa. This was a daunting task, not impossible, but herculean still. How do you manage Human resources for an organization with presence in about 49 countries in sub-Saharan Africa without getting engulfed by the region's many challenges?

I had an idea of what needed to be done, but I wasn't sure if I dare to do it.

My leadership journey took a new turn, and I learned more about this unique leadership competency. Kindness was something I unconsciously seemed to have adapted to navigate this new role.

Today, I take this opportunity to reflect on my journey, and I can only stay grateful for having mentors, coaches and managers who have been nothing but kind to me in my career at Novo Nordisk. In leading my team, I have seen the most effective leadership skill for having an engaged and high performing team as Kindness.

To mention a few, Venkat Kalyan, Mirjam Buitelaar, Sanne Mantoni Macaire, Tulay Topcu Duman, Ken Belanger, I say a big thank you.

And an extraordinary mention to my boss, senior friend, sparring partner and mentor coach, Vinay Ransiwal; here's wishing you a very happy birthday. Thank you for showing the team and me so much Kindness and redefining what authentic servant leadership means.