Leaders unlock the giant within

As I come to the tail end of the Executive Repositioning coaching program with Mary M'Mukindia Coaching (MMMC) and prepare to shift career focus to international consulting as an independent consultant and entrepreneurship, I have reflected a lot about who I am as a leader. This coaching program has been an excruciating mini MBA aimed at distilling 22 years of a professional career to zoom in on my core competencies, elicit evidence of accomplishments and consistent performance, catalogue specific experiences and on the job education, service and giveback endeavors, all of which have helped me realise who I am in the world of work and truly understand my why.

What came out of the exercise as my top three competencies are "change leadership", "creativity and innovating thinking" and "managing projects and programs" and when I reflect on my 22 year career I recognise that I thrived when change was needed or I was called upon to create something for the first time whether as a leader or team member, Leaders that find themselves in such circumstances learn that bringing people along is the most important ingredient to success. Often the leader has a clear picture of the future in their head whilst the team may just want to focus the day to day making it imperative for the leader to motivate the case for change. Leaders that fail to connect with the inner desires of their followers may find themselves way ahead with no one following, or being a pain in the A#@se cracking the whip through brute force trying to drive the followers to the desired future state. Empathy and servant leadership behoove upon the leader to connect with the human being through adept communication and genuine care helping the people understand why the change is important whilst painting an inspiring picture of what the future state can bring to all, both at individual and organisational level. Coming down to the level of the individuals when they struggle with executing change and showing them how to do it can be a winning tactic. Change is difficult and our brains are designed to keep us in a comfort zone leading to resistance to anything that deviates from the day to day. Change leaders are needed everywhere but mastering the art of change leadership is not always easy.

One thing I have learned which is so powerful is the gift we give to others when we recognise their efforts. Work can become a daily routine chore that subordinates the man/woman to the job almost turning one into a slave or at worst a robot. My most recent career as an engineering services manager in an operational environment brought this starkly to my realisation. Operations are akin to a big machine with all types of cogs and gears turning continuously, with people being the cog. I often pondered on what would make it worthwhile for my dedicated artisans to wake up everyday to arrive enthusiastic at the same job they did yesterday, the day before yesterday...and so on, with some having done the exact same job for 10 years! I became even more alive to the need for me as a leader to help each person find significance in their work prompting me to dedicate time to regular employee engagements where I stepped back and really listened. Often I spotted opportunities for improvement and inspired them to raise the bar, sometimes I noticed an individual that could be stretched resulting in some getting promoted, whilst on other occassions, it was an opportunity for me to let them know that I saw them. Introducing recognition programs to celebrate small wins and create opportunities for them to see their own significance was a game changer.

Leading intentionally and by example calls upon the leader to raise their own bar. People may do what you say because of your position power but people will truly follow if they are convinced you believe and are willing to go the extra mile in what you say. Leadership roles that require moving large masses of people towards a bigger purposes can take a lot out of the leader especially when your own day to day job takes so much effort. Finding the energy to drive organisation-level type of initiatives whose strategic intent is too high level for the day to day worker demands of one to interrogate their purpose alignment with the strategic intent so that you can bring genuine energy and enthusiasm which ultimately captures the imagination of the led, in turn unlocking their own energy and enthusiasm. The result is incredible synergy where the body of the workers becomes merged with the body corporate unleashing a force that brings about real and lasting change.

Leadership is a calling whose responsibility weighs on our shoulders and inspires our spirits to rise to the next level. When leadership is one of your core competency be prepared to be stretched, challenged and inspired!