Leading by Learning: Managing Diverse Teams for Social Impact ??

One of the most rewarding experiences in my career was stepping into the role of State Coordinator for Osun State in LoftyInc Allied Partners Limited CSR project, Project Lift. This wasn’t your typical top-down, directive initiative; it was about creating a platform where communities could speak up for themselves, pitching projects they felt would most benefit them. Imagine that! Local leaders like the Baale proposing what their people really needed! ?????????

After a rigorous screening process, the top proposals across 150 communities were selected for funding. Now, here's where it got exciting for me—coordinating over 13 field representatives across all these communities! ?? Most of my team members were older, more educated, and more experienced than I was. Let’s just say I had to buckle up and learn on the fly. Here are some lessons that kept me grounded and moving forward:

?1. Listening is the Secret Sauce ??

Leading a team of seasoned professionals taught me a valuable lesson—sometimes the best leader is a great listener. I had to tune into each field officer’s experiences, ideas, and even concerns. And guess what? The more I listened, the more I realized how much I didn’t know! This helped me make decisions that were far more informed and effective.

?2. Respect: Give It to Get It ??

Forget about age or degrees—respect is about valuing each person’s perspective. By treating everyone’s input as valuable, we built a culture where every voice was heard. And the magic? When people feel respected, they go above and beyond.

?3. The Art of Letting Go (a bit) ??

Covering 150 communities isn’t a one-man show. I had to learn to trust my field officers and let them run with their tasks. It wasn’t easy, but clear communication and giving them ownership over their roles turned out to be a game-changer. We started hitting our milestones faster than we’d imagined!

?4. Stay Loose, Stay Winning ??♂?

Managing people from different walks of life meant I had to be as flexible as a gymnast! ??♂? Some liked direct instructions; others preferred room to innovate. Adapting my leadership style to meet them halfway kept our momentum strong.

?5. Patience: The Unsung Hero ???

Let’s be real—leading diverse teams isn’t always smooth sailing. There were delays, misunderstandings, and even a few clashes. But staying patient helped me navigate these choppy waters and kept us all rowing in the same direction.

And guess what? Three communities in Osun State were awarded ?1.8M each! ???? Here’s what they accomplished:

- ?? Farmers got the inputs they needed to boost their harvests.

- ?? Women were empowered through fashion training programs.

- ?? A new community toilet facility was built, drastically improving local sanitation.

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In the end, Project Lift wasn’t just about funding projects; it was about building trust, creating partnerships, and fostering transformation. ?? It taught me that leadership isn’t about knowing it all—it’s about guiding, listening, and inspiring collective impact. ??

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#TBT #Leadership ?#SocialImpact #ProjectLift #Empowerment #CommunityBuilding #CSR