Will they still be relevant after this?

It’s said “when days are dark, friends are few”. I can’t help but wonder where the likes of Black Business Council Business Leadership South Africa Black Management Forum South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry their affiliates and business chamber members are right now.

I’ll be the first to admit I’m not one who reads newspapers, listens to radio and nor do I watch traditional television much. But I’m always able to find out about the most important of news.

The point is, not only do we look up to these institutions and their leadership, especially in times like we are facing now, but it’s also a critical time for these organizations and their leaders to show exactly that – true leadership. And I have to say, I’m not seeing much of it right now when it matters so much.

Our businesses and communities are at their most vulnerable right now. Are these organisations even talking to each other? What have I missed?

In my limited view of what I’m seeing, I believe they are missing on the greatest opportunity to not only show up as they should but to also take advantage of "pressing the rest button and strategically move the pieces on the chessboard” towards a rebalance of inequality and the economy, in so many ways. Please show us #trueleadership. 

For one, they could lobby and speak to the lack of connectivity in the townships. We can all guess why there has been little done about this. And my guess is it’s because the members of these organizations are also representatives of the very same telecom companies who have equally done little to provide the much-needed oxygen to help the thousands of businesses, entrepreneurs, students and job-seekers with data and connectivity. This is no time to be sensitive about ruffling feathers. This is a time to do what #realleaders do.

Or what have I missed?

All I can say is there will never be an opportunity like this again. Whoever once said “Never let a good crisis go to waste” was right. To my #leadership, this is it. Watch u gon do bout it?

What are your thoughts on this? Do you think these organizations and their leadership will still be relevant in the new future we are facing? I would highly appreciate your comments below.

KK Diaz - Business Strategist, Change Catalyst!