We are living in a world of rapid change and uncertainty — faced with unprecedented technological advances, deepening social and economic divides, political instability, and the impacts of climate change manifesting.
We look to leaders for answers and certainty, and more often than not, return emptyhanded.
There is a leadership vacuum. A crisis that cuts across all spheres of society.
There are too many people occupying positions of leadership who are doing the same things people in their positions have always done, expecting to get the same results as they always have.
But the world has changed, and it won’t stop changing.
There are too many leaders who seem to think that by holding a workshop or an indaba that they have done something. Talk shops don’t get work done or achieve change — action does.
It is not only poor performance, lack of service delivery and deepening inequality and division that happen in this leadership vacuum.
The vacuum is what allows corruption and abuse to thrive.
When people in leadership positions turn a blind eye to, or willingly participate in, bribery, extortion, fraud, tender irregularities, abuse of the vulnerable — or fail to take decisive action to bring those responsible to book — they are not fit to be called leaders.
It is commonly said, and it is true, that we need a new “breed” of leadership.
We need leadership with integrity, leadership that unites people and promotes collaboration to solve the myriad problems we face, rather than sowing further divisions in pursuit of narrow interests.
These need to be servant leaders who put the best interests of others before their own.
In a changing, uncertain, diverse environment, we need leaders who listen more and act with empathy; who want to understand people and their issues and needs, in all their diversity.
The leaders of today need to have an open mind and willingness to learn from others, including their subordinates, rather than the allknowing approach we expected in the leaders of old.
Leaders who take accountability and responsibility, rather than blame-seeking.
Leaders today need to operate with a growth mindset, looking for opportunities and solutions, seeing change and challenges as positive.
Leaders who are able to empower others to unleash their own potential, rather than simply managing performance.
Leaders unify. They seek out common purpose, what unites rather than divides people, and foster collaboration with those that share the vision, knowing each person or stakeholder brings their own strengths towards unified action.
Most importantly, leaders seek solutions rather than focusing on problems. They don’t just talk, they take action and drive the solutions.