Training Industry Magazine - Spring 2015 - (Page 50)

G LO B A L PERSPECTIVES AFRICA BY JOYCE KADUKI AFRICA LEADERSHIP IS AN INSIDE JOB From sun-kissed sandy beaches to snow-covered mountains tops and simple folk in rural villages to sophisticated globetrotters in big cities, Africa is a continent of contrasts. Diversity does not stop at the continent's landscapes, lifestyles and economic development. It extends to matters of leadership and human development. There are two types of leaders: those who cling to power at all costs and those who exemplify selflessness and strength of character. Some leaders are concerned with the power and privilege that comes with a leadership position and look for potential gains in every situation. Others don't think twice about giving up what they have, sometimes endangering their very lives as acts of servant leadership. How does one explain these glaring inconsistencies? For a better appreciation of the disparities, one needs to consider an important contextual factor. Africa is emerging from a largely patriarchal leadership model of command and control characterized by fear and intimidation. In the past, qualifying one for leadership included physical attributes and bravery, gender and ancestry. External qualities received significant attention. While not completely irrelevant, the old model has been diluted by a modern, complex form of leadership, following widespread 50 economic development and the onset of international influence, opening it up. As is the case elsewhere, Africa is now operating and competing on a global platform. Many multinationals have offices on the continent and young entrepreneurial innovators with fairly liberal mindsets continue to set up businesses that employ an increasing number of people creating a rich and diverse workforce. Whether we're talking about the traditional or modern, one thing is certain: the continent needs and benefits from transformational leadership that looks beyond external qualities. It's leaders like Kenya's late environmentalist Wangari Maathai, whose grassroots Greenbelt Movement changed the lives of Kenyans through a relentless fight for environmental preservation, South Africa's anti-apartheid icons Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu who led a peaceful transition from oppression to democracy and others like them are the ones who continue to positively influence the region. They have an impact not just in politics and on the environment but also in business, education, health care and beyond. WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THESE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WOULD INFORM THE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AGENDA IN AFRICA? Effective leadership is not about the position we hold or what we do, but about who we are.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Training Industry Magazine - Spring 2015

Soft Skills Make Up Vital Part of Corporate Training
Table of Contents
Guest Editor: Leadership: The Artichoke Effect
Focusing on Mindsets and Attitudes
The Importance of Soft Skills For Trainers
Social Simulators Bring Training to Life
The Power of Storytelling in Organizational Development
Leading Change with Resilience
Why Perspective Selling Makes Sense
Harnessing the Power of Teamwork
Collaborate to Innovate: Building an Innovation-Friendly Business Culture
Are You Using the Best Metrics to Evaluate Your Skills Training?
Influencing into the Future
Culture: The Enemy at the Gate of Innovation
Casebook: T-Mobile: Answering the Call for Leadership Development
Leadership is an Inside Job
Vendor Selection Tips for Corporate Sales Training
Checking Your Motivation to Lead
The Real ROI of Leadership Training: Soft Skills Lead to Hard Results
Closing Deals
Company News
What's Online
Training Talk

Training Industry Magazine - Spring 2015