If an organizations leadership development initiatives are well organized one may expect it to start off like this, with a personal invite: “Adriaan, we would like for you to attend a leadership program. It will be facilitated by such and such business school or consultants. It will consist of several modules that revolve around our […]
Theo H Veldsman Work Psychologist; Visiting Professor, Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management, University of Johannesburg; Extraordinary Professor, University of Stellenbosch Business School Leadership is about identifying possible futures, followed by choosing and actualising a shared, desired future. The verbs ‘identifying’, ‘choosing’ and ‘actualising’ imply an uncertain journey towards an ever shifting, continuously, re-imagined […]
There are different kinds of leadership. Some leaders cause individuals or society to ‘fall off a cliff’. Some leaders move all things toward a positive result – where both the individual and its environment or society benefit. How may we define this kind of leadership? The following questions and answers may help clarify the Leadership […]
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” – Albert Einstein. Leadership is the universal art of creating, sustaining and changing movement. In our constant contact with leaders at all levels of society, we find a need to reinforce principles of movement dynamics that were contained in a previous […]
I have noticed a difference between the really iconic sport athletes and the rest. Wayde van Niekerk runs the 400m race and what happens towards the end? As the commentators mention that he may be tiring, he somehow lifts himself to that next level to pull even further away from the silver and bronze athletes, […]
The world in 2016 is very different from the world of twenty or fifty years ago. It is a breeding ground for dichotomies, including the latest trend of which leaders should be aware. There is a collective insurgence against establishment – systems, structures and ways of doing things. Because the world is in such a […]
Of former President of South Africa Kgalema Motlanthe, Mathews Phoza says: “He is a very deep thinker. He examines everything properly before he opens his mouth. He is a very kind man; a clever leader.” Another described him as ‘widely admired’, which is too often, regrettably, uncommon for politicians. Most polished politicians can make one […]
This article is about our most powerful enemy. Along with the privilege of working with leaders and their development is the opportunity to study the obstacles that stand in their way. Obstacles can be defined in two categories: Inner and perceived outer obstacles. Outer obstacles are those that come from outside of us. These come […]
The recent Marikana incident that dominated news headlines locally and at times internationally deserves an objective analysis from a leadership perspective, which not only dwells on negative and possible failed leadership. Cyril Ramaphosa’s comments that all parties are to blame to some degree are probably not far off the mark. Following such a gruesome incident […]
Our influence for making a positive difference is the measure of our success as leaders. Leadership influence may be defined as the effect that a leader has on another person or situation. Influential looks I felt the power of influence as I was recently conducted to the office of a senior leader of a large […]
