FOCUS ON LEADERSHIP STRENGTHS
Countries and organizations in Africa, more than ever, need to nurture and develop true leadership.
Africa has traditionally been the cradle of great leadership. Many African leaders are well known around the world – including Nelson Mandela, Kwame Nkrumah, Steve Biko and Julius Nyerere, to name a few.
Africa’s contribution to leadership philosophy has been remarkable. Two examples: Africa was the birthplace of Ubuntu – the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity. Ubuntu alludes to a feeling of high responsibility for one’s kin, loyalty to one’s ethnic or family group, and a focus on long-term prosperity. Africa also gave rise to Satyagraha and the notion of passive resistance, which Gandhi developed while living in Africa. Both are known around the world.
Today, though, the demand for effective leadership in Africa is growing more rapidly than ever before. A critical shortage of upcoming leaders is responsible for the underdevelopment of organizations in many African countries. They are under-performing compared to their potential and could dramatically improve their performance by strengthening their leadership
Source: ‘Leadership Development in Africa, a Focus on strengths’ -Centre for Creative Leadership
