Unlock leadership potential

By Michelle Combrinck, Co-founder of The Zinto Marketing Group

Only you can decide to be the best leader in your environment

We are all different and come from different backgrounds, religious and cultural groups, educational environments, and more, but only you can decide that you want to be the best leader in your particular environment, be it in the corporate space, the entrepreneurial space, the home and parental space, government space – wherever you find yourself. Our schooling system perpetuates the misguided thinking of selecting prefects and head girls and boys/class captains etc., citing “leadership qualities” which automatically makes other learners believe that they are not leaders because they were not selected. Anyone can “choose” to become a leader in her own right because she makes this decision and does not wait to have the title bestowed upon her by someone else.

Leadership with kindness

As a female leader, I was always fascinated by the differing leadership styles in my various places of work.

I decided to adopt my own style when I was teaching, and when I started my own business –leadership with kindness. I became very excited years later when Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand, practised the “politics of kindness” which made her very much loved and respected.

Women are formidable agents of change

It is time for the world to recognise the benefits of women in leadership and commit to placing even more women in positions of leadership.

Women are formidable agents of change, and the far-reaching benefits of diversity and gender parity in leadership and decision-making are increasingly recognised in all spheres. Still, women continue to be vastly under-represented in decision-making in politics, businesses and communities.

I believe in leading from the inside out; valuing excellence, paying attention to detail, going the extra mile, valuing my colleagues and surrounding myself with people who are better skilled than I am (they are not a threat), showing genuine respect for others and practise ubuntu in the workplace (and outside).

Practise intrinsic motivation

Simply because we are all different and by sharing knowledge with younger colleagues, mentoring them and showing an interest in their dreams and visions for their futures, they pass on their knowledge. In so doing, you are gaining their respect and collaboration in order to work together towards the goals of the business and their own personal goals.

As a woman leader, I keep reading to practise intrinsic motivation so that I can continue to motivate my colleagues around me so that they can “pass it on” to their younger team members. I believe that this leadership style has helped me to grow and add value to the business, our clients and our colleagues.

Women continue to face myriad challenges in the world of work, and we can combat them by discussing them openly in the workplace (this is not always easy) but we will not give up and accept the status quo. Hence the need for women to help one another and support one another and not belittle or bully one another just to gain the upper hand. This is wrong.

Aluta

continua!