“There go the people. I must follow them, for I am their leader.” When I first came across this quotation, I was deeply moved by how concisely it encapsulates the concept of servant leadership. It got me thinking about various leadership scenarios in our country and on our continent and about how very often, the people appear to be going in one direction, while the leaders are pulling in another.
Last week, I sat among business leaders at an AMH Conversations event in Harare listening to Bobby Godsell share his views on Africa, politics and business. Unsurprisingly, for someone considered one of South Africa’s most powerful voices, he made a thought-provoking presentation, weaving a tapestry of philosophy education and inspiration from which I walked away clutching two precious threads.
The first is that business’s major patriotic duty is to make money honestly by producing goods and services that society wants at a price they can afford. You may wonder what’s new or special about this rather basic statement. Read it again. It’s about patriotism. I can demonstrate devotion to my country, concern for the well-being of her people, and the desire to protect her from any threat or destruction, by building a legitimate, profitable and sustainable business. That’s wonderful.
Patriotism generally comes at a price, and often this is a requirement to make sacrifices or at least to be willing to sacrifice for the greater good.
In Zimbabwe, business seems to find itself in an uncomfortable position where it must conduct the business of business under a fear of victimisation. While business leaders may have private views on various important and strategic considerations, these cannot be shared on public platforms because the repercussions might negatively impact their operations. Whether these fears are justifiable or simply imagined becomes irrelevant if these same fears are preventing businesspeople from pursuing their patriotic duty.
I was fascinated to learn at a Grade Four parent-teacher conference the philosophy that “The best way to deal with bullies is to bully them back!” I am not sure if this works for the relationship between business and politics in Zimbabwe, but it does sound somewhat similar to the second lesson I took away from Godsell’s presentation: Corporate citizens, like any other citizens, have views. They have rights and responsibilities, and the people they affect need to know what the interests of a particular business are. In Godsell’s own words: “Going public with one’s views makes victimisation more difficult . . . You (business leaders) should advance your views in the public marketplace, not in the quiet corridors of power.”
Yes, self-revelation may make businesses vulnerable, but to remain silent means we continue to compromise the authenticity of our interactions and we foster an environment where corruption can thrive and transparency is a joke. Ultimately it is the people who suffer.
It would appear then, that moral courage is as important for a business entity as it is for an individual. Democracy cannot be realised without it.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
This week, we have seen media reports that demonstrate the collision course between parties in the transitional inclusive government. Schools, banks and businesses are there to serve the people of Zimbabwe. Each party would no doubt like us to believe that their position represents the views of the people. I wonder though whether we, the people, are really so one-dimensional that we could not negotiate a better solution for ourselves, for our own development and our own empowerment?
Leadership is not an end in itself. We must have a destination, a place where we are leading the people to. Even as Moses’s destination was the Promised Land, and our freedom fighters were heading for freedom from colonial subjugation, our generation must also have a clear vision of where we are heading. When we are asked the question, “What’s it all about?” we must be able to articulate such a clear and compelling vision, that the people should spontaneously rise and rally behind it.
One of the most critical roles of a leader is to be the custodian of the vision. To understand it, adopt it, and then communicate it clearly so that it is both coherent and inspiring in the hearts and minds of his followers.
Without this critical contribution, we may as well coin a phrase, “There go my people, watch them perish”.
Could this perhaps be one of the elements which limits Zimbabwe’s today. That over 30 years after Independence we are still asking each other, “Do we have a common vision? What is the vision? Where are we going? Who can lead us? Do they have capacity to serve? Does they have capacity to lead?”
Robert Greenleaf, the man credited with coining the phrase servant leadership, writes: “The servant-leader is servant first . . . It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead.” Zimbabwe stands on the threshold of so much that is positive for its people. But we have stood on that threshold for so long that we have begun to grow roots there, and are, therefore, not going to be able to move when the time comes. When the people go, who will follow them because he is their leader?
Thembe Khumalo Sachikonye writes in her personal capacity. Readers comments can be sent to [email protected]. Follow Thembe on Twitter www.twitter/localdrummer or visit her facebook page www.facebook.com/pages/local-drummer
