Lessons in Leadership Podcast

What are the hallmarks of an effective leader? In this episode we turn to the world of soccer to look at one example of leadership: Jay Jay Okocha who played in the English Premier league and made his mark as Captain of Bolton Wanderers Football Club. 

So good was his leadership, that his former manager at Bolton Wanderers encouraged Wayne Rooney as England Captain to follow Okocha’s leadership blueprint. So, what did Jay Jay do right? These are the things that we examine in this episode. What does it take to lead effectively wherever we are? These are some of the lessons we learn from Jay Jay’s example.  

A study of Jay Jay’s leadership shows us how character prevails over ability in effective leadership. The lessons in this episode can be easily applied, and his example is one profile in leadership that will challenge us to lead wherever we are.

How important is trust between leaders and followers especially in politics and governance? With the political season upon us once again, Fusi looks at the crucial role trust plays in effective leadership in governance and the political space. We see how to lead effectively leaders need the trust of those they serve or seek to serve because they need their followers as necessary partners in the execution of policies and plans. Without trust, followers will not give the required cooperation and collaboration. Without trust, we cannot truly lead. 

We learn how a leader’s conduct and decisions build or destroy trust and how this in turn impacts peoples’ trust in the institutions of government. Every action of yours as a leader or aspiring leader in government or in the political space determines how much trust people will have not only in you but also in the institutions that you represent. 

For leaders and aspiring leaders in government, the political space and beyond, this podcast will help you understand what is required of you to build trust. 

In a world seemingly obsessed with image and self-branding, does humility matter for leaders? In this episode, we see how humility is a crucial quality effective leaders ought to have. Fusi looks at the success of Indian-born CEOs of major international companies to see why they have become so successful. Two things are identified as being responsible for their success, and humility is one of them. 

This episode looks at humility and the role it plays in making leaders successful. In addition to the example of humility of the Indian-born CEOs, a former US President and a corporate leader are also quoted, giving additional justification for humility by leaders in every sphere.

But what happens when leaders lack humility? A practical example shows us the effects of a lack of humility and how it hinders leaders in diverse ways.  

The episode closes by challenging each of us to begin the journey to effective leadership through humility. 

Problems abound in every sphere of life, and they can be said to set the agenda for leaders at all levels and in all spheres of life. In this episode, Fusi looks at the need for leaders to be problem solvers since they will face problems wherever they are. 

Most people see problems as problems; but in this episode we are helped to see things differently - which is that problems are leadership opportunities. Someone who solves a problem creates a leadership opportunity for him or herself because the solution which he provides and which impacts someone’s life positively will result in greater influence. Since problems abound everywhere and, in every sphere, leadership can start right where we are. 

Fusi explains that a leadership position is a platform to solve problems and address challenges. When leadership positions are not used for these, it becomes a waste of such platforms. Leadership is therefore about performance, and excuses for non-performance should not be part of a leader’s modus operandi. 

The collaborative nature of problem solving is also highlighted as we see how solving problems often involves others and is not about someone taking the credit. 

Overall, this episode should challenge listeners to see problems from a new perspective and rise to the leadership opportunities that problems present wherever they are. 

This episode looks at character - the second fundamental requirement for effective leadership. Is character important in leadership? If it is, in what ways is it important? This episode answers these questions as it  shows why character is essential for leadership. 

Fusi explains what character is, how it is seen through our conduct and attitudes and how character directs our ability through the choices we make.  Listeners will understand the role of character in leadership as they learn that our ability may give us the proficiency at something, but it is our character that determines our motives and in turn how we use our ability. 

Our character in effect, determines our outcomes in situations and in life generally. We also see how character sustains personal success, because talent that rests on a foundation of wrong values and unethical choices does not end well. 

In the Leadership in Action section, Fusi throws a challenge as he asks if our circumstances should determine our choices. The episode ends with wise counsel that in a world of shifting values, character is never out of fashion. 

This episode should set us thinking about the investment we should be ready to make in our character for us to be more effective leaders who enjoy enduring success wherever we are. 

For more, please visit: howyoucanlead.com 

Today we live in a world in which a person’s exploits and even daily activities can be projected around the world. Social media has made this possible, and with it fuelling the desire to be famous and become a celebrity. This episode examines the world of celebrity against what it means to be a leader. Are they the same thing?  

In an age in which image is valued above substance, and illusion above reality we see the extent to which some go, to become known or better known on social media.  Celebrities indeed impact and define much of today’s popular culture, but Fusi establishes that there is a difference between leadership and the world of celebrity. The purpose for this distinction is not to denigrate what it means to be a celebrity, but rather to provide clarity in a world in which celebrities fill the media, and leadership risks being construed through the lens of celebrity. 

Though there are differences between leadership and the world of celebrity, some celebrities can be said to have successfully made the transition to leadership because they have been able to use the platforms that their work has given them to influence change in a particular area to impact others positively.   

The usual Leadership in Action segment reemphasises for listeners what it means to be a leader.  

This episode will hopefully help you see leadership and celebrity culture in a new light. 

For more, please visit: howyoucanlead.com 

There are two fundamental requirements for effective leadership: Capacity and Character. Leaders must have both capacity and character if they want anyone to willingly follow them. In this episode, Fusi looks at what leadership capacity means and why it is so important for leaders. Listeners will learn how leadership is principally built on capacity, and how leadership effectiveness correlates with leadership capacity.  

What are the components of leadership capacity? This episode addresses this, showing how some aspects of capacity are imperative no matter the sphere we operate in, while others are contextual, depending on our specific circumstances. 

The episode sets out three reasons why leadership capacity is important to us as leaders. These reasons justify the importance of leadership capacity in leadership effectiveness. The usual Leadership in Action section helps personal application of the episode contents.

This episode will help leaders and aspiring leaders improve their leadership capacity. 

ANNOUNCEMENT
Lessons in Leadership Podcast will be on break for the month of July, but we will return God willing, in August. When we return, our schedule will be twice a month (on the first and third Thursday of the month) and no longer every week. 

Thank you.

For more, please visit: howyoucanlead.com 

With a provocative title like this, this episode shows how important it is for leaders to be able to deal with criticism and opposition. Both opposition and criticism are part of the reality of leadership – they come with the territory. How should leaders deal with them? Fusi shares four things that leaders should do to effectively deal with opposition and criticism. 

He shares how leaders must have inner strength and conviction about what they want to do, because they must be able to remain undeterred by criticism and opposition. Not all criticism is negative, and some are actually constructive so leaders must be able to take criticism in perspective. 

The episode emphasises the importance of humility in listening to feedback from others – including that which comes from down the organisational ladder. Leaders are also advised to turn their critics and opposers into allies. The necessity for leaders to ensure they create environments in which people are able to speak truthfully so they can hear what needs to be heard to achieve the organisation’s goal or purpose is also stressed.  

The regular Leadership in Action section reinforces the lessons in the episode. Overall, this episode will help build every leader’s arsenal in effectively dealing with criticism and opposition. 

ANNOUNCEMENT
Lessons in Leadership Podcast will be on break for the month of July, but we will return God willing, in August. When we return, our schedule will be twice a month (on the first and third Thursday of the month) and no longer every week. 

Thank you.

For more, please visit: howyoucanlead.com 

Which matters more when it comes to leadership: age or preparation? Many societies especially in Africa, have been said not to give enough leadership opportunities to young people. But is age enough to qualify for leadership? This episode looks at the contentious issue of age in leadership. 

Because leaders generally do not know the circumstances in which they will be required to lead, they must be prepared to deal with whatever challenges they find when they get there. Using the examples of two internationally acknowledged leaders, Fusi shows how preparation and not age, is what matters with regards to leadership. 

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was 67 years old when she became President of post-conflict Liberia and had to deal with numerous problems in her quest to turn the country around. Jacinta Arden on the other hand became Prime Minister of New Zealand at the age of just 37. By the time she was 40 she had had to deal with a terror attack and the coronavirus pandemic for which her country has been acknowledged as having one of the best responses in the world. Both leaders were prepared for leadership. Their preparation and readiness for leadership was what qualified them both and not that one was old or young. Leadership is not about excuses, but about performance. Anyone who makes excuses is clearly not prepared nor ready for leadership. 

The Leadership in Action section challenges listeners to prepare, whether they are pursuing leadership in any capacity, or they just simply want to be a positive influence right where they are. 

No matter our age, preparation for leadership is what matters. 

For more, please visit: howyoucanlead.com 

Leadership constantly requires leaders to make choices, some of which can be hard. But leaders need to do hard things because some of the choices they need to make are not easy. This episode challenges leaders to do the hard things required of them, by looking at four hard things leaders do. Some of these things include being able to say no when it is necessary, and  being able to hear and accept the truth even when it is unpleasant. 

Ultimately, leadership requires one to make choices, some of which can be very hard. The challenge is if you are in a position of leadership today, are you able to live up to the responsibility of leadership by doing the hard things required of a leader? 

As is customary, the Leadership in Action segment helps us to apply the lessons from the episode to ourselves. 

This episode will challenge you to think about what it means to be a leader. 

For more, please visit: howyoucanlead.com