Reflections on leadership from the first Part of our workshop
In an increasingly complex and unpredictable world, effective leadership is more crucial than ever. This was the driving force behind our recent two-part digital workshop on leadership, organized by the Shaping Futures Programme and kulturweit. The goal of the workshop is to explore various leadership models, challenge our assumptions, and help us develop the skills necessary to lead with empathy, adaptability, and impact. It’s been a truly insightful experience so far.
I’d like to extend a huge thank you to the organizers, Shaping Futures and kulturweit, and to our brilliant trainers, Ernest Ofori and Cathy-Mae Karelse, who guided us through these important discussions and reflections.
Here are some key takeaways from the first session that will shape my leadership journey going forward:
𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩
True leadership begins with managing yourself — your emotions, time, and actions. If you’re helping others grow, solving problems in your community, or standing up for what’s right, you’re already demonstrating leadership qualities.
𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲
One of the most impactful lessons was the idea that the key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority. This emphasizes that inspiring others, rather than commanding them, creates more lasting and meaningful change.
𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩
A transformational leader motivates others to exceed their own expectations. Leaders like Nelson Mandela embody this by showing idealized influence, inspirational motivation, and intellectual stimulation — qualities that drive lasting transformation.
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩
In servant leadership, the focus is on prioritizing the needs of the team. Leaders who practice this style listen actively, show empathy, and commit to the growth of their followers, creating an environment where everyone can thrive.
𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩
I learned that leadership is not always about individual action but often about shared responsibility. Collective leadership, as exemplified by Alan Mulally, former CEO of Ford, encourages collaboration, shared decision-making, and leveraging the diverse strengths of a team.
𝐀𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩
Adaptive leaders mobilize people to tackle complex challenges by identifying key issues, managing stress, and maintaining focus. This is especially critical when facing uncertainty, as Satya Nadella did at Microsoft.
𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐲
In a world marked by volatility and ambiguity, VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) and BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear, Incomprehensible) frameworks provide modern leaders with the tools to navigate chaos and change.
𝐀𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩
The emphasis here is on flexibility and collaboration — agile leaders adapt to change over rigid plans, prioritize people over processes, and focus on delivering solutions rather than getting lost in documentation.
This workshop gave us valuable tools to reflect on our own leadership style, challenging us to be more adaptable, empathetic, and impactful. Once again, thank you to the amazing team behind this enriching experience!
I’m looking forward to continuing the journey in the second part on November 7!
