You become wise only When...

 

You become wise when you can look across three generations, understand them all, and defend each of them independently. 

Allan Bukusi

What is Business Transformation all about?

 

business transformation

While there are other ways of inspiring and rejuvenating business success including; selling the business, hiring new management, merging with another company, adopting modern management methods etc., Business Transformation is specifically about FOUR things;

1.  Reviewing a business’s performance against its potential.
2.  Aligning its operations to realize its institutional vision, mission and strategic intent.
3.  Equipping the organization to survive and thrive in dynamic market conditions, and
4. Positioning the business as a sustainable enterprise operating in a volatile, unstable, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) environment serving and satisfying the interests of its stakeholders, shareholders and customers.

Allan Bukusi talking about his latest book Transformative Strategy: leading transcendent change in a VUCA world, 2024  

The Long Route...

 

Sometimes GOD takes you Through the Long Route

Dreams Never Die...

 

Dreams Never Die...

One thing I have found out in this life, is that Dreams Never Die... It is people who never begin, don't do what it takes, give up or walk away that leave them standing... Then the inevitable happens. Another person comes in, picks it up, works on it and makes the dream a reality. Passing through the hall of dreams is a privilege. But, you only get one chance to make it happen. You see dreams never die. They only mark the beginning of a thing.

Allan Bukusi

Fight, My Friend; Fight!

 

Fight, My Friend; Fight!

It does not matter what corner you are in or where you come from. In life you must fight, fight for your life. You need a certain mind frame to fight life's battles in business, illness or whatever other inconveniences to just plain stay alive. It takes a unity of heart, mind, body and most of all spirit to engage these challenges to victory. Compromise in any one area is pathway to defeat. Fight, My Friend; Fight!

Allan Bukusi

A Passion for Shoes

 

a Passion for Shoes

I listened to a young man with a passion for shoes. He raved about shoes from the moment we met at the junction leading out of town. I wouldn’t have given him mind except that he knew me and I was walking in the same direction as he. It would be a mile until our paths parted. Save for the inauspicious ambush, I had hoped to entertain my own solitude and console myself of all the woes I had come through recently. Nothing else mattered to this young man except what he had to say. This young man enthusiastically went ahead to tell me about his vision of opening a boutique shop in the exclusive arena of an uptown backstreet alcove known only to a classy executive few. I had no option but to listen. He was wearing designer shoes, trousers, waistcoat, croc belt and skin tight shirt that etched out his trim figure. The kind fashion models have. This is not to mention his in-style haircut to match the polaroid reflectors. I could hardly not notice these things about him. He was graphically walking beside, in front and dancing around me as we walked. I briefly wondered how long it took him every morning to put on this designer look.

So, let’s start this lesson in enterprise from the beginning. He knew that he needed cash to start his business. He had a job which would help him bulk up savings cash over the next six months. He was in no hurry to leave the job, but needed to think about his own life and where it was going from here. So he was doing his research on rare, quality, high definition shoes. He told me the buyers of such shoes are conscientious bank and other institution employees who are mindful of their career image, visual presentation and consider elegant attire as part of career development, definition and competition on the corporate ladder. But there is another elite squad of middle and senior members of society, mainly men, who dress by taste, choice, gold watch and a touch of class. They have a standing budget to buy and wear the  good things in life. But there is another dispersed group who buy what they see. They don’t have to come to the shop. He called them GenZ! He already has 1,500 following his online contacts and Instagram page. By flashing one exquisite shoe on the net, he his sure to get at minimum 500 hits and an inevitable sale. But what will he do if the demand escalates out of control. This is the reason that he must have cash to back up his dive into enterprise

He has also done a great deal of research in identifying and contacting suppliers, ancient authentic art-shoe makers, tailors and fitters. He is lining up the back end of his business even as his front end is clearly defined. The back end is ready to support him. His fear is how to outsmart the competition. He has a few ideas. He needs to create an unmatched brand. A brand woven into his persona and desire to satisfy his customers. His greatest regret would be to let his customers down. He really believes this is what bring down businesses. He needs to wait, but he also knows he can’t wait too late if he is to build a regional brand before he reaches his mid-thirties. He is confident he has made all the necessary contacts. All he needs is cash. So I turn to him and say, “It seems you have already started”. He says “well, yes, but catch me in a couple of years when I open my boutique. You know, a boutique is all about location. You need to have six months’ rent to get the shop then you have to have enough stock to pay you back before those six months are up. That is why I have to be super careful”.

Then, at the bend in the road, he said, “this is where I branch off, see you, and thank you so much for your book, I guess you are going to the site? “. I said, “yes” and we parted ways. He to his vision and me to my solitude. But, my thoughts were no longer about my woes. My thoughts were locked on my site. In our previous meetings, I had told the young man about my business. He seemed to have absorbed it like a sponge although in our one mile walk I hardly spoke a full sentence without him coming back with a direction, rebuttal and justification for his cause.  Alone with my thoughts as I ambled towards my site, I started to reflect on how much I had learned from him about enterprise! All you need to start your business is half as much passion as this young man had. Only a few people I know have such passion for enterprise. But there are deeper enterprise questions here that demand answers. How much have you prepared the back end of your vision for your front end impact?! If anything, it would be a joy to work with this young man and even have him work for you as he pursues his dreams. He is a real person. If you would like to contact him drop me a line here… You may not think so but, this young man is living and working on his vision. Perhaps the real question he presents us, so called entrepreneurs, is; how much passion do you have for our own business? How much do you really know about it? What does your front and back end look like? where is your site?

Allan Bukusi

How to Oun Better Relationships!

 

Oun Better Relationships!

The general nature of human relationships is that they, evolve, mature and eventually dissolve at some stage. This relationship cycle need not be consciously undertaken, though time and circumstance has a major hand in the unfolding of interpersonal relations. Some are for a time others are for a circumstance while others are mix of both. While many people would call for “commitment” as a basis for enduring relationships, there are those in which a mutually beneficial transaction is sufficient. However, relationships need not be managed in the sense that each party gets and gives what they want from it in turn. While this may be an unstated expectation, therein lies the danger of degeneration of the quality of the relationship. Indeed, toxic relationships are often based on unqualified assumptions and unquantified expectations of one or both parties. It is only at this late stage of disintegrating relations   that emotional intelligence and social maturity of the engaged individuals are brought into question and critically explored. But it was not so in the beginning and perhaps may not have been needed. Three agreed upon things could help protect valued relationships and help us all enjoy and OUN better relationships without making them an inflexible bureaucratic process.

Objectives: While it may be considered odd at the beginning of a social relationship to find out, “what are the objectives of this association?”, this is quite natural when considering employment. No employee would step into a job without considering whether they are ready to commit to the job objectives. Nonetheless, I dare say that after a short period of emotional dating, it is prudent to establish the objectives of the budding relationship before continuing the engagement. This little, insightful, seemingly insignificant detail allows both parties to OUN the vision of the relationship and steer in that direction.

Understanding; We are all different people with different upbringing, backgrounds, careers and expectations. It is possible that we may see some things from the same perspective. But there is likely to be so much more that we don’t see from the same frame in the theatre of life. It is therefore prudent to prod further to clarify understanding with questions similar to; “what is your understanding of love, what are your expectations of my performance, what are the expected outcomes in this matter and what are the underlying assumptions of the following critical aspects of this relationship? what are we agreed on and what areas do we differ? how do we want to address the whatever it is that is critical to the success of this relationship? This nature of questioning and interrogation is not punitive, rather it is protective of the evolution and maturity of the relationship for the length of its existence. Determining and establishing a common understanding of the relationship at the beginning of a relationship can forestall future disaster. Nonetheless, a common understanding can also be carried by the more mature partner in the relationship in the interest of the other over period of association. This happens in the case of a parental relationship with a child. However, this does NOT excuse BOTH parties from developing the emotional and social intelligence required for long term association. The child must grow up to associate and relate with their parent as a mature individual in their OUN right. 

Nature: The nature of a relationship can be meaningfully contained and defined by time, circumstance, context and social obligation. Some are short term, others long term, others social others official, some are emotional, others are intellectual or academic. Every relationship has an authorized space of operation.  Let us say it is wise and probably more safe than otherwise to contain your relationships in the social spaces in which they are created to exist. For example, it may not be wise to bring up a family matter as a point of discussion in the office during a business meeting. Though there is overlap of relationship spaces, they need to be protected and kept apart in order to secure every other relationship. Understanding the nature of a business relationship will help parties ensure it does not deteriorate into a personal vendetta or emotional crisis that cannot be resolved in the business context. Understanding the nature of a relationship allows one to be respectful, protective and preservative of the ethical boundaries for the relationship to succeed. Understanding the nature of a relationship allows all parties to OUN and manage the relationship to ensure it remains valued and valuable for the term of the existence or while the relationship lasts.

For the most part, relationships are natural function of human existence and cover all aspects of human interaction and engagements starting from childhood, upbringing within/without family, friendships, employment, enterprise, courtship, business associations, and all angles and levels of community and societal intercourse. Such relationships could be personal, private or public.  We don’t always think about it until and crisis occurs, but in all relationships there are instances where the nature of the relationship could benefit from the prefabricated OUN structure of association to frame and protect its development, interaction, risk of exposure and guard the vulnerability, security and even abuse of not only the relationship, but all the stakeholder individuals engaged in the relationship process. If you are already in a relationship that does not seem to be taking any particular direction, this may just be an ideal opportunity for a discussion to take ownership of your future!

Allan Bukusi

GENZ; leaderless, tribeless, formless, fearless!

 

What GENZ is teaching the globe about leadership

There is a friend of mine who is having extreme difficulty appreciating that an organization can be leaderless, tribeless, formless and fearless. If you have the patience to read this article to the end, you will understand why it is important to disabuse my friends (and my enemies) of the notion that the group is disorganized and cannot amount to much unless a leader emerges to champion the group cause. With the reference to the GENZ protests in Kenya these last few weeks, my friend actually believes that since GENZ have “no leader” that makes them an illegitimate and confused mob who will eventually fizzle out of intellectual and material resources to achieve their goals. However, GENZ have demonstrated a different spirit that can teach us a few things about global leadership. In my friends’ mind, since GENZ has no philosophy, it is simply a matter of time before a leader emerges from the group and hijacks leadership from the mob. Traditional wisdom suggests that when the leader finally emerges, the group will be corralled and the movement will be crushed by the powers that be! Thus far, no leader has emerged. This has left the administration in a clueless, colorless and callous quandary as to how to approach, engage or negotiate with this amorphous majority polity. The administration has been left figuratively fighting the wind with embarrassing arcane methods, batons and bullets to no avail.

Leaderless?!!

How do you define a leader? The short answer to that is; an individual. However, individuals can be many. Leaders can be many. In this, GENZ have no conflict. They have many leaders. Nonetheless, the long answer to that question is that leaders are a shade between cultic (political) and symbolic (idealist) of the polity they oversee. You can replace cultic leader quite quickly the party dies with their demise. Symbolic leaders are hard to replace in fact they birth other leaders and sustain movements long after they are dead. Cultic (political) leaders demand loyalty and servitude from their followers whom they control in a pay and benefits roll. Symbolic leaders on the other hand offer no such niceties and invite their polity to sacrifice and service for transcendent ideals. Cultic (political) leaders do not allow anyone to challenge their power. Symbolic leaders, however, openly inviting everyone to take up leadership responsibility for the cause. The reason why authoritarian political (cultic) leaders have a hard time crushing idealistic movements is that these movements are in fact leaderless! Take a lesson from empires that have persecuted religious movements around the world, and nations that have tried to crush emergent ideology with sword and  armor.

Tribeless?!!

A hungry man has no tribe. Perhaps a jealous person might want to form an alliance of convenience to corrupt the interests of others and ensure personal gain.  But the power of those who hunger and thirst for justice cannot be cured by tribal alliance, political classism or even a covenant among thieves.  Conventional wisdom dictates that a formation of a coalition of tribes or political parties can aggregate power to control the powerless majority. This is conventional wisdom and there is no question that it does work particularly in the case of unenlightened citizenry and masses whose lot is consigned to slavery. Until, the slave, gets an education and is awoke to the fact that he was born free and slavery is not his lot. The cause of humanity is tribeless of any affiliation. Take a lesson from the colonialist who was expelled from Africa. Human dignity is devoid of tribe, politics or affiliation. The call to humanity is tribeless!

Formless?!!

Political organizations and governments struggle with form and function. Corporate business understands the need to maintain the power balance between formal and informal authority all to well. However, the search for a suitable administrative form to champion the rule of law and order, in the traditional sense, is both practical and popular- but far from perfect. Conventional governance relies on the myth that visible institutions such as monarchies, government and militia are a justification to control humanity and rule over the minds of men. But, local communities have governed themselves for centuries without these opulent, overbearing institutions. Without being policed, communities willingly observe ethical principles, virtues and their own cultural values, to successfully govern community life. Functional, formless government is possible. New testament governance is not about legality (rule of law for the sake of law), it is about conscience; a demonstrated heartfelt commitment to a cause of humanity. Formless governance is in the hearts of men and women who selflessly act on what they believe to be true for the welfare of others. Take a lesson from Ubuntu and note that the neo-colonialist withdrew from Africa on account of the formless power of the freedom movements.

Fearless?

Fear is a tool insecure oppressors use to maintain control. Medieval techniques of eliminating a new idea involved maiming and torture instead of its proponents. The oppressor does not have the competence to  address an idea with an idea. They address ideas with violence. However, fear is also the fragility of those in power. Fear paralyzes and immobilizes. Fear disables leaders to succumb to blackmail, corruption, distrust and puppetship instead of leadership. While fear itself may be irrational it is very, very powerful. It takes a “David versus Goliath” battle to change the reality, which GENZ have embraced whole heartedly. When the oppressed become fearless, the oppressor losses the power of intimidation. When this happens the oppressor has something to fear, because the battle is now on level ground. The list of the fearless is too long to name here, but the fearless ones; Rosa Parks, Lymah Gboweh, Tsietsi Mashinini… tilted the tide of history in the spaces they found themselves in. Fearless is not a feeling. To be fearless is to take action in spite of your fears.

Every rising age-group, rika and generation in Africa is challenged and charged with the responsibility to protect the interests and welfare of the community. GENZ is not an exception. They are not going anywhere!  GENZ have recast the paradigm of leadership into a formless covenant against administration, bureaucracy and laws that do not move the heart. GENZ draw on courage, conscience, community and connectivity to deliver their message. With available handheld technology they have opened a new frontier of leadership in digital space accessing the collective wisdom, intellect, capacity and contribution of all its polity to sustain its campaign in the post information age. Get comfortable with it. It speaks to the future.

Post script: Leadership is on the keyboard

Leadership has been reduced to a button on the keyboard. Of course you will tell me, “it depends on who is working the keys on the board”. And that is precisely my point!

Allan Bukusi

I speak, I speak, O' let me speak!

 

I speak, I speak, O’ please let me speak, 

I spoke, but you gave me coke

How can it be that you would kill my tongue 

Is it because I am young

The is road blocked

The street is soaked with blood. 

How can this be.  

I thought you were for me

Now let it be; my hope is heaven 

Truly, on earth, liars be kings

Be calm my children do not give them dreams in exchange for sweets that kill 

But, I speak, I speak, O’ please let me speak - that I may live

O freedom, how long will you be gone

Will you be back today

I speak, I speak, O’ let me speak, my land, my heart, my hope; must speak

My soul is dead, yet still, I speak 

The Mirror of My Life

 

The Mirror of My Life 

I have travelled to many lands, nations and places in my life. But have found myself in none of those spaces. Until, I took off my glasses, sat down quietly and looked into the mirror of life. 

Weep, O' Kenya, Weep!

 

Weep, O' Kenya, Weep!

Kenya, O' Kenya, why is your head bowed.

Why are you no longer proud,

Have you misplaced your ancestors, 

Have you lost your future,

Tell me, for what, do you weep?

Tell me, why do you weep,

Do not the people have hope.

Land of my people, why do you weep;

The slaver left many years ago,

The colonizer retreated in fear of you,

Surely the oppressor is not among you.

Who is this that makes you weep;

Have you killed your children.

Then, weep O' Kenya weep! 

Perhaps your tears, will water the seeds of a transformed destiny.

Weep, O' Kenya Weep!

New, Young, Leaders for Africa!

 

New, Young, Leaders for Africa 

In the words of the great West African poet, David Diop, I address you; 

Africa my Africa, Africa of proud warriors in ancestral Savannahs, Africa of whom my grandmother sings, On the banks of the distant river, I have never known you, But your blood flows in my veins… 

Today I speak to you in the same spirit from the heart. For the past five days we have spoken to you as trainers, today we speak as mentors. 

On our first day we were introduced to leadership as a cake that we needed to bake. The deputy director of AWARD challenged us, as trainers, to procure and secure all the essential ingredients to brew and deliver a cake of New, Young, Leaders for Africa. On that day we tackled the complex subject of self-leadership, ubuntu along with gender and its many perspectives. But we learned something that day; that science has an African interpretation and is not a western concept. 

By exploring the parameters and boundaries of culture, we learned that respect may be earned, but if it is accorded, it yields collaboration and opens doors to trust, teamwork, empathy and sustainable relationships. This is African wisdom in its purest form. 

We went on to learn how to isolate facts from feelings and values in conversations in order to give wise counsel and act with integrity instead of listening and acting on gossip. We can now venture to give constructive feedback to even the most difficult colleagues who demean  our better judgement. Nonetheless, as a leader do not give your enemies an opportunity to impale you on the wall of social media for things you should NOT have said or done - the internet never forgets!

You impressed us with your enthusiasm to understand the relationship between leadership and emotional intelligence. You grasped the importance of managing your limited time on earth. Time is no respecter of persons. You will sow what you reap. Assertiveness, conflict management skills and presenting yourself well, will help you navigate the corridors of promotion. These will also help you maintain professional working relationships with your supervisors and colleagues in the workplace. The understanding of the dynamics teamwork will empower you to play a crucial role in facilitating your personal and organisation success. 

However, as you go home you will face your colleagues, friends and bosses who will not appreciate your new ideas. You will be tempted to think this training was a waste of time. But, you must remember you now have the power to articulate the difference between good and destructive leadership. In humility you will treat them with empathy and show them the better way. You will need to serve and perhaps make sacrifices for the greater good. In doing so, you will make us proud and repay us one hundred-fold for our time together here. 

Finally, as new and young African leaders, you will face many different challenges on your leadership journeys. Let me mention just three;

• First; you will face the challenge of handling POWER. Many leaders fail this test and instead of using power to support, build, empower and encourage others, they use it to crush their real or imagined enemies. Rather than celebrate differences and diversity in others, they use power to intimidate their opponents, dismiss other people’s views and force their own way in everything. You must not do this. 
• Second; you will face the challenge of handling AUTHORITY. Do not use authority to oppress or bully those you work with. Learn to delegate tasks and trust others, particularly professionals, to do the tasks that you have assigned to them. You are not an expert in everything, neither can you do everything without others. 
• Third; you will face the challenge of NOT learning from HISTORY. New and young leaders, often believe they have the answers to all of today’s problems. Do not dismiss the transformational lessons of history or throw away institutional memory. If you do not learn from HISTORY you are bound to repeat the mistakes of the past. Use history to leverage your future success. 

As trainers, we have given you 100% for engagement, 100 % for doing your homework and 100% for participation, but only you can confirm your personal transformation. 

And now, my New, Young, Fellow African Leaders, we wish you well and many great victories on your individual leadership journeys. God bless Africa, God Bless AWARD and God Bless you all. 

With these words Madame Director, it is our great privilege and honor to present to you a carefully baked international leadership cake of New, Young, Leaders for Africa!

Allan Bukusi

Africa my Africa

Africa of proud warriors in ancestral Savannahs

Africa of whom my grandmother sings

On the banks of the distant river

I have never known you

But your blood flows in my veins

Your beautiful black blood that irrigates the fields

The blood of your sweat

The sweat of your work

The work of your slavery

Africa, tell me Africa

Is this your back that is bent

This back that breaks under the weight of humiliation

This back trembling with red scars

And saying yes to the whip under the midday sun?

But a grave voice answers me

Impetuous child that tree, young and strong

That tree over there

Splendidly alone amidst white and faded flowers

That is your Africa springing up anew

springing up patiently, obstinately

Whose fruit bit by bit acquires

The bitter taste of liberty.

David Diop (1960)

Leadership is a journey

 

Defining leadership is a journey. Nonetheless, leadership requires the perspective of various disciplines- psychology, sociology, politics and history (Burns, 1978). However, these perspectives in themselves are not enough to embody the spirit of leadership. They must come together in purpose, principle, passion and production. Leaders need emotional intelligence, engage ubuntu, inspire hope and learn from history. Bringing these together takes skill, effort and I dare say time. That is why leadership is a journey.

Allan Bukusi

Leadership matters!

 

Leadership is the ability to influence, the capacity to do and the competence to become. It is required to pursue, achieve or accomplish anything. We all have it. In some it is dormant. Not everyone deploys it. While some people abuse it, misuse it or refuse it, that does not prohibit others from excelling, arising and thriving by it. It is not something you get. It is something you have. It is what you do or don’t do with it that matters! 

Allan Bukusi

Who was at the Meeting?

 

Who was at the meeting? That is a fascinating question as we gathered Africa in the Baraza (Kiswahili word for consultative meeting) room on the North Coast of Kenya from the 3-7 of June 2024. What indeed would be the agenda of such a meeting; as bringing together delegates from twelve African countries for a five-day seminar?  The meeting actually covered two language groups from West and Eastern Africa. The interesting thing about this meeting is that it was attended by budding scientists. Most of them pursuing research and developing their academic careers in their various disciplines from farming methods to veterinary medicine They came armed with their research knowledge, critical for recognition in their fields of expertise. On the face of it, this should have been a hard core scientific conference. Indeed, you would have guessed the same from the name of the organizers: AWARD – African Women in Agricultural Research and Development - Well No!

The event was about building the capacity of Africa’s  Young Leaders. I will not say, “next generation” or even, “leaders of tomorrow”. No. These ARE our leaders. To put it simply, leadership is a journey that each of us must embark on - deliberately. No it will not just come to you. And even if it does, you must know how to go about it.  You see, progress in a career is about the technical competencies you must develop to be respected by your professional peers. But, it is ALSO about the soft skills you need to lead yourself, teams and institutions. It is about the soft skills you NEED to be an effective leader. It is about understanding yourself and others and the organization. It is about Emotional Intelligence and that very special African philosophy of Ubuntu. Leadership, they say, is about influence. But how exactly do you go about it. Many people find themselves appointed to administrative, management and leadership positions with technical, but next to no training in soft skills.

So the AWARD team brought together Siaka, Nalla, Maria, and I, in a leadership conversation to empower our young leaders on their (leadership) journey from Malawi, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Zambia, Togo, Benin, Mali, Senegal add Uganda and Cameroon and you have a  conclave that one cannot forget… 

“I cannot evaluate this training – it was priceless!”

“I was very disorganized! I now know how to change”

“Why were we not taught this in school?” 

The charge: Keep the Promise!      

Chapter of Greatness

 

The mystic aura that surrounds the emergence of great personalities such as Jomo Kenyatta, Kipchoge Keino, Abraham Lincoln, Raila Odinga, Sebina Chebichi, Ali Mazrui, Ellen Sirleaf Johnson, Michael Joseph, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Yew, Gandhi, Wangari Maathai, Newton are stories that have touched and transformed the lives of millions and continue to enable the dreams of children, youth, mothers and fathers perhaps beyond the realms of normality. How these names rose from obscurity to become brands of excellence, each to his own and yet to others unknown, of reality capturing the imagination of the world, each in his own space, time and discipline, is a great mystery. However, today or perhaps after their time, it is hard to imagine the world without them.

So what is the difference in them that inspires us? Or if you will, what is it about them that galls us? If it is not that each of them was born and lived fully touching a part of the world that needed healing and hope at the same time? Is it not the secret desire and dream that we too may rise in service and significance to humanity? The fact that they and many others took up their places in the lives of others does not limit our opportunities, rather it fuels our visions and raises our aspirations to be all that we could ever be.

You see greatness is not limited to individuals, far less to the names of those listed here; perhaps you did not see your name - are you surprised? Greatness is shared in the lives of others. To some those names remain obscure, but to those who will truly live, they have meaning, purpose, passion and pain. Rise up my son, my brother, my father. Rise up my daughter, sister, mother; greatness awaits! But, it does not delay for those who play; it passes on to those who will pursue it with rigour. Yours will be the first dawn while others sleep, it will be the long nights of striving, it will be in the sacrifices you make. Greatness is a hard taskmaster and vicious disciplinarian. Many fall by the way, on the task, but only the great rise again. There is no personal profit in greatness; nor is it found in pettiness or vain glory; do not fear, entertaining diversions and your detractors are many. Many times greatness is born out of sorrow, especially when it seems like there is no tomorrow.  Come everyone; your calling awaits! Add your name if you wish. No, greatness is not on the outside; Greatness lies within you, with but one chance to grab it, mold it and make it. It has no time for pity or party. Light the fire in your eyes and focus your flame. In the end the rest of the great is sweeter than the gain of sloth. Get to it! Greatness is your destiny.  Greatness is what you do with the rest of your life!

Allan Bukusi, 2024

To all who will find meaning in life; Share this message with someone who needs to write a chapter in the book of greatness.

Is this Ubuntu or Emotional Intelligence?

 

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC

I recently wrote a journal paper on how to integrate strategy and culture for transformative change. I wanted to discuss the socialisation of change as a core component of sustainable institutional change. While the overall paper argues for the collaboration of strategy and culture as pillars of change what I found surprising is that recent developments in emotional intelligence (EI) map squarely onto the age old principles of Ubuntu distilled over millennia...

Ubuntu and EI are equivalent. They are only different in perspective. They are both social intelligences based on African perspective of community and Western perspectives of individualism. To operate in the Western world you need EI, to relate in in Africa you need Ubuntu. Take a close look at the five  principles of EI and Ubuntu as presented by Goldman, 2000 and Mbigi, 1997 and you see striking reflection of individualism versus collectivism,  

Self awareness <=> Dignity

Self regulation <=> Respect

Self motivation <=> Survival

Empathy <=> Compassion

Effective relationships <=> Solidarity

It is fairly clear that EI is essentially "self" centred while Ubuntu is "other" centred. At some point I thought it was necessary to  "scientify" African leadership theory for it to make sense in the global context, but now I am convinced that it may be more practical to codify African leadership theory so that (modern) science can understand it. It is really a question of perspective. There are many indigenous knowledges Africa can teach the world that do not need scientific proof to be valid. 

Allan Bukusi

the Young and the Old

 The Young speak as if they will never get Old. The Old speak as if they had never been Young.

Research; why we do what we do

 

Why we do what we do, why we think the way we think and much more.... In his book, Roots, Alex Haley, descendant of human beings shipped to America to be slaves, researched his roots and traces his ancestry from the USA back to Africa. The book created “aha” moments for millions of Americans. It triggered an identity search, and gave them an identity, a culture, confidence, a sense of pride and hope. It helped explain to the world who black Americans are, and why they think the way they think. It authenticated their claims to life, liberty, affirmative action and black consciousness. It explained, “who we are” and, “why we do what we do..” 

At the heart of every perspective are roots that are not immediately obvious and appear biased until we interrogate them and understand where they, the roots, are coming from. Only then are we free to deal. Only then are we liberated by the, “ aha” moment that helps us understand ourselves and others to understand us. Only then are we free to move forward together with confidence because we know who we are. 

This is the essence of all research, innovation and invention. The book crested an “aha” moment that liberated all of us, black, white, yellow and green. It has allowed us to be who we are and who were made to be and releases us to move forward as humanity liberated in spirit, mind and body. Liberating the soul of a trapped spirit, but also giving avenues to expression of the spirit defining who we are and what we can do and become; human beings who exist in time. No, ours is not just mere existence. In us is the power of gods. The power of God expressed in the unfolding spirit of humanity. In other words, not just human, but human who are and beings. Research is the science of discovery, the art of expression and the theology of origin of all human study to find his roots, his bearings and his future. To do so is to find oneself in the mighty struggle to find out who we are.

Allan

Plant a seed of Leadership at home

 

As we concluded our tour of Bombululu, my friend took a seed of an exotic tree to plant in his home country. I was a little surprised because there did not appear to be anything special or magnificent about the tree that was variously scattered around this part of the world. Many other types of trees receive better attention and are much more attractive than the long withering bush my professor friend was wildly excited about. He told me that a seedling of the local tress was priced ten times higher in his own country for its presumably medicinal and soil conservation value or perhaps its "exotic" prowess.  

That got me thinking. What if leadership was that disheveled tree? Disrespected, battered and shunted aside! Whose value was essentially unknown and really not that impressive, but rather ridiculous in appearance?! However, the more powerful point of instruction from the professors’ seed class was his act of courage and responsibility to ensure that the seed got home and would never be lost! Someday the tree would also be ubiquitous in his country – playing its silent role in the shadows of the forest of humanity – so that leadership should not perish from the earth. I often worry about how many leadership forests are growing around Africa, but maybe I should be more concerned about how many seeds are being planted. Many years ago in my graduate class, another professor told me he had visited 29 of Africa’s 54 countries! I was disheartened, because I thought I could never hope match his travel log on the continent. But the second professor tells me all I need is to plant a seed. At the last count, I had planted maybe forty.  Plant a seed of leadership at home or just where you are. You never know how far the seed will travel in time. 

Ubuntu: Generational Speak

 

I have been quiet for a season and perhaps I need to awaken the spirit. I bring you news from Mombasa on the east coast of Africa. It has been a heart warming visit with greetings from twelve African nations; Benin, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Malawi, Togo, Mali, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Zambia. A great convocation arranged and brought together by AWARD. Together we revisited the spirit of Ubuntu; an ethos of African identity deeper than the colour of your skin. We could feel as one. "I am because we are". There are many lessons I learned from everyone. And it was great fun, but I want to share with you just one. 

There are five generations in Africa at any one time. As an elder I need to play the part. This does not come automatically with age. I must be deliberate and make a cultivated effort to always be my best. I can give advice to those who will listen, but I must also listen to generational and intergenerational speak in its complexity of cultural boundaries, perspectives and rules of engagement. I must speak with humanity and dignity to open the doors of non-demanding, non-judgemental association and build relationships of trust, goodwill, peace and progress. Nonetheless, this is believed to be impractical in the digital, competitive world we live in today, where success is defined by who is on top. With my peers I joke, they can take it. Other generations might not appreciate it and may assume I am imposing or suggesting something that may not be. Another generation may simply disregard the content of the text. With the passage of time in Africa, as in other parts of the world, everything moves on to the shelves of history and each generation must play its part while on stage in this life and later in the archives. The children need training to survive the day. The rising generation will benefit from learning and mentoring. The generation in power must speak, lead and be strong on behalf of all generations. The generation in authority is experienced and wise. They can give compassionate guidance and counsel freely. But there is also a generation that is revered. They have seen many years; enough to think about life from all its angles, positions and perspectives. They can challenge the bedrock of your understanding and belief system with sage affection. A word from them can change a life. 

The dynamic of the African society embraces all generations and associations tempered with cultural norms. It is a blessing that holds our communities intact and yet establishes the fundamentals of neighbourly togetherness. Remaining cognisant of the generation to which you speak will bridge many boundaries of interaction, open doors to opportunity and peradventure smooth your way to success. Embrace, integrate and appreciate generational speak in all your communications and it will help you touch the heart of Africa and keep the spirit alive.   

Ubuntu