Step down from the high of motivational speeches and inspirational quotes and get down to the reality of empowerment to address todays problems and learn to prepare for tomorrows' challenges. Knee-jerk responses to crisis using unresearched wisdom will not move us from the moment. What we are today is a sum of the past experience. Take counsel from history to rebuild the future.
by Ronald Bukusi
The book provides a scoped overview of global sporting as a context to understanding the competence of “winning”. Winning is a super-stride skill essential to survival, personal achievement and overcoming real life challenges. In his book Ronald presents Winning as a functional competence that can be developed, adopted and taught at all ages without gender, social or philosophical barriers. The book could be subtitled, “the Art of winning” aligning it with “the Art of war” and Robert Greene’s “mastery texts”. This will place the book into a larger readership space and allow it to be a comfortable reference away from its strong rugby title. Its principles are universal with sport simply providing a framework for discussion. The author takes the reader on a global tour from New Zealand to the heartland of Chicago Sirens. He travels with us on sports trips from the Home of Champions in Kenya to Malaysia, Wales and Argentina to traverse the Olympics, World Cups and enjoy dinners in corporate boardrooms of winning strategy formulation around the world. It is well worth the trip. If you are a player, coach, mentor or just sliding through life - get yourself a copy of this book!
Messaging
There
are five ideal places to quit; before the race, at the beginning of the
race, in the middle of the race, at the end of the race and after the race.
However, Winners never quit, they keep coming back - This statement summarizes the
books message. Its global referencing is used to bring home this point time and
again. The second message is “There are
no short cuts to winning… Being a winner takes time and by that I mean years!”.
The winning time frame in the book is called out in years, decades and in one case almost a century. Third, winning is about both
process and practice. The emphasis on technical process is not passed over,
but registers as core to the winning psyche. You’ve got to look at the numbers
(stats) to measure performance and progress in order to get better at what you
do and succeed. The only person who can write off a winner is the winner. Winning is a game of life. Paradoxical as it may seem, we
all determine how we want to turnout in life. Don’t worry. You will be broad-sided by economic down turn, COVID, sickness... you name it! It will come some day… The
way I see it, you have two choices; back off, back down and give up or back up, dust yourself off, retool
and reboot your engines! Simply put there are no guarantees for
anything you do. In life failure is an option and mistakes are part of the journey, but that shouldn’t stop you from trying. Just keep doing what you need to do to get better and up your game.
The book provides a blueprint for organization, order, growth, development, change and challenge in
all spheres of life.
Critique
I would have
liked to hear a little bit more about professionalism and the sports ecosystem
as environmental support structures to managing success and winning. There are
also a few “repeat passages” that might have been competently dealt with in one
section. Some concepts like “fundamentals”, “functionality” and “does pay equal
performance?” probably deserved more acreage. The interviews are great and
inclusive, but we would have liked to hear more of the authors understanding,
trials and interpretations. Some passages need reference listing like Donald
Rumsfeld’s unknown unknowns. Nonetheless, with 100 pages to deliver the message
of winning, one may not have done better. The back cover needs some glinting. It
is too local for the books global appeal. The authors picture could be more
charismatic. The front cover should be about getting attention the first time
it is lifted off the shelf. The back cover should not let a reader put the book down.
Do you ever wonder
why so many popularly elected leaders turn out to be an outstanding disappointment
during their parliamentary term? Many serve their time in the august house
without contributing to any meaningful debate, leave alone speaking about the issues
that concern their people. These leaders represent a wasted five years of your
political life pursuing interests that have left you stunted and scandalized.
But, perhaps the problem is you, rather than them. You may have elected whom
you wanted, but did you get what you wanted? Before you renew your political vows
with your parliamentary representative for tribal, filial or other non-sense
reasons, it may be useful to reflect on whether your proposed political representative
or governor has the capacity to fulfill your expectations.
The answer to
the above distress is self-evident. Politics is not popularity. Popularity can
be used to herd cows out of town or attract people to a social gathering. It is
next to useless when it comes to skills required to make good laws or
introducing and implementing policy that makes the people’s lives better. Before
we describe the kind of political leader you may be looking for we need to
appreciate that politics is not leadership and leadership is not politics.
Politics is a discipline like football, engineering or military science. Each
of these disciplines needs effective leadership to succeed in their respective endeavors.
While all leaders draw from a general pool of leadership theory, military
leaders must have an understanding of the chain of command, security and the
art of war. Political leaders must have a minimum understanding of representation,
governance and the rule of law.
Human resource
experts tell us that in order to identify a suitable person for a job, you need
to examine the job to understand its demands and dimensions before looking for
the kind of person to match its tasks. Successful leaders not only have the
will to succeed, but also have the skills necessary to succeed in following
through with the requirements of political office. For example, the skill of
debate is essential. If you cannot debate, your points will not cross the floor
of the house. However, to debate is not shouting, it is crafting and
articulating a logical argument with an astute amount of emotional intelligence
to convincingly communicate your core message on the collective way forward.
There are two sets of skills a political leader needs - politics and governance.
A political
leader clearly articulates and interprets the national dream. Political leaders
are charged with moving the nation from one level of glory to the next. They
must therefore be familiar with the nations aspirations and articulate the
dreams and wishes of the people in that context. This calls for an aptitude for
public service and stewardship of resources. Being a political leader is not a
job in a private company where the benefits are paid to the individual. In
public service, the benefits must pass on to the electorate. The astute
political leader must understand the principles of representation. The politician
carries forward the aspirations of the people and presents them in the august
house for resolution on behalf of the people. Like an ambassador who holds
brief on behalf of his home government, the politician is accountable to the
electorate who will judge his performance based on their expectations.
Governance requires
a thorough understanding and continuous development of technical competencies
to manage the execution of the political process. Examples can be drawn from
governors who have achieved above average value for their constituents. In all
cases these governors have a superior competence and understanding of the process
of governance, policy design, law making and community empowerment. These
governors are well versed in the mechanics of wealth creation, resources
management, economics and the rule of law. Politicians find it a popular
gimmick to tell a crowd that they will reduce taxes. But the governors tell the
people what they will do with the money they take from the public. Government
cannot run without tax. Good governors understand finances and develop sound
economic plans to utilize resources for the benefit of the people. Clearly governors
require an ethical personality, have a heavy public calling on their lives and
need to be not just astute leaders, but readers of documents, interpreters and
implementers of policy as custodians of national strategy and the peoples
dreams. If you want effective representation, then political skills may suffice
for your choice of a leader. However, if you want to see a change in your
circumstance and environment, then look for a leader who understands
governance.
Allan Bukusi is an adjunct lecturer teaching leadership
at Ashesi University, Ghana
The period preceding, and after, general elections in African countries is accompanied by a heightened sense of political excitement, social tension, personal insecurity and depressed economic activity. During these times citizens anxiously wonder, “What will happen this time round?”. While the voting season presents an opportunity to register a vote for social change, many people would wish that the season passes quickly so that they can get back to “normal” life. The big concerns are for peace, security, civility and hopefully the emergence of competent leadership after the ordeal. Curiously, not many citizens anticipate or even look forward to any real change in their lifestyle, yet the power to determine these very outcomes is given to each registered voter. Some people become so disappointed with previous election experiences that they vow never to vote again. Nonetheless, global statistics show that up to 25% of all eligible voters fail to cast their vote at the ballot box in a general election. Unfortunately, voter apathy in Africa casts a long, dark shadow of political uncertainty, social insecurity, civil unrest, poor governance and corrupt resource management in the aftermath of election outcomes. This post, summarized from the journal article WHY YOU MUST VOTE IN AN AFRICAN DEMOCRACY, outlines eight reasons why every eligible voter in Africa must cast their ballot in a general election.
First, Your vote is not
your own. It does not belong to you. It is held in trust. It is your
ethical duty to vote for the wellbeing of your family, under age children, the
sick, dying, ill-treated, uneducated and the disenfranchised in society as well
as for those who, for one reason or another, will not vote. Those with
interests in the country, but cannot vote, depend on you to vote wisely. The
generations that established the nation before you prayed that you would
realize the dreams they had for you. Similarly, they hoped that you too would
help shape the dreams of the generations that come after you. It is your
ethical responsibility to honor the trust bestowed upon you and
pass on a blessing to the next generation.
Second, Democracy does not
work by itself, it needs your vote to direct it. In 1948 The National Party
of South Africa was voted into government by a slim 31 seat majority in a 150-member
house. Before the election, the National Party’s apartheid agenda was derided
in the press locally and around the world. Everyone knew it was a bad idea and
"could not possibly work" in government. But that year the electorate
did not come out to vote for the good idea. So the National Party took power
and apartheid took root for nearly fifty years until Nelson Mandela was
released from prison. Democracy does not work by itself. It can pass bad ideas
into law. It needs your vote to make sure that good choices are made. Democracy
is not perfect, it needs your vote to perfect it.
Third, Voter apathy leads
to contested elections. The post-election violence in the 2007 general
election in Kenya resulted in the loss of over 1000 lives, the displacement of
thousands of others and the loss of property worth millions of dollars. The
contested vote was 0.16% of the ballots cast for the presidency. However, what
is not always fully appreciated is that 30% of the registered voters in that
election did not vote! The voice of the people would have been much
clearer if the apathetic 30% had cast their ballot and saved the country
immeasurable loss!
Fourth, The vote gives voice
to the minority and the marginalized. In 2006 the people of Liberia voted
in Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as the first woman president in Africa in modern
times. Four years earlier, Leymah Gbowee and others, tired of years of civil
war in their country, mobilized the women vote in the markets, churches,
mosques and homes to put an end to the violence. They added their voice to the
national debate in the name of peace for their nation and prosperity for their
children. If you do not vote, your voice is irrelevant in national affairs.
Fifth, In a democracy, the people hold political leaders and government officials to account for their actions. This privilege is not offered in dictatorships, autocratic forms of government and military rule. A 100% voter turnout gives full voice to the mosaic expression of the will of the people, their needs, their representation and what they expect of government. If you don't vote, elected leaders are free to make assumptions about what you want and how you want to be ruled. If you don’t vote, you still come under the same rule, but do not really have anything to complain about.
Sixth, There is a lie that
is pedaled by well-meaning unschooled leaders and sly politicians alike that says, “politics
does not put food on your table”. The consumers of this lie see no need to
vote or engage in the democratic process of selecting suitable leadership for
society. However, politics determines whether 1) you have the opportunity to
look for food, 2) enjoy the security to eat it, and 3) have the freedom to own
a table. Ignorance of the power a vote places in the hands of voters to
determine their future has led to the loss of personal freedoms in weak democracies. It behooves
each of us to use our votes wisely to choose leaders who will guard our
democratic freedoms?
Seven, Religion in Africa is
big! There is a myth that religion and politics are separate. However, both have an
important role in the welfare and maintenance of the state and accountability
of government. While some might argue that religion is a personal and private affair,
members of religious communities have a critical role to play in the identification,
selection and election of values oriented leaders for society. Denying society the
vote of your virtuous wisdom, is to endure the trials of pedestrian deception.
Eight, If the world is
ruled by mankind, should not men and women determine who should rule? In
this matter there are only two options; the vote or violence. Much violence and
civil disorder addressed by the United Nations in African countries, has been
resolved by the restoration of the vote. There is no need to lose something to
know the pain of retrieving it. If that be so, then it is both urgent and
important that you vote to improve the state of your nation and shape the development of
democracy in Africa for the benefit of generations to come.
Allan Bukusi is an adjunct lecturer
teaching leadership at Ashesi University in Ghana.
Thank you, President Uhuru Kenyatta,
Mr. President, I know you have
your own ideas about your Big Five Agenda, but to evaluate your legacy we
must look beyond building projects. We must look at the anchors you have prioritized that
will aid the establishment of the nation for generations to come. Now that you
have been counted as one amongst the Shepherds of Africa, we must assess your
global accomplishments.
First, you have
held the nation together – Thank you. You took over following a period of more
than a decade of great division among the people of Kenya. Social scientists, in future, may consider that time to be an extended period of civil strife where the nation
seemed to be at war with itself. But you reached out and shook hands quickly with
other leaders. You have been keen to work with all patriots in the interest of
the people.
Second, you successfully
managed a difficult transition- Thank you. Many may have forgotten that the implementation
of the 2010 constitution (a journey that began in 2000) with all of its complexities took place under your watch.
Your delicate arithmetic of allocating national resources, sharing power and distributing
authority have been unprecedented in Africa. You have overseen the shift from
centralized authoritarian leadership to a formulation of a servant leader model
that demanded you listened to the will of the people. You have shared power and
responsibility accordingly with governors and other accounting officers.
Thankyou
Third, you have built
on the shoulders of giants and thus you too have become a giant. Vision 2030
was not your dream, but as a good steward you have accelerated the dreams of
the people, in spite of their political, tribal or geographic affiliation, with
huge foundation programs similar to the laying of the railway by the British across
the country more than 150 years ago. You have thus opened up the country to the massive
opportunity of unlocked potential hidden in remote corners of the country while
multiplying entrepreneurial zeal in urban areas. Thank you
Fourth Mr.
President, you have fought COVID-19 in a practical and pragmatic manner. Thank you. The
global scourge spared no nation and perhaps has robbed you three years of what
you had planned for your presidency. You were on the frontline shoring up human
losses, economic fallout and institutional collateral damage. I don’t know the full cost of the
vaccines or of the lockdowns to the economy, but it surely is a lot of money. If
the reports by the CBK on economic performance during this time are true, then you,
your government, army of doctors and economic generals have spared us much greater
suffering. As you have said repeatedly – one life lost is one life too many.
Fifth Mr.
President you have advanced the country to global middle income economic status.
Thank you. The face of taxation has advanced from a mean spirited antagonistic
approach collecting money from the citizens to a more humane face. While we are
not out of the woods in this area, you cannot make our country rich by taxing poor
people. However, if the government facilitates enterprise and wealth creation,
not only will the country become richer, but the country will receive more tax
to support the services that generate wealth.
In my estimation
Sir, this is your BIG FIVE legacy. You are handing over a nation in a more
advanced position than you found it. Finally, Mr. President, not all of us can
be president, you are far from perfect, but I challenge you to show me a
perfect human and perhaps we should replace you with him or her. However, the amazing
thing is that with the level of human imperfection that we all have, God has
granted that history record these things about your rule. It is an honor to say Thank you!
The ABCD&E of Electing Leaders
It is election season
in Kenya again! Both strategic and crafty politicians search and clamor for
votes by making white washed promises to gullible voters. This too, is the season
when the pendulum of power swings towards the voters to exercise the rights to
hire and fire leaders. During this time some politicians, beg, plead and cajole
illiterate voters with a tribal charge. But how can the voter be empowered to
carry out their sacred duty to elect good leadership? It is no good wasting
time moaning if you do not vote. But I propose the we do away with voter
education and embark on voter empowerment to bring in a good harvest of leaders.
The educated voter knows how to correctly place the ballot in the box, but the
empowered voter knows whom to select and elect. The educated voter knows which
leader is on the ballot box, but the empowered voter knows whom to select to
raise the bar of leadership in the constituency. It is beyond the voters to determine
who will stand for any position, but it is in the power of the voter to select
the best from among those who present themselves on the basis of Attitude,
Benevolence, Character, Diligence and Experience. The empowered voter takes a
little time to do some basic research and subjects each candidate to the following
test to find the best.
Attitude
One dictionary
describes attitude as “a settled way of thinking or feeling about something”. What
is the attitude of the candidate to his or her voters? Is it one of affiliation,
tolerance and acceptance. Does the candidate despise others as lesser than himself?
Is the politicians’ attitude virtuous, arrogant or careless in dealing with the
delicate matter of leadership? Most people can pick up an attitude far more
quickly than it takes to describe it. It is time to exercise this powerful leader
selection tool.
Benevolence
Under normal
circumstances, benevolence is charitable, philanthropic and sacrificial. It
does not need to dish out money to get attention. Many politicians come to the
season with goodies to buy their way back to office with platitudes and practiced
emotional gymnastics. If you are having difficulty with this sudden display of
affection, take a look into their past for clues as to whether the behavior is
genuine or not.
Character
While it is
listed third in this criteria, character is in fact first and overarching over
the others. Does the candidate display a consistent, commitment and courage to realistically
address the issues as they are? Do they have the courage and ability to speak the
truth to power? Do they act in line with a core and predictable value system? Beware
of the Leopard standing among Sheep and promising that he will never eat them.
The only evidence of a renewed character is to bear fruits in line with that
repentance. If there is no fruit, there certainly is no change of character.
Diligence
Diligence,
discipline and determination are human qualities critical for the success of
any human endeavor. However, just like character, these must be in evidence
long before the person becomes interested in the campaign for office. Even the
most wicked dictators can display this quality. so one must examine the
principles and vision for which this displayed discipline is assigned. There
are corrupt diligent candidates whose master is the satisfaction of their personal
lives.
Experience
Then there are
the experienced, educated, exposed and experts in various fields that will also
be seeking office. But before you fall for the, “I have long experience” ruse
remember that it is possible to work in an organization for a decade, learn
nothing in that time and come away with one years’ experience repeated ten
times. Experience should translate to the accumulation of valuable wisdom and the
establishment of societal benefit.
Finally,
consider that out of the five, ten or twenty candidates they are all imperfect
mortals. But there is no need to pick the most voluble or least intelligent in the
panel if there is a better option available. My dear voters take time to study
these words and give a good account of yourselves as empowered voters to raise
the bar of leadership in our land.
Allan Bukusi is an adjunct lecturer of
leadership at Ashesi University in Ghana.
allanbukusi@gmail.com
