African Leadership & Personal Excellence - Reflections of a South Africa GenerationX Leader, 14 November 2013

1. The 21st Century is the century of
the individual. The most
successful will be those that
balance their talent thriving as
successful, focused, fulfilled and
creative beings.
African Leadership & Personal
Excellence- Reflections of a South
African Generation X Leader
EZEMVELO KZN WILDLIFE, SIBAYA
P Mpho Makwana
14 November 2013

2. “…None of us are free, one of us is chained…”
– motho ke motho ka batho, umuntu ngu muntu ngabantu..

3. as we reflect and celebrate excellence, we need
African wisdom to thrive and soar even higher

4. Iceberg phenomenon
Looking at the world from a systemic point of view helps you
uncover causal relationships that are often hidden from view. This
worldview increases leadership effectiveness and learning. It
provides a more natural sustainable way of dealing with the
world. Faced with a problematic event we often look for the
"part" that does not work. Systems Thinking encourages you to
look at the whole not just the parts. It assists in making
assumptions visible and enables you to determine the underlying
influence and structure of a problem, avoiding symptom
treatment. Source: CIL, Centre for Innovative Leadership

5. The General Consensus
Key driving forces/Mega Trends 2030
• 8.3 billion people on the planet (58% thereof will live in
cities)
• BRIC[SA/SoA/Africa] are the new growth markets
• Global primary energy will grow by 26%
– 3.5 Trillion USD will be invested in Electricity | energy
• 4billion plus will be without water
• Innovation is the new currency for global growth
• The Global talent for war will be about the 2.5% top
percentile
• Sustainability and shared global responsibility – global
warming & climate change

6. Invest in meaningful strategic
conversations
Assumptions
Quality of
Thinking
Reinforces values
& Universal truths
Quality of
Conversation(s)
(Engagement)

7. Let’s reflect on an important language
of the 21st Century
™Dynamic Worldviews – Change | Inspirit Leadership | Life-changing engagement©
Source – Accelerated Learning in the 21st Century

8. 8
M
COMMUNITY
LEADERS
Constellation leadership is something which from a distance looks like one
bright star, but in reality is an interplay of many stars.
Courtesy of Mr Eric Mafuna, ESKOM Research on African Leadership, 2003

9. 9
THE SPIRIT OF MOKOROTLO
Driven by a culture of rigorous, purposeful consultative processes (the art of getting work done
with others…)
Local level
consultation
Mid level
consultation
Top level
consultation
The traditional Basotho Hat (or Mokorotlo) is
the national symbol of Lesotho ( a small
country that is totally surrounded by South
Africa)
The pyramid-like shape symbolises collective
wisdom as basis to sustain the existence and
well-being of the community

10. The
reasonable
man adapts
himself to the
world.

11. the
unreasonable
man persists in
trying to adapt
the world to
himself

12. Therefore,
all progress
depends on the
unreasonable
man
GEORGE BERNARD SHAW

13. Invest in meaningful strategic
conversations
Assumptions
Quality of
Thinking
Reinforces values
& Universal truths
Quality of
Conversation(s)
(Engagement)

14. A new world of new relationship patterns
Blind faith
Collectivism
Command
Individual
Reasoned faith
Elective collectivism
Contract
personal
networks
Communal
Homogeneity
™Dynamic Worldviews – Change | Inspirit Leadership | Life-changing engagement©

15. The Work-Life authors suggest
Gen X “might be called the
‘wrong place, wrong time’
generation.”

16. …they are considered the smallest
generation, “they were hit by an
economic triple whammy:
 college-related debt,
 multiple boom and bust cycles (including
the 1987 stock market crash, occurring just
as Gen X entered the work force), and
 the housing slump.”

17. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AFRICAN
GENX LEADER (1961 – 1981)
1994
33 year olds
Switch from Yeoville, 99yr Leaseholds to Bonds, House to
Estate Living
Adaptation to Model C Education for Children
23 year olds
Mortgage townhouse to house to Estate Living
Unlimited Choices, First time parents, Children went to
Mixed Crèches,
13 year olds
Model C, real beneficiaries of the first decade of democracy
Few limitations almost limitless

18. Common Characteristics of GenX
• Individualistic :- independent, resourceful and self-sufficient. In the workplace,
Generation X values freedom and responsibility.
• Technologically Adept : - mindset reflects a shift from a manufacturing economy to a
service economy. The first generation to grow up with computers, technology is woven
into their lives.
• Flexible:- witnessed their Silent & Baby Boomer parents lose hard-earned positions. less
committed to one employer and more willing to change jobs to get ahead than previous
generations.
– They adapt well to change and are tolerant of alternative lifestyles.
– Generation X is ambitious and eager to learn new skills but want to accomplish things on their
own terms.
• Value Work/Life Balance:- unlike previous generations, Generation X work to live rather
than live to work.
– They appreciate fun in the workplace and espouse a work hard/play hard mentality.
– Generation X managers often incorporate humour and games into work activities.
• Technocrats:- Specifically in Corporate South Africa, they are more technocratic or
specialists than their Silent & Babyboomer predecessors
• High number of Graduates:- As South Africa has been transforming GenX generation
has a higher number of graduates than previous generations

19. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AFRICAN
GENX LEADER (1961 – 1981)
2012
51 year olds
The current generation of elders in the formal economy
Daunted by legacy issues – Baby Boomer Transition vs
Own legacy and what making a difference means for this generation
41 year olds
Young achievers also current elders in the formal economy
In a “safe zone” yet at Crossroads, preoccupied with “What
Next Issues ”,
31 year olds
Long term view, its not yet my time to be in the hot seat,
Master Tweeters, champions of good causes and social
entrepreneurship,
Looking for opportunities to change the world through social media

20. ..And they want to have fun while at it

21. —ALBERT EINSTEIN
imagination is
more important
than knowledge

22. TAKE A DEEP BREATH & REFLECT

23. Let’s reflect on an important language
of the 21st Century
™Dynamic Worldviews – Change | Inspirit Leadership | Life-changing engagement©
Source – Accelerated Learning in the 21st Century

24. Organisational Archetypes
(Which archetype works best for you?)
™Dynamic Worldviews – Change | Inspirit Leadership | Life-changing engagement©
Visual strategic visionary creative Leadership
Auditory strategic technical Functional Leadership
Kinesthetic Risk averse Practical Preserving Managerial
Olfactory Traditional Regimental Preserving Dictates
Gastronomic Hierarchical Procedural Preserving Administers

25. The 21st Century is the century of
the individual. The most
successful will be those that
balance their talent thriving as
successful, focused, fulfilled and
creative beings.
African Leadership & Personal
Excellence- Reflections of a South
African Generation X Leader
EZEMVELO KZN WILDLIFE, SIBAYA
P Mpho Makwana
14 November 2013