Why is Nobody Talking About the Ability to Follow?

 The topic of leadership in management has been discussed time and time again in every management meeting, conference and symposium all over the world and in many different languages. Leadership is a universal concept taught and learned by many and rightfully so, because of it's importance in building and growing a formidable company. However, there is one important ingredient in the leadership mix that is seldom spoken about, and that is followership. A leader is only as powerful as the willingness and obedience of his followers. Therefore it is safe to generalise that the followers are indeed leading. We can also look at it this way; even though you might be a leader in certain social groups, you are most likely to be a follower in another. Therefore, everybody is in fact a follower somewhere. People sometimes say great leaders make poor followers. I think this should not be so. Therefore, looking through my lenses as a young, working professional, I would like to take a bite at this subject in leadership called followership.

“Why We are the Easiest to Work with” - The Millennial

I know the title of this piece may sound like a big irony to the Generation Xer reading this now, but at the end of this piece you will agree with it. But before I go on and on, in the first place, who is a millennial? Who is an Xers? A millennial is one born in the millennial generation. The millennial generation is loosely regarded as people born between 1980 and 2000. They are sometimes referred to as Generation Y. They are different in comparison with generations preceding them - Generation X; born between 1960 and 1980, Baby Boomers; born between 1946 and 1964 and Silent Generation; born between 1930s and 1946.  Although the basis for classifying these generations are the social, economic and cultural activities that existed in Europe and America at those times, these groups, especially the millennial generation, are also identifiable in Africa. As people, we are products of nature (inherited behaviour from birth) and nurture (learned behaviour from society). Some people even argue that we are shaped more by nurture than nature. Consequently, every generation is different from others and this translates into workplace behaviour. Therefore,the question is no longer whether we are different, it is about how different we are. And the big questions are - Is it a good or bad kind of different? How do we work with and through our differences?

Intellectual Obesity

I have gone through most of my adult life believing that everyone is smart. I have however, met some people that have tested my belief in that theory many times. I still choose to believe we are all smart people in this world. I believe strongly that what differentiates us all is our intellectual diet. Through keen observation  for sometime now, I have come to notice three sets of people; The intellectually starved, the intellectually obese and the intellectually fit. We all in one way or the other fall into one category.


The intellectually starved. He knows he could do a lot more with himself but "what about sleep, parties and the sweet feeling of doing absolutely nothing? Too high a price for intellectual vitality" he concludes. She knows where her passion is calling her to, but "all those sacrifices, hours of study and research, all of that time to learn the ropes. Thanks but no thanks" she tells herself.  But listen, you can go on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for hours because Zuckerberg and co. refused to be intellectually starved. For how long are you going to let dust and cobwebs cover you passion. How much longer will algae re-design your destiny? I have too many questions to ask you, and I receive too few answers.

Here's to Us - Toast to Us!

Here's to the strong and determined Nigerian. To the Nigerian who is unwavering and resolved in the quest to live a good life. He does not have a father in the government or a mother in the welfare system, but as an orphan lives through the realities in his home. She does not find a husband in patriotism or children in her compatriots, still she keeps her home even for the bastards her husband got out of wedlock.


Cheers!
Here's to the Minister of Power and his generating plant, however small, "e pass him neighbor"
Here's to the Minister of Water Resources whose bore hole system supplies water to his household and entire street.

Dear Sir!

Dear Sir/Madam

I know you did not have a very pleasant weekend, I will not ask, I can see by the look on your face. However, I did have an amazing weekend but I can't say because admitting I did not work over the weekend will make me look lazy around here. I have a really funny joke to share but I am convinced you will not laugh, I have a really touching story but not for you, I already know.  I am sorry about what happened on Friday, I now realise I was wrong, I hope the weekend has washed away my sins.

If you do not mind I would like to draw your attention to some misconceptions about us the "junior ones".

The Beginning of Finishing

Sometime ago, I heard a profound statement that has made an impact in my life till date - The beginning of finishing is starting. To you this might sound like any other seemingly intelligent play on words, not to me. For me, I had just discovered my new mantra to annihilate my "fear of the unknown" syndrome. I don't know if there is anyone out there like me, but my life has never lacked ideas. Like most people, I have always been convinced I have a save-the-world formula, but somehow it never really metamorphoses from a larva.

Give Value, Make Money!

Last Sunday, I climbed over the pedestrian bridge at Lekki Phase 1, here in Lagos and I learnt one valuable lesson that morning; giving value attracts money! It's that simple.

There was a handicapable man on the bridge who could not walk. He sat on this low piece of wood with little tyres under to wheel him around with the support of his bare hands (he did not even have a wheel chair). But he thought to himself, "I have no legs but I do have hands. Rather than just stay here and ask for alms like all these other ones like me, here's what I will do. I will pick up a broom and sweep this heavily littered bridge. It might take a while because I will have to wheel slowly and take many breaks in-between but I won't just stay here and ask for alms, I'll add value".

While I walked across, I saw  him at the centre of the bridge, with the broom placed beside him with one half of the bridge clean and the other half as work in pro. I had to stop and at least "reward him". It didn't even feel like I was doing something charitable, it felt like I was rewarding hard work and creativity.

Why You Are Afraid To Engage In Office Politics. Why You Shouldn’t Be

Often considered a dirty and dishonourable game, politics continues to reign supreme as a valid means of getting power and authority all over the world, even in a monarchy!  So one would wonder why there are many people who want to have influence yet shy away from politics.

It is a well-known truth that no society exists without politics, no matter how small; even the family. When you do not tell your father about your fiancée first and tell your mother because you know you can convince her and she can in turn convince your father?  Well you have a political ally in your mother. Yet, people feel dirty mentioning politics in the same sentence as their names? Why then?

How African Workplaces can deal with Power Distance Issues

Geert Hofstede’s theory of cultural dimensions stands as one of the most popular in understanding cultural diversity in the workplace. In Africa, or a work setting with predominantly Africans, the most obvious of these is the dimension of power distance. Societies with high power distance have an expectation of uneven distribution of power between the more powerful and less powerful in the society. Low power distance societies on the other hand have an expectation of inclusiveness and decentralization of power.

 Having worked in Africa and Europe, I cannot help but notice the steep difference between the high power distance culture in Africa and otherwise in Europe. Even in supposedly multi-national firms who often profess adopting a global culture, the differences are overwhelming. It is however important to realise that a high degree of even distribution of power in an African workplace might fail as it firmly clashes with the individual and societal culture. Nevertheless, one cannot help but notice the work and relational problems caused by an “unequal” workplace.

Five Reasons Why Your Employees Do Not Live Your Corporate Culture

 Corporate re-branding is susally a highly strategised and celebrated event in an organisation.  However, for the implementation stage, HR managers sometimes find it difficult to get the employees to live by these new values. Here are five reasons which may be responsible for this;


 1. They don’t think you mean it 
Sometimes employees see these policies as beautiful nonsense. It sure does look good on paper but to them it is no different from the “please, wash your hands” sign on the toilet wall. They simply do not think you mean them!

The responsibility falls on management to not only introduce a culture but follow through until each employee individually realizes that it is not just another company policy, it is a company way of life.