When you are a leader in this country—and many others across Africa—there is a responsibility on you to honor our heritage and leave a legacy of empathy, solidarity, and change.
I have always said that when we form teams in South Africa, there are many races, cultures, and religions in one team. When this happens, there needs to be sacrifice from all the players involved. It takes time and effort from everybody to forge a strong, winning team. I have no doubt that when every player sacrifices something, the team bond becomes stronger than when no sacrifice is made. That is how we have won four Rugby World Cups—more than any other nation.
The Role of Leadership in a Diverse Team
When you have multi-cultural, racial, and religious differences, it really takes an incredibly strong leader to keep things together. When you play for the Springboks, you read a code of conduct, which says: “I will put the team and its interests above my own ambitions.” That is what sacrifice is all about—being prepared to give up something for the betterment of the team.
Imagine if all our politicians said, “I will put the country and its people above my own ambitions.” Wow! I think we would have a far more flourishing society than we do now.
Lessons from Professional Sports
Professional cycling and Formula 1 teams are a great example of sacrifice. If Lance Armstrong wanted to win the Tour de France, he relied 100% on his teammates to protect him and shield him into the last 20 km of the stage. They literally break themselves to keep the leader fresh so he can win the stage or the entire race.
When we as leaders work with our staff, we have to be aware of every individual worker’s circumstances.
Understanding Individual Circumstances
As a result of my many years in boarding school, I am very pedantic about time. I will always be five minutes early for a meeting, as it freaks me out when people are late. However, when I work with the people in my business, I am more lenient. I know that they may have taken two or three taxis and feared for their lives to get to work. How could I possibly be hard on them if they are a few minutes late?
Workers on farms often arrive for work without having had anything to eat. How can the farmer be hard on them when they struggle to do physical labor?
Fairness and Sacrifice in South Africa
The point I am trying to make is that as leaders in South Africa, sacrifices are constantly being made, and yet we need to be fair to everybody. I wonder if any other countries make as many sacrifices as we do, and if so, does it affect their performance?
I am keen to hear what you have sacrificed for the betterment of your team and how it made a significant difference. May your leadership be the change, and may your business prosper in this difficult economy.
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If you would like to get in touch with me about my key note presentation, Debunking Motivation, please send an email to corne@cornekrige.com. Visit my website to review my speaker sheet for more info. I also share my story on my social media pages on Facebook and LinkedIn.