Leadership: A Process of Paying It Forward

Abstract

Good leadership is understood to be about a leader portraying certain attributes to influence others to achieve a set goal or vision for an organization. It is often a depiction of unequal power relations where one is at the forefront, while the other though guided and supported emulates what is defined for them. In recent years, old-age perspectives like social capital and the African philosophy of Ubuntu have reared their heads as important concepts in mentoring of the young generation of leaders. The notion that mentoring of leaders is not for personal gain but rather for communal benefit is key in building confidence and a positive growth trajectory for the mentee. The aim of a leader using these concepts is to create a ripple effect where the mentee also becomes a mentor to others. It is more so important when creating a generation of leaders who do not have role models who they identify with as a norm. At the centre of leadership, there should be selflessness, the innate need to help others, commitment to the course, no burdensome expectations and forced recognition. Mentoring leaders should be a joyful journey of paying it forward where people will willingly come to the fore, thus nurturing and building generation after generation of leaders.

There can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to help others without expecting anything in return.

—Nelson Mandela