What Can I Do for You?

Four Steps to Greater Servant Leadership

Servant LeadershipImagine your team members happy, dedicated and passionate about their jobs. They can't wait to get to work in the morning and are always striving to do their best. It's the perfect scenario, but, unfortunately, only possible if you have a budget the size of Texas, right?

Actually, no! Being able to have a dream team working right alongside you is highly achievable, and it all begins with a simple concept that is thousands of years old. Servant leadership has been practiced in churches for many, many years. In fact, references to putting the needs of others before your own are mentioned throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation.

It can work for your business, too, no matter your size. Dave and his leaders have been practicing it for years, and he credits it for much of the success of his business. To get you started on your own journey to servant leadership, we've listed a few of the principles that you can put in place today. Give them a try! They're not complicated, time-consuming or expensive.

1. Follow the Golden Rule
Servant leadership is as simple as following the golden rule: "Do to others as you would have them do to you." (Luke 6:31). Handle all interactions with your team by putting yourself in their shoes, and then act the way you'd want to be treated. When you would expect to be praised, praise. When there's a problem you would expect help with, lend a hand.

2. Act With Grace
The best way to handle any negative situation is to act with grace. For example, if you have to reprimand a team member, never embarrass them. Talk to the person privately and promptly, and always remember how you would feel if you were being admonished.

3. Give Praise
For the majority of your team members, money isn't the chief motivator; they just want a sense of accomplishment for a job well done. People, no matter what age, yearn for approval, and the best way to make them feel appreciated is sincere praise. So make sure you are always on the lookout for people doing something right instead of focusing on mistakes or failure, and be sure to let the team member know they are doing a good job. Don't be stingy with your praise. The person who helps a fellow worker in time of need deserves as much gratitude as your superstar salesperson.

4. Treat Them With Dignity
People also have the need to be treated with dignity. At Dave's office, there are no time-clock-punchers. He believes there is no dignity in doing just enough work to collect a check. Make it clear that your team members' work is important to you and your company. It allows them to buy into your dream and work with passion.

By serving your team members with respect, dignity and a caring heart, success will naturally follow, and you'll become a true EntreLeader. It's the best way to grow your business. In fact, in the long run, it's the only way.

Why train mentors?

The biggest reason to train mentors is that although people understand, intellectually, the value of mentoring, they don’t know its real power until they experience an actual mentoring conversation. You can tell them and they can read about the process and techniques. However, until they experience being listened to without being judged or told what to do, see for themselves the amazing ability of people to find their own answers when given the space and support to do so, and feel the synergy that can occur when people are attuned to one another, they may not have the wherewithal to be the mentor they could be.

Preparing people for mentoring begins as you promote the mentoring strategy. It is critical once you match mentors and mentorees and continues as part of your program support. Most mentoring programs provide a workshop each for mentors and mentees, separately then bring them together to get them off to a good start. Follow-up group sessions are a feature of best practice programs. If it is not feasible to get people together regularly, webinars can be very effective.

Training builds on people’s experience and natural skills. It focuses them on the outcomes desired of mentoring and equips them with tools and techniques to do it well. Training demonstrates a serious commitment to your mentoring strategy. Train people so that mentoring works!

Leadership, Integrity, Ethics and Morals.

This is an interesting post by Mike Henry,founder and Chief Instigator of the Lead Change Group.

There is much to discuss in the relationship between leadership, integrity, ethics and morals. Many people have opinions on the meaning of the words and they way they’re applied. Jim Furr, of Tulsa Executive Events has written a series of articles titled Pointers in Proverbs making drawing relevant wisdom for living from the biblical text. He connects leadership, integrity and ethics in an interesting way that I thought would start some discussion. See what you think.
Pointers in Proverbs by Jim Furr

“Good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kinds; sound leadership has a moral foundation.” –Pr 16:12

After surveying over 75,000 people around the world and performing more than four hundred written case studies, James Kouzes and Barry Posner (The Leadership Challenge) identified the characteristics most desired in a leader. In virtually every survey, integrity was identified more often than any other trait.

No surprise here. Peter Drucker writes in The Effective Leader: “By themselves, integrity and character do not accomplish anything. But their absence faults everything else.”

According to Steven Hayward in Churchill on Leadership, a Wharton School of Finance study of large corporations over a four-year period concluded that “between 15 percent and 25 percent[!!] of the variation in profitability was determined by the character of their chief executives.” “… sound leadership has a moral foundation.”

Integrity

So what’s integrity? One study framed it in terms of ethics and morality. Ethics, they said, refers to our standard of right and wrong; it’s what we say we believe is right. Morality, on the other hand, is our lived standard of right and wrong; it’s what we actually do. “Integrity” means “complete,” “integrated.” To the degree, then, that our ethic and morality are integrated, we have integrity. To the degree that our ethic and morality are not integrated, we lack integrity.

Looking at this another way, if John tells you that he will lie, cheat and steal from you, he has a low ethic. If he does business that way, he also has a low morality. John is unethical and immoral, but he has integrity – twisted as it may be – because his morality is consistent with his ethic. Of course, when you and I think of integrity, we’re assuming a high ethic matched by an equally high morality.
Right Things

Most of us would probably agree that always acting with integrity can be a challenge. Norman Schwarzkopf made this observation: “The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it.”

Several years ago, a friend who owned a certain professional sports franchise, although his team had just won the national championship, due to a failed TV contract found himself $10 million upside down. Many advised him to file for bankruptcy, but my friend’s ethic required that he pay his debts. It took him 11 years!

How does one develop this level of integrity? I’m sure it comes as no surprise to you that it takes practice and hanging around the right kind of people. Stephen Graves and Thomas Addington put it this way in The Fourth Frontier: “Integrity is a character muscle we either develop or ignore. And it’s rarely a last minute decision. It requires discipline. It comes from years of practice or, at the other extreme, years of neglect…Our integrity is shaped not only by our personal decisions, but also by the company we keep…Good character keeps good company.”
Personal Observation

One other tip, if I may, that I’ve found helpful in developing integrity. The Bible says that God searches the earth in order to strengthen those who are totally committed to him (2 Chronicles 16:9). I’ve discovered that when my driving and guiding ambition is not simply to build a reputation, but to serve God and his people, then God lends his power to my efforts to have integrity, and that seems to make a significant difference.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Thanks guys for honouring the invitation and turning up for the YLMP Awards Day last Friday. Special thanks to the speakers who made it as well as the junior mentors.

Rev. Ogbarmey-Tetteh was the guest of honour and he encouraged the mentees to put into practice whatever they had learnt this past year. He made it known to the mentees that they should first of all be able to lead themselves before they could lead others.

All those who for one reason or the other couldn't make it can pass by the office to pick up their certificates.

Mentor with the YLMP!!!

This is actually an old post. Just want to remind you that applications are still welcomed that's why I'm reposting it...


Yes it's that time of the year again, we're accepting mentor applications for the 2011/2012 Young Leaders Mentorship Programme. We have a number of exciting things in store for you this year!

Firstly, the YLMP will be operating in two schools this year; both Kinbu Secondary Technical School and Accra High School. Secondly, for the first time we're looking at opening up our mentoring opportunities to university students outside Ghana!

We're really looking forward to seeing where this will take us. However, we'll only run the e-mentor scheme if we have enough potential e-mentors for every group to have at least one. That's where we're going to need your input. If you're interested leave a comment here, on our Facebook page or tweet us @infoYLMP with the hashtag #YLMPementor.

We're really excited about this project and would love to launch it this year along with our regular mentoring programme. We'd also love to hear any suggestions you might have.

For more information about our programme and what we do, have a look at our About Us page. You can also scoot around this blog for details of our past activities and events. You'll be able to find more titbits on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

AWARDS DAY POSTPONED.

We are sorry to inform you that the YLMP Awards Day which was scheduled for Friday the 23rd September has been postponed to Friday the 30th September, 2011.
However, the time(3pm) and the venue(Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Boardroom, Databank) remain unchanged.
Any inconvenience is deeply regretted.

Hope to see you all!

MY ENCOUNTER WITH THE GHANA POLICE

It saddens me to give an account of this experience.

On the morning of Saturday 20th August, 2011, I was driving on the Otano road with a friend of mine (Marina) to the Madina market; as I approached a police barrier, the policeman raised his hand, signaling for me to stop. He asked to see my driving license. I explained to him that I had left my license in another handbag at home.
“Ok, pull over to the side of the road” was his response.
I obeyed, stepped out of the car and walked toward him as he had already turned his back to stop other cars. He asked me to leave my car and go and get my license from my house. I asked him how I was supposed to go home to get my license. He suggested I take a trotro or taxi.
“But don’t I have 24 hours to produce my license?” I asked him.
“Madam, leave your car here and go home and get your license!” he said raising his voice.
By this time I had sat back down in my car with the door open. I called my aunty to let her know what was going on. She verified that I had 24 hours to get my license and so I should take my car.
“Let me speak to him” she said.
“My Aunty wants to speak to you” I said stretching my hand to give him my cell phone.
“Who is your Aunty” he responded harshly refusing to speak to her and obviously offended that I had asked him to speak to her.
“I’m going to go home, get my license and bring it to you to see or you may come with me if you want” I responded respectfully.
He stood in the way as I tried to close my door shouting. “You this small girl, you don’t respect. You want me to come home with you. I am on the job. I can’t come with you”.
I’m sure I must have looked really young; dressed simply in my jeans and t-shirt with a scarf wrapped on my head. He probably thought I was a 17 year old. He leans forward to remove my car keys from the ignition. My hand was in the way and I had the ‘are-you-seriously-going-to-take-my-car-keys’ look on my face. He quickly stands up and shouts to the other policeman across the street informing him that I want him to go home with him to show him my license.
He sits at the back seat of my car, stretches to remove my keys from the ignition and tells me to drive to the police station.
I told him he couldn’t do that but he could come home with me, especially because the distance between where we are to my house and the police station is the same.
While shouting at me and saying irrelevant things that I didn’t want to hear, I called my aunty again informing her that he’s not allowing me to go with my car. He asks to speak to my aunty. I hand him my phone, as the other policeman (his senior) comes over and shouts at me. “Herh! small girl, give me your car keys”. At this time I was thinking ‘oh great, two of them. Exactly what I need’. The policeman and I stepped out of the car. I’m sure by now the phone connection had been lost since I had very few call minutes left on my phone. I put my car keys in my handbag. The senior policeman tries to take my bag from my shoulders but I pull back.
“No, but I’ll leave my car here to get my license.” I say.
“I’ll slap you, you this small girl” he shouts raising his hand.
What I really would have liked to say “If you are a man, slap me!”, because apparently to him threatening to slap me implies that real men slap women, but I held back. Now I wish I hadn’t.
Anyway, at this time a small crowd had gathered; I was just hoping someone I knew would show up. My phone was ringing.Apparently, she had sent me Mr. Habada’s phone number (the Deputy Regional Crime Officer) but I didn’t see her text message till our way back from the market. Anyways, so I looked at the senior policeman “Officer please, my license is at home. I don’t live far at all. I have the right to go with my car but since you wouldn’t let me, I’ll leave it here, go home with my car keys and get my license. My friend and I are going to Madina market so we’ll use this way on our way back. I’ll be back in a few minutes”.
“Come, let’s go to the police station” he replied sternly, moving a bit towards me. By this point, Marina I’m sure was scared, so she pulled me aside “Elinam, just give them your keys. Let’s take a taxi home.”
“But Marina, I don’t have to leave my keys with them. This is so not right”
“I know. But just do it” she said in her sweet voice. She obviously didn’t want any more trouble.
I took in a deep sigh and said “ok”.
I locked up the car, gave the senior policeman my car keys and got my cell phone from the other policeman.
We stopped a taxi. Just as I was negotiating the price, one of the observers came to me, “Madam, all they want is a few cedis. Just give them a little something”.
“Ah, no. I won’t give them money” I responded.
“She has her license at home” Marina added.
I couldn’t believe he was giving us such advice.
Marina and I hopped into the taxi. The driver and I had agreed on GH¢6.
When we got home, my Aunty and Uncle met us at the gate. I rushed to my room, got my license and rushed out.
On our way back I asked the taxi driver if he had change for GH¢6. He said he did. As we neared the police barrier, the taxi driver gave me change for GH¢7. When I asked him why, he said that we had agreed on GH¢7 and that Marina had even agreed to pay GH¢7. Marina interjected reminding him that she was not there when we were negotiating the price. I can’t believe dude tried to lie and there was smoke coming out of his steering wheel. Ah, why this early morning too? Chale, my morning had already been filled with drama. The last thing I needed was more drama. It was too early for this. After going back and forth with him, I asked him to pull over. Marina and I got out of the taxi. I was going to give him GH¢6 and walk the rest of the way. Marina again convinced me to just let him take the GH¢7. I told her I didn’t like being cheated. She agreed with me but stated that we can’t always correct people. That sometimes we just have to leave people to God. We hopped into the taxi and I allowed him to take the GH¢7 knowing quite well that we had originally agreed on GH¢6.

In the taxi, on the way back to the police check point, I had decided to just hand over my license to the senior policeman and not say a word; in the hopes that upon checking my license, he will give it back to me and my keys. But no, this dude wanted to by all means find something against me and he apparently hadn’t finished speaking his mind. When I handed him my license and he saw that it was valid, he goes on to verbally assault me. He went on a bragging spree; talked about his daughter being married and older than me. That I think he (the policeman) didn’t have a car but that he already has a car and that if I saw the car he drives, I would be shocked; and that even if he wanted a car, he, a man, wouldn’t drive a car like mine. That my type of car is only driven by women. Speaking arrogantly, he stated that they call him Fire! So if I ever wanted to find him (why on earth, I would is beyond me!), I should just come to the East Legon Police station and ask for Fire. Then he asked me to open my car and show him my fire extinguisher and first aid kit. Marina asked the junior police man to plead with the senior policeman on our behalf since I didn’t have a first aid kit. He basically told her, we should sort it out ourselves. Marina informed the senior policeman that I didn’t have a first aid kit. He, obviously happy, said he would write a letter to have me go to court on Monday for not having a first aid kit. I was quiet the whole time and was in total shock and disbelief about the whole situation. Marina pleaded with him not to send me to court and that we were sorry. After a few minutes, he gave in saying “Tell your friend to act like you”.
“Don’t worry. I’ll teach her to be like me” Marina responded.
Then looking at me, he made a statement about how they (the Ghana police) are here to protect us and our cars. I totally ignored him, walked toward my car as he handed Marina my car keys and license. Marina and I sat in the car and we were finally off to the market.

My analyses from this incidence are that not all our policemen are well-educated. You cannot reason with them because if you respond to them then you are being disrespectful. They definitely have issues with pride and ego. They flaunt and abuse the power vested in them to enforce public safety. I write this to create the awareness that the Ghana Police Service still has a lot of improvements to make. They use their position to abuse and extort. I am disappointed. Sometimes it looks like there is no hope for our nation. I’m sure there are a few good policemen [I refuse to believe they are all like ‘Fire’] but not enough. We need a ‘Robocop’ in this country.

I don’t trust the police service in my country and that gives me great cause for alarm. I wish this wasn’t the case though. Will the situation in Ghana ever change? If so, when?
My challenge to us is that we shouldn’t settle with the status quo. Let’s all work together to make Ghana a better place. The change starts with you. Be the change you want to see!

SYNOPSIS OF END OF PROGRAMME MEETING WITH THE JUNIOR MENTORS

General views, comments & suggestions about 2010/2011 YLMP session:

• Mentees should be allowed to bring up topics and books for discussion (for mini seminars, course text etc).
• Training of mentees to become junior mentors when they get to the tertiary level to ensure sustainability of the programme.
• Getting the mentees involved in research for some institutions. In his opinion, this will enable the mentees to gain some skills in research that will go a long way to help them in their academic field, especially at the tertiary level.
• Finding different ways of engaging the mentees during the long vacations in some productive activities.
• Some mentees found the Appraisal Forms tedious and challenging to understand
• Some junior mentors also complained about the fact that they were unable to meet with their senior mentors because they tend to be were very busy with their work.
• Keeping record of the academic performance of the mentees.
• Mentors could offer to provide extra classes for mentees. Subjects will depend on mentor’s specific areas of expertise.

New strategies for improving the next session of the YLMP:

• Senior mentors will be made to meet with their junior mentors occasionally, preferably on Saturdays to enable the junior mentors to benefit by being mentored as well.
• Supporting this, mentor forums could be organised specifically for junior and senior mentors
• ALI/YLMP Forum: this will be a forum where some ALI fellows will be invited to meet with the junior mentors. Before these sessions, junior mentors should come up with topics they would like to discuss
• A three strike policy will be implemented for mentors and mentees who are absent from YLMP events without notifying either their mentors or Databank Foundation staff
• Mini seminars will have more variety and will include more than the usual lecture based format. Next year, a film show, quiz and debate will be organised
• More effort should be made to expose mentees to different extra-curricular activities to encourage reading and to deepen their life experience in general. For example, a book club could be tied in to the YLMP or a YLMP Sports Day could be organised
• Appraisal forms will be discussed during the mentor training session and mentors will have a chance to start going through the forms with their mentees during the Leadership Conference
• It was agreed that the mentors meeting should happen more than once a year. A mid-year meeting will be implemented from the 2011/2012 session

If you’d like to stay on for the 2011/2012 please let Nicholas know. You can send him an email at ylmp@databankgroup.com (please copy infoYLMP@gmail.com as our Databank email doesn’t always receive external mails).

LEADERSHIP, ENTREPRENEURSHIP & VALUES- A must read book!!!

This book was written:

-To awaken/herald a new dispensation of unparalleled Pan-African Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Values.

-To inspire a new generation of African Businesses and Political Leadership across the continent and in the Diaspora, beginning with Ghana, with a higher sense of nationalism and patriotism, in the hope of galvanizing a quickening of the continent’s Economic Growth and Stability in order to enable it lay claim over its rightful position on the Global Marketplace.

-To contribute meaningfully towards the sustenance and advancement of Sound Moral and Spiritual Values across African communities, beginning with Ghana.