Organizations not only exist to make a profit and be financially sustainable but also to make a difference and have a meaningful legacy using specific business models adopted.
To achieve that outcome organizations must establish effective authority relationships to work together efficiently. This is what entails collaborative relationships and leadership.
Collaborative leadership has had significant developments over the last two decades but, there is still minimal consensus on what constitutes acceptable dimensions of collaborative leadership and how that fits in an organizational context.
These misalignments have resulted in challenges to the full realization of the benefits of collaborative leadership as a result of its skewed implementation and application in an organizational context. The result is a lack of appreciation and belief by business practitioners and organization leaders on the implications of collaborative leadership application on their organization’s financial sustainability.
This effect goes deeper in that organization leaders are not very clear on the impact of their organization’s business model and their role in facilitating successful collaborative leadership.
Check out the below link to a conceptual paper by our CEO Gilbert Ang’ana advising on new developments and perspectives on this topic as he presents a case for the development of a new theoretical model suitable for the expansion of the current understanding of deployment of collaborative leadership in an organizational context.
Hope it will be useful to you as a practitioner and also an academic scholar in a deeper understanding of Collaborative leadership.
Kindly click the link below to view and download. The PDF article and Publication Certificate have been attached. https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t2050
I am a Strategic and Innovative Executive who translates business vision into initiatives that improve performance, profitability, growth, and leadership engagement & productivity. Empowering leaders with unique perspectives and appreciation that their teams are their greatest asset. An authentic influencer who thrives on team collaborations, tough challenges, and translating vision and strategy into actionable, value-added objectives.
Has this concept of gender equality been misguided and accepted with its flaws today?
This article aims to spark a reflective conversation on Gender Equality as a concept from its conceptualization perspective.
I have been in a reflective mode on this subject of “Gender Equality” and I have been asking myself whether the whole idea of gender equality is right in its own right or has been misconceived and misused today?
The question that has been lingering in my thoughts is the understanding of the origin of gender equality. I did brief research around this and found the following:
The Subjection of Women, an essay published in 1869 by philosopher and political economist John Stuart Mill. Mill is among the initial works that argued in favor of legal and social equality between men and women. John argues that ‘the legal subordination of one sex to the other’ is ‘wrong in itself, and now one of the chief hindrances to human improvement’ (p. 1). From this time onwards there have been various conversations and groups that came to spur, enhance, and review the critical agenda into what we have today on gender equality in all spaces.
It’s unfortunate to see that today, over 150 years later we still have issues with such social and legal rights of women in many countries.
On the flip side…
Robert Webb in an article in 2018 on How not to be a Boy shared some points that tried to explain the unique nature of being a boy growing up, filled with many injuries to body and spirit, the pressures and repressions of manhood which in many instances may lead to high rates of male isolation, misery, and suicide. On the same note from as early as the 1970s, there have been numerous men’s activism groups that also aimed to propagate men’s rights, representations among other aspects.
So this conversation around equality has transformed over time…of course with numerous activism from both gender sides coming along and changing the conceptualization of the critical original concerns.
But, before we go further, let’s look at some of the contemporary definitions of the concept or agenda of gender equality so as we get a foundational understanding before sharing some arguments which may be food for thought.
Gender equality, also known as sexual equality or equality of the sexes, is the state of equal ease of access to resources and opportunities regardless of gender, including economic participation and decision-making; and the state of valuing different behaviors, aspirations, and needs equally, regardless of gender. (From Wikipedia)
"Gender equality is when people of all genders have equal rights, responsibilities, and opportunities. ... Gender equality prevents violence against women and girls. It's essential for economic prosperity. Societies that value women and men as equal are safer and healthier. Gender equality is a human right." (VIC.GOV.AU)
These definitions in my opinion are misguided and contradictory with the follow-up intentions. There is no such thing as sexual equality or equality of sexes, right from the basic physical sense to the uniqueness of both males and females. Equal rights and opportunities for women and men are not gender quality…but gender accommodation that then aims to repair the gender discriminations that have been there historically.
A recent report by the United Nations development program highlighted the issue of gender inequality, “Gender inequality is not perpetuated exclusively through differential access to and control over material resources. Gender norms and stereotypes reinforce gendered identities and constrain the behavior of women and men in ways that lead to inequality.”
Looking at these statements still makes me wonder why we are perpetrating a wrong notion across world-respected bodies. The key concern here is not inequality but discrimination which can be driven through gender accommodations and not equality. It is common knowledge to understand that the behaviors of men and women cannot be the same, our physiological, psychological and even our genetic orientations are not the same. However, we can accommodate one another as equals in all spheres of life which doesn’t surmount “gender equality”.
If we use the word gender equality as has been adopted and normalized by our society, the opposite of it is inequality which is what has been propagated to drive the agenda of equality which in my opinion is totally misplaced, misguided, and propagated wrongly. Unfortunately, it’s propagated and also driven by religious leaders, scholars, and other researchers who are to be on the frontline of developing clarity on this subject.
In my opinion, the aspect of inequality should be more of gender discrimination, and the aspect of equality should be more of gender accommodations. These I believe should be the agenda to be researched, and driven since it doesn’t propagate activism the way it is today but, fosters a challenge to many that if there are spaces where we possibly have extremely unbalanced gender measures, then something needs to be done to bring some form of acceptable alignment.
Gender accommodation then entails empowering all genders to be equally accommodated in all spaces and spheres of society without discrimination. All spaces mean all, from inheritance to church leadership, to all those areas that both genders were traditionally discriminated against from accommodating.
Equal accommodation in all spheres is not “gender” equality.
This form of understanding separates the discussion of inequality from gender based-violence and under gender injustices that are different. Mixing agendas on injustices to equality conversations negates the origination of the concept and agenda. This agenda on equality today has been hijacked by both female and male chauvinists to drive equality which is against the creation order base on religious backgrounds.
I do not advocate for gender-based violence and in my opinion, strong measures should be taken against both gender who are involved in it. I feel that component has been sneaked into the discussions of gender equality to bring some form of sympathy to the meaning and should not be part of gender equality discussions and conceptualization.
I have a strong belief that the concept of gender equality is misguided across all spaces which then has resulted in an acceptance into the natural understanding as normal.
The question that lingers my thoughts as am thinking about this…”Is there gender equality or it’s gender discrimination which requires accommodations?”
Gender accommodations have a place in the Bible looking at the creation story. Genesis 1:27, narrates, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them”.
It’s on this basis that most people and the narrative of equality came about as a result of misconception. If males and females were to be created equal, then there would only be male-created to accommodate both genders. The fact that God created males and females in his own image means that in all spaces of life both males and females need to accommodate each other on equal measures since we are all made in the image of God. However, this does not equate to equality in gender or gender equality for this matter.
I believe that we have been propagating the idea of equality which from the creation perspective may not be the initial Godly concept.
I believe the Godly idea was more on gender accommodations in equal measure. So over the years, the notion of equality has been misguided and I say propagated out of the secularized principles and perspective which has brought a lot of arguments, confusion, activism, and heated debates especially when one mentions the concept of equality in a different light like I am now.
I am an advocate of gender accommodations. Appreciating our diversity as male and female and the fact that we are not equal negates the idea of using equality after gender.
And don’t get me wrong, many equality aspects are driven by the fact that both males and females today can undertake the same work responsibility. Totally in agreement, however, this is not gender equality. Many organizations are striving to accommodate equal numbers of male and female 50/50 in their organizations and shout about it when achieved. I dare say again this is not gender equality. Many organizations are striving to have 50/50 gender parity in boards of organizations and possibly at executive levels. Again I say this is not gender equality. Governments and parliaments including here in Kenya are still struggling to meet the 1/3 gender parity let alone 50/50. And I will say again this is not gender equality.
I want to be cautious in saying that we have today adopted the gender equality song from a misconception of gender accommodations.
The world today is demanding gender accommodations and not equality. Male and female will never be equal but we can accommodate each other in all spaces and spheres of life. Allowing equal spaces is not equality, it’s accommodations. Ladies being able to do most of the responsibilities and even more in organizations does not equate to equality but accommodations. Men being given an opportunity in some of the ladies’ strongholds does not equate to equality but accommodations.
I am a husband and a father, I strive to ensure my wife is fully accommodated in all spheres in our lives as an equal partner. However, we are not equal. Additionally, I strive to ensure that my daughter grows up to understand that she can undertake anything from all perspectives and she needs to strive to both push to be accommodated and also accommodate others both men and women. But, at the same helps her understand that she is uniquely created and not gender-equal to the men around her.
As a parting shot, I believe the agenda of gender accommodation can be achieved sooner than later in our world today, if we appreciate our gender differences, avoid gender discrimination and propagate accommodations, we should have unevenly noticed discriminations in all spheres of our lives.
I say, again that this article was meant to create some reflective discussions…would be happy to hear your views and comments on it through comments or by email below.
Gilbert Ang’ana is the CEO of Accent Leadership Group. He is an expert source for topics relating to all matters leadership, coaching, and organization development and a regular content contributor to various online publications. Gilbert is also a Director at Innovate Leader Academy an online academy that teaches matters leadership. He is a Leadership Coach, Scholar, and an Independent Research Fellow. You can reach him through www.stepafrique.com
The truth about why you don’t do RISE or Haven’t RISEN to YOUR Occasion yet is because of your limiting beliefs in setting your Personal Goals – Annual resolutions
Gilbert Ang’ANA, CEO ACCENT LEADERSHIP GROUP LTD
Yes, that’s right it’s you am talking to.
Are you frustrated that you did not achieve what you had set to achieve the last year of 2021 and possibly the goals in 2020 too?
Has that resulted in low confidence in yourself to set up new 2022 goals?
Are you the person who doesn’t believe in setting annual personal goals or resolutions?
Are you this person who is motivated as the year starts and then loses focus and discipline just a few weeks or months after?
Do you lack the discipline and consistency to see off your routine and new habits that will enable you to achieve your goals?
Do you procrastinate on serious goals to tomorrow, which becomes weeks and months till you give us and say it wasn’t meant for you?
It’s time to shed that, and you start over again. Resetting your mind from those limiting beliefs!
I’ve learned to crush the limiting beliefs on setting personal goals at the beginning of the year once and for all, which has helped me to be Authentic, Bold in my goals in order to put in the consistency required to achieve them.
If you are that person who finds excuses not to set your personal goals at the beginning of each year, then you are suffering from limiting beliefs either consciously or unconsciously. The fact that you are creating excuses in putting them down is a sure way that you may need to check your limiting belief!
Why?
Because if you are employed, somehow you find yourself doing corporate goal setting for the quarter or the year and sharing them with your boss.
If you are in business you automatically are doing your business plan for the year to see how you can grow your business in whichever spectrum.
The fact that you are not creating time to do your Personal Goal Setting or resolutions or action plan for the year is a sure testament to your limiting belief. The earlier you acknowledge, the better for you to work in breaking your limiting belief and setting your mind in the right frame to accomplish the areas you wish to.
Believe me, I know what you’re going through. I have been there in those years when I could just let the year be and said to myself, no this year I will take whatever comes my way. I am not putting pressure on myself in setting goals that I won’t see through!
But the fact is, limiting beliefs entertained could lead to something much deeper and destroy the potential and God-given purpose in your life and may sometimes lead to mild depression and lower self-esteem.
What causes limiting beliefs and how can you overcome them?
Cause #1: You Fear Failure
Do you fear you’re not good enough to see your goals through?
Do you feel that you have done that before and are unable to be consistent?
Do you fear that you will fail? Again?
Following through with your goals for the year requires Focus and Consistency. These are the two critical self-disciplines dimensions you need to inculcate.
A word of encouragement, your fear is legitimate. It’s justified!
However, rather than let it overwhelm you, embrace your fear. Let it humble you to see your goal ahead as something that requires humility to achieve. The humility that you have to walk the process to achieve the goal.
Let humility motivate you to be focused, and consistent, and put your best foot forward. THAT’S what led me to overcome my limiting beliefs then and concur with my fears. That is what has led me to concur with all the goals I set every year since then and put focus and consistency to push myself to success.
Embrace your fear and let it humble you to push towards your goals this year!
Cause #2: You always think it’s not the right time/year – Procrastination
Procrastination is killing the dreams of many people across the world. Some say that the richest place in the world is in the graveyards because there is a wealth of unfulfilled dreams and goals due to procrastination! Whether that is true, I leave it for you to say.
You cannot eliminate procrastination, but you can accommodate it in a different form. You can make it your most valuable asset in form of Reflections.
From a personal experience, in times where I feel like procrastinating specific goals, I accommodate it in my reflection moments every Friday and I get an opportunity to think through it deeper and refine the goals in a way that I can then transfer and drive them with focus and consistency.
I accommodated and transformed procrastination as part of my creative process!
By accommodating and transforming procrastination in this manner, you can both indulge it and continue with the set goals in a more refined and with more clarity that would drive your focus and consistency to their achievement.
Cause #3: You await a Perfect time or year
Many people struggle with perfectionism and many people in most cases use it as an excuse for not setting their personal goals. Taking too much time in trying to see your goal to perfectionism before taking action can be a crippling time thief.
It is likely to slow down your efforts to start taking action and potentially kill the potential goal altogether with limiting beliefs.
The solution?
Life does not demand perfection. It doesn’t require you to be constantly fearless, confident, or self-assured.
Life simply requires that you keep showing up. Your discipline of focus and consistency is what will keep you on a learning and growing mode on the specific goals and you will refine them and have more clarity on the go.
Now that I’ve shown you the real problems you have on your limiting beliefs of setting personal goals annually – resolutions, search for solutions that work best for you.
There are two types of people in the world: those who wait and those who do.
Those who wait spend most of their lives in the planning stage, getting ready to do something. They talk about their dreams in terms of “someday.” Those who wait are waiting for that perfect moment when all the stars align for them to go after their dreams. They say things like “I will do it…The reality is that “someday” never comes and the person who waits misses every opportunity while holding out for that perfect moment.
You can Break Away from the old you and your limiting beliefs.
RISE TO YOUR OWN OCCASION THIS YEAR 2022
“Do not wait; the time will never be just right. Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.”
Napoleon Hill
Coach Gilbert
P.S. So we can schedule a coaching session to enable you to understand and break away from your limiting beliefs and Set your Personal Goals/ 2022 resolutions. Block your date and time through www.stepafrique.com
Over the years, we have ended up with two groups of people: The first group of people is those who believe in setting New Year resolutions, goals, and vision whatever you call it. These people believe in the importance of starting the year by envisioning what you wish to achieve for the year. Some are diligent and dedicated and walk the vision to the end regardless of the challenges they face. Whether they achieve the actual results anticipated or not, they get motivated and are happy by their dedicated discipline throughout the year.
This group of people believes that growth doesn’t just happen. You have to work, you have to put effort, you have to be focused, and you have to be consistent regardless of the challenges ahead. These groups believe that challenges are what define them, challenges are what make great leaders. Leaders were made for challenges! And if you are unable to concur yourself first, then you may not be able to concur with other spaces of leadership out there. Self-Leadership and Self-Discipline are what help these groups to concur themselves through the year to see their goals and vision to light. This group has mastered the art of pausing and allowing themselves to reflect. They have understood that learning to pause allows growth to catch up with them and can make the necessary corrections, improvements, and energize focus towards their growth trajectory.
However, others do it for fun, to feel good that they also have a plan somehow they can share in their circles. At the start of the year, they are well motivated to start well but do not have the discipline to keep growing into the year with consistency. This reminds me of what John Maxwell shared, “Motivation keeps people going, but, discipline keeps people growing”. The latter group does not have the discipline to keep growing into the year with consistent habits to see their resolutions, goals, vision into reality. They have not understood themselves, their capabilities, and strengths and this could be their undoing in their consistency.
They are unable to grow as they have not known themselves well. John Maxwell shared the Law of Awareness, “You must know yourself to grow yourself”. This group would be presumed to not know themselves, as they set out goals that they are unable to consistently follow through based on their strengths. But, are doing it at the start as part of the fitting in and having a feel-good spirit that they at least tried or at least they had the good intentions. However, good intentions alone don’t matter, good intentions without action are like being a dreamer without taking the initiative to act.
To see your vision, goal, resolution for the year through, you must be able to go beyond seeing yourself achieving to taking the steps every day towards your goals, having the right people surrounding you that will challenge you even in those difficult seasons and keeping the discipline to grow every day.
The second group of people is those that do not do their resolutions, goals, and plans. They have resorted to living by the day. They give themselves comforting reasons in many ways – I have allowed God to direct me, so am not planning, I am living me the day, my goals or resolutions is to make no resolutions, I do not want to make resolutions I can’t keep, resolutions are for children and many other excuses they give.
These are people who have given up on their capabilities or abilities, they are not sure what they can achieve and what they can’t achieve. They have allowed themselves to have limiting beliefs dominate their mind to a level of mediocrity. They have not understood their significance, they, therefore, have no story to write for themselves. They are unaware of what is important to them, so any action will do – living by the day. They, therefore, make their days not count, no goal to count for, so the goal that the day brings becomes their goal and they celebrate anything that comes their way and assume it’s what they are to achieve. This group does not believe in their capabilities and therefore does not understand that their beliefs drive their behavior. They end up living a borrowed or someone else’s dream or mission for the year.
They own their memorable days, weeks, months, and year by chance as they did not decide the outcome for their days, weeks, months & years.
Whichever group of the two you fall into, critical is for you to understand that your growth for this year will not just happen by chance, it will take action, efforts, and consistency by you. Your cost of success is you. It doesn’t have to be a big fight with yourself for the year, but, you need to start from where you are and be committed to making small changes. Focus on your strengths and align your goals with your areas of strengths. If you align your goals and resolutions in the areas of your weakness which is what most people do, you will not achieve them as you will not be motivated on them and consequently, you will not develop the discipline to see yourself grow in the goals.
“I want to lose weight in 2022, maybe this is you but, your strength is not in the gym, or you may not have the financial muscle to pay the gym for the whole year, yet you insist on enrolling in a gym anyway the first month. You will not sustain the gym to the end and you will give up and be frustrated. Why not keep the resolution or goal and say I will walk 3 times per week instead and see how you can attain your goal by also working within your areas of strength rather than weakness.
Whatever your resolution or goal for the year is, to lose weight, eat healthier or change diet, get fitter and take more exercise, spend more time with family and friends, be more aware and take care of mental health, sort out finances and cut back spending, and many more, align them with your areas of strengths and follow through with discipline by developing your strategy for execution.
When we operate in the areas of our weakness, we create goals and resolutions aligned t our weaknesses and end up creating excuses for not having the discipline to execute the goals to succeed.
Therefore today make a conscious choice to always operate in the areas of your strength. This is what will trigger you to understand your why in life and even for the year 2022. Living out your why in 2022 will give you the confidence, motivation, and discipline to grow and attain your resolutions, goals, plans, and whatever the name you call it: the bottom line is, it is your “Personal Growth Strategy” (PGS) that you are playing with. You decide to let it be a worldly growth strategy, so whatever comes your way, whichever side the wind blows you are okay. Or you FOCUS, employ SELF-DISCIPLINE, build CONSISTENCY and be AUTHENTIC to create your PGS and see it to the end!
The key to personal growth and success is recognition that no one else can do the work and make the effort in our place.
Make 2022 your year, take the bold step to develop your growth strategy.
Gilbert Ang’ana is the CEO of Accent Leadership Group. He is an expert source for topics relating to all matters leadership, coaching, and organization development and a regular content contributor to various online publications. Gilbert is also a Director at Innovate Leader Academy an online academy that teaches matters leadership. He is a Leadership Coach, Scholar, and an Independent Research Fellow. You can reach him through www.stepafrique.com
