Leading Towards Dawn

In this week’s Time magazine, Christine Lagarde (Managing Director, International Monetary Fund) addresses the question at the top of October’s Annual IMF and World Bank meeting.  How can we secure the global economic recovery? Ms Lagarde purports that IMF has lent more than $300 billion to ‘countries facing testing times’ including countries in Europe, Latin America and the Middle East – in addition ‘increasing support for the poorest nations, especially sub-Saharan Africa’ where the interest rate from related loans is now 0%. 

In the same magazine, Bill Gates (Founder and Chairman of Microsoft and Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) talks of the importance of measuring what is given against what is achieved.  Mr Gates uses the example of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as an area where 8 clear targeted measurements led to agreements regarding aid distribution and targeted funding distribution.

Whilst aiding and measuring are key external influences – they are just that, external to the problem.  Despite the phenomenal amount of aid and funding given to struggling countries, many core problems of corruption, crime and civil wars arguably remain the root dichotomy of why an areas such as the African continent – seem unable to create ongoing stability.  It is hard to watch the events taking place in many of the African countries and cities – Kenya, Congo, Sudan, Uganda, Somalia – unfolding when so much goodwill, hard cash and practical aid has been forwarded, over many many years.

When I studied my degree on International Development, I was asked by an African at an event in London, what it covered.   I briefly gave a description and she immediately said ‘for goodness sake do not think of coming to Africa in the future and giving us advice’.   She went on to tell me that for years she had worked in Government and been subject to Consultants input from many agencies, and she was fed up with people telling them what to do.  At the time I laughed, for it was the furthest thought from my mind.  However whenever I hear about aid and funding to the poorest countries now, if I had an opportunity contribute, I would focus on an element which seems to be missing – leadership – honest, trustworthy, hardworking, practically focused, with a vision of unity and underpinned with personal sacrifice not personal wealth accumulation.  It is not that this doesn’t happen – Nelson Mandela, to me, was such a leader or Mahatma Gandhi who’s strong non-violent approach led a civil movement. 

At its best it seems to me that leadership is really quite humble.  The best of leaders, is aware of the least of those they are representing.  Positive transforming leadership takes time – perhaps within the internationally accepted democratic four year terms we have created, it is much harder to maintain momentum for transformational change.  In addition it is harder for countries who aspire to leverage themselves out from debt and aid, to partner with world leaders where political leverage is key.  Helping to mentor nations out of deeply ingrained challenges takes decades, not sequential electorial terms.

Some of the best international minds have been working on these challenges for decades, and I am not suggesting there are any quick answers (they would have been found I am sure). 

When a project is failing in business, or needs to keep being restarted, you have to examine the root causes and address these, otherwise whilst the project will continue to absorb funding, it will not deliver its purpose.    Also in Time magazine, Bunker Roy (Founder & Director of Barefoot College) talks of his view that the root of all development failures can be related to the ‘top-down business model’ where poor communities are not consulted, engaged or treated as equal.  The Barefoot College has been working in Africa with women, many of whom are illiterate and yet enabling and producing solar electricity for their communities, at a highly competitive price, whilst reducing pollution.   There is something very positive in this model and for many other organizations such as Oxfam, World Vision, Tearfund and others working ‘on the ground’ there would be, I am sure, consensus of agreement to the importance of engaging the local community.

Last year INJAZ al-Maghrib committed to training 26,155 Moroccan students in entrepreneurship over three years, coordinating with 70 corporations.  The CGI partnership, Banking on Change, supports the pooling of community savings and helps support self-governing group – mobilizing and empowering people locally. 

When we hear about failings in countries which make up continents such as Africa, whilst painful, these events that the media brings to our attention are only part of the story – perhaps the reality is that in a myriad of ways, across a variety of stakeholders, we are further towards solutions than we realize.  As the darkest moment is just before the dawn – perhaps a new day really is approaching.

 

Red Perspective

Since returning from a four city trip to China this summer, I have been reflecting on the many layers of cultural differences between Asia and the West.  From minutia areas such as swimming pool etiquette to larger areas such as the willingness to engage in open discussion around controversial subjects.

Eating out in China reminded me of how wonderful it was to sit down with a group of people and share a meal around a circular table – every mealtime.  Eating in China is very social.  I never knew the order in which dishes were going to arrive and it was not always clear when the meal was over.  However with the ease in the West of being able to rush through a mealtime with or without others, it was a worthy reminder of the enjoyment of sharing all that you have with a group and engaging in wide ranging conversation over a considerable period of time.  On return from China, I had planned an evening with quite a large group of friends and family;  rather than a buffet style (as I had originally thought) I created a long table where we could all sit and eat together, at the same time.  It was a lovely evening, which went on far later than we expected and embraced motivating discussions and inspiring stories.  China’s contribution may not have been the Italian food or very delicious port and cheeses, however the very recent trip provided many talking points.   Not least Chairman Mao’s Little Red Quotation book, which I had bought in Tiananmen Square.

One of the quotes says “in times of difficulty, we must not lose sight of difficulty, we must not lose sight of our achievements, must see the bright future and must pluck up our courage”. “New things always have to experience difficulties and setbacks as they grow.” This sense of perspective was very evident in many of the people that I met – one guide in particular was one of the most positive people I have ever met (and I have met quite a few) – their view was that setbacks and disappointments will form part of the life that we lead and at all levels we should seek and embrace the opportunity within the challenge.

With the ongoing wave of acquisition of Western companies by Asian organizations, cultural understanding of traditional perspective has got to be a pre-requisite for successful transition of business interests.  In Sun Tzu’s ‘The Art of War’ (written over 2000 years ago) it’s strategies are arguably as applicable to the boardroom as they are to the battlefield.  A key strategy is to ‘win wars’ without conflict, by virtue of changing positions to maintain the upper hand, it is pointed out that it is foolish to know the ‘land’ but not the people within it, with it’s guidance focusing on becoming the superior strategic commander.  I hadn’t read ‘The Art of War’ for many years however I bought it at Shanghai Airport and read it on the way home.  Having now spent time in China, my perspective when reading it had altered, I appreciated better its historical context and core directive to those who wish to succeed through significant change –  ‘Expect Victory’.

Vive la revolution!

I was reading a magazine article this morning about how e-books have, for the first time, overtaken hard copies with regards to sales in the UK: “the literary revolution”. Revolution. It’s a word which can refer to a grand multitude of circumstances, from the dark history of Russia’s turmoil, to a person such as James Dyson who decides the vacuum cleaners need to be more efficient and so invents a new engineering design and goes on to create a very successful company.  As we are told by Tommy Lee Jones – in possibly the greatest film of all time- ‘Under Siege’- the difference between a movement and a revolution is that a movement only goes so far, then stops. However a revolution gains momentum and always keeps moving.

Perhaps then, the only difference between a revolutionary and an average person is that the revolutionary has the self-belief and tenacity to keep pushing through with their ideas for improving a situation. In engineering, revolutions are a measurement of how many times a motion is completed. Is then the revolutionary simply a person who is willing to see their actions and the changes which they instigate through to the end?

And so this week I leave you with a question to discard or consider as you see fit: in this coming week, are you going to choose to sit back and let the world rumble on by observing the revolutions taking place around you, or will you attempt to start something that ripples, beginning a movement, and in it’s course, just maybe become a revolutionary in your own life?

Liz Etome

http://www.chapterpeople.com

Page One

When I look at the world around us, from the feelings surrounding Obama vs Romney in the American elections where high tension and emotions switched from excitement of the race to relief about the winner, to Mission Impossible 3 which I recently watched on a flight back from Canada – where our eternal hero tries to change from spy to family man, it is clear to me that change is everywhere.  Change can be both visible and unexpected, hoped for, anticipated and feared.  Whilst in America, Obama remains in office, many hope that changes will abound.

Personally I dislike change with an intensity which would make Freud wonder, but even I can see that at times it is purely unavoidable, even simply necessary. Whether it is a new character being introduced on your favourite show, or the fact that Comet was unable to survive the modern economic climate once again affecting our High Street make-up, there is no point in trying to stand against the current only to be swept along against your will;  when you could be swimming with its power and racing towards calmer waters. Perhaps the only thing which even the great philosophers can ever agree on, is that nothing can stay the same  as our environment continually adjusts to the passage of time, increase of connectivity and technological ability.

Naturally then, we will use all of our human ingenuity to try and find ways to make transitions easier for ourselves and those around us. You never know – like a caterpillar to a butterfly,  things may even turn out better.

 

Liz Etome

@chapterpeople