Authored by: Dr Jopie de Beer, CEO of JvR Africa Group
People are hardwired as both rational and emotional beings. People’s ability to acknowledge their emotions, and work to understand and manage their emotions constructively and appropriately (referred to as emotional intelligence), has much to do with their success in life. This principle applies to both individuals and groups. Emotions are highly contagious and easily affect others. This is particularly true if the emotions are intense and have been experienced over a longer period of time. It could take quite some time before rationality, reason, and “cool heads” return. Research done by Bloomberg in 2017 refers to South Africa as “one of the most miserable countries in the world”. This is owing to high unemployment rates, slow economic growth, high interest rates, poor service delivery, and high consumer prices, amongst other things. The sense of being miserable coincides with a time of political electioneering in the country, which could form part of a “perfect storm”, given how emotionally laden politics is. The emotional messages are intensified by the tone of voice, dress code, non-verbal gestures, innuendo, and language used by political leaders in speeches. Opposition parties are often referred to in derogatory terms and even as the enemy, to elicit emotions of distrust amongst potential voters. By establishing “an enemy”, the leader elicits the powerful emotions of fear, anger, distrust, and paranoia amongst potential voters, and when such emotions are heightened enough, they could override all rationality. This kind of leadership has the potential to lead followers into chaos, as enough fear and anger can motivate people to act emotionally and irrationally. Cambridge Analytica and Bell Pottinger are recent examples where personal and emotionally laden information was used to influence voter behavior. Understanding which personal and emotional “triggers” can push a potential voter to choose one or the other political candidate provides a powerful way to influence the outcome of an election. However, those in political leadership who rely primarily on stirring emotions to provide them with power may be exposed when rationality returns. In contrast, leaders who can provide voters with calmness and reason whilst acknowledging emotions, which is much more sustainable in the longer term, have a greater chance of running the country successfully. Emotional intelligence The principles of emotional intelligence require leaders and voters to acknowledge their emotions but allow for rationality at the same time. This means that they need to recognise their own emotions and the impact that others’ emotions could have on them, while objectively analyzing information and checking the accuracy of the facts. This would allow leaders to consider the impact and consequences of a highly charged political message, and voters to distill the message and react accordingly. However, a leadership approach anchored in rationality, calmness, and hope may not seem as charismatic as an approach based on hate, fear, and anger. In fact, those leaders who rely on the principles of emotional calmness, hope, optimism, trust, and reasonableness may have somewhat of an uphill battle in getting their message heard when competing against leaders using emotions as a tool. The choice Political leaders have a choice as to whether they use the power of emotions constructively or destructively. Voters also have the choice to be emotionally hijacked, or to evaluate the political messages from both an emotional and objective perspective, to determine whether the information they are provided with is accurate and true. Selfish and corrupt leaders drive personal agendas and use their ability to emotionally manipulate to gain and retain power. On the other hand, ethical and emotionally intelligent political leaders understand and manage their own emotions and respect the emotions, feelings, and needs of others. Their empathy can inform how to best seek solutions for complex and difficult problems to ensure the sustainability and survival of their people. In South Africa, the very difficult circumstances of the past in combination with current socio-economic hardships have led to a society where anger, despair, and despondency often flares up. The intensity of these emotions has, in some cases, led to destruction of property and loss of life. The South African society is intensely emotional and will probably remain so at least till after the next (2019) elections. The question is how these emotions will be used by those in positions of leadership to retain emotional political power, to gain and retain voters, and what the consequences of emotion without rationality are for the future and the reputation of the country. To build a South Africa that is not the second most miserable country on earth, we should all expect our leaders to act with integrity and with emotional intelligence. Our success as a country and as a rainbow nation depends on it. END MEDIA CONTACT: Idéle Prinsloo, 082 573 9219, idele@thatpoint.co.za, www.atthatpoint.co.za ABOUT JvR Africa Group: JvR Africa Group of companies consists of JvR Psychometrics, JvR Consulting Psychologists, JvR Academy, and JvR Safety. With it’s head office is situated in Johannesburg; the group conducts business nationally and across Sub-Saharan Africa. They work with test developers, consultants and academic institutions all over the world and supports a range of development opportunities and hosts events around People Development in Africa, a cause they feel is extremely important to the future of our continent. For more information on JvR Africa Group please visit: Website: https://jvrafricagroup.co.za/ LinkedIn: JvR Africa Group Facebook: The JvR Africa Group - People Development in Africa Twitter: JvR Africa Group YouTube: The JvR Africa Grou
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South Africa boasts some of the best-known entrepreneurs. However onerous compliance processes and rigid legislation tend to dampen the entrepreneurial spirit needed to get people employed and the economy growing.
Dr Jopie de Beer, CEO of the JvR Africa Group, says some societies are considered naturally entrepreneurial. The jury is however out on how many South Africans are entrepreneurs by nature or by choice. “As South Africans we have a reputation of being innovative, problem solving oriented and able to fend for ourselves. These attributes can sit well with entrepreneurship. I think it could be in our make-up to be entrepreneurs, but the environment needs to allow for that.” She refers to statistics which show that between 70% and 80% of all entrepreneurial businesses fail in the first five years. Why so many fail Dr de Beer says there may be many reasons why entrepreneurial businesses fail. It could be related to the very flat economy, difficulties to obtain funding-, mentoring and support, excessive red tape, turbulence in the exchange rate and/or slow payments from government and the private sector for products/services provided. It may also be that assumptions about entrepreneurs are “off the mark”. Some believe that having a good idea and adequate funding will guarantee entrepreneurial success. This assumption does not reflect in reality. Entrepreneurial businesses require knowledge and understanding of finances, business plans, marketing and networking initiatives, good products, innovative ideas, client management processes, technological savvy, compliance to legal requirements and more. Much of this, in the early stages of entrepreneurship is guided and managed by the entrepreneur. The hardwiring of the entrepreneur, and the people he/she surround them with is critically important in the growth- or demise of the business. “Entrepreneurship is probably the most stressful career option one could choose. Many people, if they have a choice between a stable, seemingly secure income, or the extreme hard work and risk that comes with establishing an entrepreneurial business, will go for the secure job,” Dr de Beer points out. Why we need more entrepreneurs The unemployment rate, especially under South Africa’s youth, is alarmingly high. One would think that entrepreneurship should be the answer to address this, and that more opportunities for more people are created to start a business. Establishing entrepreneurial businesses however require that the business environment is supportive and that the entrepreneur as a person has the knowledge, competence and resilience to make it work. “I can only hope that the massive issue of growing unemployment and the social evils associated with that, the personal issues in terms of self-regard and self-pride and the enormous negative implications of not being able to earn an income will bring insight and willingness to make South Africa an entrepreneur-friendly country,” Dr de Beer says. The making of an entrepreneur There are entrepreneurs by choice (the passionate and the serial entrepreneurs) and then there are those who have been pushed into it because there was no other choice (the survivalist). “It is essential to regard the entrepreneur as the golden thread in the business,” Dr de Beer notes. It is the entrepreneur that initially takes the decision to start a business, to identify/construct/innovate a product, to believe in it to such an extent that they work 24/7 to ensure its uptake in the market. The entrepreneur is also a leader, shows good/bad judgment in selecting products and partners, makes business decisions on spending, cashflow and expansion, employs staff and has to keep them engaged and motivated. Psychometric assessments are valuable tools to identify, support and develop entrepreneurs. The purpose of these assessments includes providing the entrepreneur with the required self-insight to constructively manage his/her role in the business. In addition, Dr de Beer says it is helpful to take a “helicopter view” of yourself. “Think about how you feel when you have to perform certain tasks. When do you procrastinate, on what do you spend a lot of time, and what do you enjoy doing”. Role of government Dr de Beer urges that government has to be more flexible on issues of governance and red tape for entrepreneurial businesses to survive those initial five years. Entrepreneurs need an environment where there is economic growth, political stability and the necessary infrastructure (such as affordable internet access) to thrive. It is essential for governments to nurture entrepreneurial activity as this is a source of employment and of generating income through taxes. ENDS MEDIA CONTACT: Idéle Prinsloo, 082 573 9219, idele@thatpoint.co.za, www.atthatpoint.co.za ABOUT JvR Africa Group: JvR Africa Group of companies consists of JvR Psychometrics, JvR Consulting Psychologists, JvR Academy, and JvR Safety. With it’s head office is situated in Johannesburg; the group conducts business nationally and across Sub-Saharan Africa. They work with test developers, consultants and academic institutions all over the world and supports a range of development opportunities and hosts events around People Development in Africa, a cause they feel is extremely important to the future of our continent. For more information on JvR Africa Group please visit: Website: https://jvrafricagroup.co.za/ LinkedIn: JvR Africa Group Facebook: The JvR Africa Group - People Development in Africa Twitter: JvR Africa Group YouTube: The JvR Africa Grou Author: Dr Jopie de Beer, CEO of JvR Africa Group People in leadership positions often behave badly, which may be the reason why up to 75% of employees internationally report that their manager/leader is the worst part of their job. In fact, all over the world trust in leadership is also reported as being at an all-time low. Bad leaders often create circumstances where everyone around them "drink from the poison cup" to experience turmoil, risk, fragmentation and despair. In circumstances like these it becomes exceptionally important to use ways of strengthening our own- and other's resilience and to jealously guard our personal experience of wellbeing or happiness. This is why it is important to put forward that leadership is much more than "being in charge", those occupying such positions have the responsibility to create an environment where people want to live, work and play, where they feel that they contribute and where they are treated with respect. In addition, it is crucial that relationships in the workplace be managed in such a way that the necessary discipline including trust, respect, loyalty and hope co- exists. From within Each person’s experience of wellbeing (happiness) is impacted on by our hard wiring and mental habits. Happiness or the lack there-of comes from within ourselves and the way we think can drive us to despair and helplessness or to positive problem solving. With regard to our resilience our personal thinking habits may make life intolerable or filled with opportunities. We know those with a lighter mood find interpersonal relationships easier and tend to be generally more resilient. Without underestimating the harsh realities people live in and how it could impact on their sense of wellbeing and happiness. We should all consider using our well-known South African sense of humor as often as possible. Let's laugh at ourselves and those we live with. Such laughter has very valuable physiological and emotional benefit but it also has an invaluable social benefit when we are able to laugh together. The belief of being helpless and/or the victim of circumstances and blaming others have no value in building your resilience or sense of well-being- particularly if used as an excuse for poor behaviour or non-action. By re-framing experiences to highlight opportunities rather than catastrophes will already make life easier for all. Try to see events as a "blip on the graph" that will pass and if a situation is not of your doing stop blaming yourself for it. Celebrate the fact that there are many more good than bad people in our country and how much we enjoy living and shopping together. Don’t just survive, thrive There are, of course, many types of happiness or wellbeing. It is much more complex than it seems. For some, happiness may come from everyday possessions and experiences, but even more sustainable happiness comes from finding satisfaction in what you do every day and making sure that there is meaning and purpose of your life. Well-being /happiness may at first seem to be related to survival but also has much to do with being able to thrive. In a country where the unemployment levels are higher than ever before, where poverty and poor education are regularly reported in the media, where political murders are taking place and crime seems to be out of control, it is not difficult to understand that it affects the mood and resilience of the citizens. Maslow's theory illustrates that it is very difficult for people to have a sense of wellbeing if their basic needs for survival, safety, security and belonging are not met. These are prerequisites for being proud and self-actualised. Although there are circumstance or realities ordinary citizens cannot do much about, we are however empowered to work on our own beliefs and habits in seeking well-being and happiness even in chaotic contexts. Bad leaders have a limited shelf-life and should they do not survive - let’s make sure we do! ENDS MEDIA CONTACT: Idéle Prinsloo, 082 573 9219, idele@thatpoint.co.za, www.atthatpoint.co.za ABOUT JvR Africa Group: JvR Africa Group of companies consists of JvR Psychometrics, JvR Consulting Psychologists, JvR Academy, and JvR Safety. With its head office situated in Johannesburg; the group conducts business nationally and across Sub-Saharan Africa. They work with test developers, consultants and research institutions all over the world. They support a range of development opportunities and hosts a biannual conference on People Development in Africa, a cause they feel is extremely important to the future of our continent. For more information on JvR Africa Group please visit: Website: https://jvrafricagroup.co.za/ LinkedIn: JvR Africa Group Facebook: The JvR Africa Group - People Development in Africa Twitter: JvR Africa Group YouTube: The JvR Africa Group |
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