A recent report released by the research department of JvR Africa Group, consisting of JvR Psychometrics, JvR Consulting Psychologists, JvR Academy and JvR Safety, highlights the critical role that the youth can play in driving economic change and development.
It is clear that one of Africa’s prevalent challenges is also a source of immense opportunity – its people. Africa is home to the youngest population on the globe, where 200 million people are between the ages of 15 to 24 years. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reports that about 77.6% of South Africa’s population are below the age of 35 years. As UNFPA’s Executive Director, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, stated: “Never before have there been so many young people. Never again is there likely to be such potential for economic and social progress.” Unemployment This abundant youth population can be the key that unlocks Africa’s economic potential, yet at present 60% of Africa’s youth population are unemployed. Further, if we consider those individuals who are employed, but who are receiving low pay, no benefits and few advancement prospects, this statistic becomes even more alarming. In the world’s least developed countries, every year around 15 million young people enter the labour market, whereby the large majority of them are faced with the reality of unemployment, underemployment, or vulnerable employment. This is substantiated by UNFPA, claiming that economic power tends to be the lowest amongst the youth population. A primary reason could result from a lack of education. In 2011, 64 million adolescents around the world did not attend secondary school, of which 21-million of these individuals lived in Sub-Saharan Africa. If this delicate matter is not adequately addressed, by 2050 Africa’s population is estimated to double in size to approximately 2.4 billion people, and the world's largest working-age population will remain economically stagnant. The solution A re-inventing and shift in youth development focus is therefore essential if Africa is to move to a socially and economically prosperous state. But how can Africa move forward and adequately address this current reality? The answer is a simple one, but it requires tremendous effort from government, leaders, philanthropists, and initiatives across the continent. There needs to be a deliberate and conscientious attempt to create and harness entrepreneurism. By promoting entrepreneurial initiatives, this will in turn generate millions of new jobs for the expanding workforce. With ‘strength in numbers’ a positive impact can be achieved, bringing with it transformative and sustained growth throughout Africa for Africans. With the correct policies and investments in place, along with sustained engagement and enthusiasm, the largest generation of young people in human history can become the problem-solving producers, creators, change agents, and leaders of the coming decades. Identifying entrepreneurs The JvR Africa Group has long recognised the impact that entrepreneurs have on society and the economy. Without the creation of small businesses in Africa, an even larger proportion of people would be unemployed. Yet, for a business to be sustainable, Africa needs to look beyond the external barriers and focus on the people aspects behind the business. Identifying individuals with entrepreneurial potential is critical, since it has been widely confirmed that there are measurable individual differences in entrepreneurial talent, such that some individuals are more successful in entrepreneurial ventures than are others. The Measure of Entrepreneurial Tendencies and Abilities (META) is one such tool able to assess an individual’s entrepreneurial potential. It taps into the likelihood of an individual becoming an entrepreneur who innovates and creates jobs. According to the META, the essence of a successful business relies on four foundational characteristics possessed by entrepreneurs, including a combination of creativity, opportunism, proactivity, and vision. On a knife’s edge In order to achieve measurable progress in Africa, entrepreneurialism is imperative. Since economic development in Africa is on a knife edge, the next few years mark a quintessential period for Africa to take advantage of and invest in the human capital so abundantly available. African entrepreneurs are needed to construct globally competitive value adding businesses that create employment, spread wealth, and address intractable social challenges. By cultivating entrepreneurial opportunities for young Africans, both society and the economy can thrive. 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 Group
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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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