So many great people have said so much over the past few days since the passing of Mandela that there is very little I can add. However, this is such an important time in the life of all the people of our country, including myself, that I realised I have to use the opportunity to reflect not only on myself as an individual, but also on myself as a business leader, on my business and on our industry.
On a daily basis, as business leaders, we are faced with situations and choices that not only affect our own lives but more importantly, the lives of everyone around us. This comes with great responsibility. The following is one of my favourite Mandela quotes:
“A good leader can engage in a debate frankly and thoroughly, knowing that at the end he and the other side must be closer, and thus emerge stronger. You don’t have that idea when you are arrogant, superficial, and uninformed”.
I will try to unpack his carefully selected words:
“engage in a debate”: This was one of his trademark talents. In a debate, there are two sides and each side has an opportunity to express themselves and to be heard. The purpose of this is to understand each other better and thereby get closer to a common understanding.
“frankly”: Good leaders are required to be open about their goals and need to communicate them clearly, without hidden agendas. If both sides enter the debate in this way you will find genuine common ground much quicker and that common ground will be long lasting.
“thoroughly”: This indicates preparation. Besides his legal studies, and with great difficulty, Mandela ensured he kept up-to-date with developments in the country, to ensure he is ready when his moment comes. Mandela even learnt Afrikaans, the language of his oppressor, to enable him to understand them better and thereby allow him to enter the debate prepared. When he was President he visited Orania, to understand them better and to allow them to get to know him better.
“he and the other side must be closer, and thus emerge stronger”: Herein lies the most important lesson for me. Lasting relationships are those where true value is added on both sides and both sides feel that the debate benefited them equally.
The last line of the quote sums up well-known characteristics of Mandela: humble, genuine and well informed.
What strikes me most about this quote, however, is that nowhere does Mandela mention that both sides need to enter the debate in this way, again signalling one of his amazing strengths, which is to take personal ownership. As business leaders, we owe it to ourselves, our families, our businesses, our industry and our country, not only take responsibility for the consequences of our actions, but also to shape our actions in order to add value to all of the above.
As business leaders and an industry, the issues that come to mind for urgent attention are ensuring that, ethically, we are above reproach, growing the industry and increasing employment, transforming industry ownership and leadership, making sure that the whole population has access to the benefits of insurance and holding the leadership of our country to account, while at the same time enabling them to succeed.
In honour of Mandela and in appreciation of his sacrifices, on behalf of my family, COVER, its people, and myself, I pledge to do business with integrity, aiming to add real value to our clients, business partners, industry as well as our country and its people.