What makes a good leader?

Why is this chap writing about leadership, you ask? Well, let me tell you…

Last week, I found myself at the Boardwalk Convention Centre in Nelson Mandela Bay, balancing a cup of coffee and a mini quiche at a networking breakfast hosted by the Nursing Science Department at Nelson Mandela University. (For the record, yes, the pastries were excellent, but the conversation was even better.)

I got to see former classmates, current students, my former lecturers-now colleagues, while enjoying some fantastic speeches and other proceedings.

The current head of the Nursing Department, Dr Nolundi Radana, shone a spotlight on leadership, not the “Instagram quote with a mountain background” kind of leadership, but the real kind that decides whether a department thrives or just survives. Here’s the thing I’ve taken away from her talk: A great leader isn’t necessarily the smartest, the loudest, or the one with the most accolades. A great leader is the person who manages to set their ego aside and bring out the best in everyone else.

I was joined that morning by amazing Nurse leaders, some of whom were former heads of department. Among them were personal inspirations of mine, Professor Portia Jordan, who was Head of Department during my university days and is now heading up Nursing at Stellenbosch University. As well as Professor Dalena Van Rooyen, the current deputy dean of the Health Sciences faculty. To be in a room with leaders such as them, individuals who've made careers out of helping others reach greater heights, was nothing short of inspirational.

The truth is: leadership doesn’t need to look heroic - absolutely not! Sometimes it looks like stepping back. Sometimes it looks like handing someone else the mic (and yes, even refilling the coffee, that’s a tough one for most “leaders”).

The best leaders make you feel taller, smarter, and braver than you ever thought you were, and they’re quietly proud when you run further than they ever could. That’s what true leadership is about!

Leaving that breakfast, I couldn’t help but think: “Wow, that was some amazing food!”. I’m merely kidding; that wasn’t really what I was thinking, at least not entirely. One day, I thought to myself, I want to make the kind of contribution these leaders have made. Until then, I’ll keep running my own little “leadership litmus test”: Am I becoming the kind of leader who makes people better, or just the kind of guy who steals the spotlight and calls it “management” or “leadership”?

If you're interested in the event itself, you can read more here: Nelson Mandela University Nursing Science Networking Breakfast

Until next time, here's to leadership that makes others better and leaves the world a little brighter.

See you in the next one, my fellow authors of life!

Euan