Category: Mindset & Personal Growth

Leadership isn’t about titles, corner offices, or how loudly you can speak in a meeting. It’s about who you are when no one’s watching — and how you show up for others when things get hard.

As leaders, we’re not looking for perfection. We’re looking for potential — and the character that turns it into something remarkable.

What We Do Look For

We look for initiative — the person who doesn’t wait for a memo to tell them what’s obvious. They see what needs doing and just get on with it. Bonus points if they do it without sighing loudly first.

We look for innovation — not the kind that involves writing “THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX” on a whiteboard, but the real kind — the one that finds new, better, smarter ways of doing things when the box is already on fire.

And we look for independence — the person who quietly gets things done while everyone else is still forming a committee about it. The one who can be trusted to handle it, fix it, or find a way through it — all without a daily pep talk.

Over and above this, they do an excellent job. They deliver unquestionable results in their area of expertise and others look up to them. They are an inspiration. A great example.

They buy into the vision and live the values. They help others see the vision and live the values.

These are the seeds of real leadership. They don’t always grow fast, but when they do, they change everything.

What We Don’t Look For

We don’t look for the team snitch — you know, the self-appointed “reporting channel” who mistakes gossip for initiative.
If you spend more time narrating other people’s shortcomings than improving your own, spoiler alert: that’s not leadership.

We don’t look for arrogance disguised as ambition. The “I’m not bossy, I just have better ideas than everyone” type. Confidence is great — but humility looks better on everyone.

And we definitely don’t look for the person who steps on others to be seen. You can’t claim to be a leader when your team needs a first aid kit after every meeting.

The Humble Kind of Leadership

The best leaders are the ones who make others feel capable, valued, and seen. They don’t steal the spotlight; they share it. They celebrate the quiet wins, support their team through the storms, and never forget that leadership is a privilege — not a power play.

True leadership is humble, human, and deeply supportive. It’s less about control and more about contribution.

The Curveball

If you want to lead, start by helping others succeed. Be the calm in the chaos, the voice of reason in the WhatsApp group, and the person who notices effort — not just errors.

Because true leaders don’t create followers; they create more leaders. And if you can do that with a bit of humility, humour, and heart — you’re already halfway there.

So close. The South African Women’s Cricket team — our incredible Proteas — made it all the way to the World Cup final. The skill? Undeniable. The discipline? Evident. The teamwork? Beautifully on display. They ticked every box on the “how to win” checklist.

And yet… they didn’t.

So what happened?

Let’s unpack this over a cup of coffee.

Skill, Discipline, Teamwork – and Belief

To win anything — a match, a deal, or even just the week — you need a combination of skill, discipline, teamwork, and belief. The Proteas had the first three nailed. You don’t get to a World Cup final without mastering those.

But belief — real, deep, goosebump-inducing belief — might have been the missing ingredient.

Their captain said the team was focused on taking “one game at a time.” Sensible? Absolutely. But did you ever hear them say, “We’re bringing the cup home”? Not quite. Compare that to the Springboks — a team that somehow makes you believe they’ll pull off the impossible… even when they’re trailing by 10 points with two minutes to go.

Is that belief a coaching thing? A mindset thing? A culture thing? Probably a bit of all three.

Medals vs Mindset

Here’s the hard truth: if you’re happy to get a medal — any medal — you’ll always lose. You might not even make the final. Winners don’t play for bronze or silver; they play to win.

You have to want it so badly you can taste it — like candyfloss at a funfair, sweet and irresistible. That kind of hunger gives you the energy to dig deep, to stay in the nets when everyone else has gone home, to deliver exceptional results no matter what’s needed. That’s the difference between participating and owning the moment.

When One Player Drops the Ball

In any team — sports or workplace — the magic only works when everyone pitches up on the day. One person off their game can shift the whole dynamic. Two crucial dropped catches and a duck from a key player might have cost the Proteas that final.

It’s not about blame — it’s reality. In the workplace, one “off day” from a key team member can derail a project, a pitch, or a deal. That’s why preparation, mindset, and mutual belief matter just as much as technical skill. The chain really is only as strong as its weakest link.

Back in the Office

So how does this play out in our world of coffee cups and client calls?

• Skill is your knowledge and expertise. Keep learning, stay sharp.
• Discipline is your daily grind — the calls you make, the reports you finish, the consistency that builds credibility.
• Teamwork is what keeps the wheels turning when things get tough.
• Belief is the secret sauce. The quiet confidence that says, “We’ve got this.”

If your team believes — really believes — that they can hit their targets, close the deal, or turn a challenge into a win, magic happens.

And if not? Well… sometimes, like the Proteas, you play a beautiful game and fall just short. But the lesson is never wasted — because next time, you walk onto that field (or into that boardroom) not just hoping to win, but knowing you can.