It has been 18 years since I entered the working world. I have gone from being a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed data capturer slash editorial assistant to having a brief stint of self-employment as a caterer. Then I worked in the NGO sector as a 35-year-old intern, and here I am now.
These positions have all come with their own learnings, challenges and observations. I often use the term “teamwork makes the dream work”, which I know is a little cheesy, but I believe wholeheartedly in it.
What I have been fortunate enough to experience is working with supervisors and mentors who have been collaborative, kind and compassionate, as well as absolutely brilliant at the work they do. They have inspired me to model this in my own career and interactions with colleagues.
I don’t remember ever feeling unduly burdened or unseen at work, or that my work held no value. These leaders created a culture of inclusivity, empathy and, even in difficult moments, an environment of camaraderie as opposed to competition.
Having studied the various leaders I have worked with, a trait that sticks out is that of having an abundance mindset as opposed to a scarcity mindset. The former is the belief that there are enough resources in the world for everyone, and the latter is the belief that there are limited resources that should be hoarded by a few.
Collective thriving
The abundance mindset allows a person to live a life that is about teamwork, sharing, knowledge and opportunities, as the belief is that collective thriving is for the good of everyone. The scarcity mindset promotes distrust and competition, creating a hostile working environment.
While doing research for this article, I came across an article in Forbes magazine by Shirin Etessam in which she says: “Leaders with an abundance mentality share their ideas… and pour themselves into the company, and they encourage their team members to do the same. They build a reliable support system that is unafraid to tackle change and solve problems effectively.
“Whether it focuses on abundance or scarcity, a leader’s mentality contributes to the company culture and spreads throughout the team.
“A leader with an abundance mentality offers opportunities for growth for the team in every aspect of life and work. These leaders are invested in their team and realise there is enough success to go around…
“Abundance is collaborative and can drive sustainable growth by creating a culture in which everyone is free to contribute and innovate. As the team makes positive contributions, we should remember to recognise them and genuinely thank them for their contributions.”
And so it is worth remembering that our actions towards others, particularly if we are in a leadership role, are cumulative and have a profound impact.
Those who find themselves in these roles have a responsibility to act with the required generosity of spirit to groom a new generation of leadership that leans into the virtues of abundance as opposed to the destruction of scarcity, not only for organisational sustainability, but for everyone to live and enjoy a life of value and thriving. DM
This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.
