LEADERSDHIP LESSONS FROM THE 2010 WORLD CUP:

LEADERSDHIP LESSONS FROM THE 2010 WORLD CUP:

The World Cup came to Africa and the cup returned back to Europe, Spain to be exact. But during that season of madness, I learnt a lot of lessons that I am certain Africa as a continent was suppose to grasp but we failed to. That is why I paint these pages today to share with the leaders of tomorrow what we were suppose to have learnt yesterday in South Africa.

I learnt that in any institution, we should learn the lesson on entrusting leadership in some individuals based not in ability but collective euphoria. Brazil’s Dunga and Argentina’s Maradona led probably the 2 best squads on earth and the two were probably the most inexperienced managers at the World Cup.

coach Dunga

Maradona got the job because of his cult-like worship, following his playing days’ exploits- some of them which were drugs-inspired. At the bonanza, he was more of a comedian than a manger and probably all that Argentina achieved was courtesy of his players’ talents.

coach Mardona

We have got planners and executors. This is a lesson the professional world needs to know and appreciate the individual abilities of every employee. Maradona and Dunga were good executors no doubt, who rose to become good planners.

In many organizations, there are so many wrong people given the right job and vice versa. It is a crazy continent we live in. God help us all!