The Sunday Mail
A HAPPY new week to you all. I hope we are all keeping warm.
Changing Perspectives
Rutendo Gwatidzo
I would like to remind you that, as much as we are trying our best to keep ourselves warm, there remains a significant number of underprivileged people who do not have clothes suitable for the cold weather.
Monday was one of the coldest days so far this year.
As I shivered from the cold at the office, I decided to go out and look for a flask so that I could make tea to keep myself warm throughout the day.
On my way to the shops, I decided to look for homeless people living around Harare’s Central Business District.
I wanted to see what they were wearing.
What I discovered was heartbreaking.
I saw a good number of them nestled under trees, covered in cardboard boxes.
I was wearing two jerseys, a jacket, a scarf and gloves.
Seeing those people barely dressed appropriately for the winter weather provoked me to do something about helping the needy.
I would like to challenge you, dear reader, to find it in your heart to help the needy this winter and beyond.
Consider giving away some of your clothes, even those you think are old; they can answer someone’s prayer.
Let us give out warm clothing and anything else we can to keep others warm this season. It takes you and I to make the change that matters in our communities.
Take responsibility
It is easy to point fingers at others when things are not going well.
We all want to be associated with good outcomes only.
Oftentimes, when things go wrong, someone has to shoulder the blame.
While it is true that someone may be directly responsible, blaming others is fast becoming a norm.
We are living in volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) times, where things can shift in a different direction very fast. Such times require people who are united and take responsibility to stabilise things.
Organisational status
For many organisations, business is depressed these days. Instead of growing, some companies are shrinking and downsizing.
Many organisations and their teams are facing tough times.
As a result, there are divisions in many organisations. Managers are accusing their teams of incompetence and failing to take the business to higher levels.
On the other hand, the teams are blaming management for failing to lead effectively.
Blame is at the centre of this dissonance.
I would like to encourage both management and their teams to create platforms where they put their heads together to strategise on how to sustain and grow the business.
No one person in an organisation has answers to all the problems affecting it.
VUCA times either unite or divide people.
However, it is unity that can help us navigate and overcome challenges.
Unity requires responsible people to contribute towards change, without necessarily finding someone to blame.
Unity requires bold and selfless people to make a difference.
When teams are united, they cover for each other’s weaknesses. There is a difference between competition and complementing. United teams complement one another, with the understanding that the success of one is the success of all.
I encourage business owners and management to focus on acknowledging and rewarding team efforts more than individual efforts to promote teamwork and collaboration, which is good for the growth of any company.
General facts
Growth comes with taking responsibility and contributing towards change.
Resist playing the blame game and approach challenges with vigour.
Be encouraged to be part of something bigger than yourself by participating in change initiatives with others.
Be reminded that everyone has their own set of challenges.
Therefore, waiting for other people to solve your problems for you will take forever.
Be challenged and inspired to lead a life of taking responsibility to bring about the change you desire.
Rutendo Gwatidzo is managing consultant at The HUB HR Consultancy. She is a multi-award-winning consultant, speaker and mentor. She is also author of the books “Born to Fight” and “Breaking the Silence”. Contacts: +263 714 575 805/ [email protected]/ Facebook: Rutendo Gwatidzo_Official
