Part 2 of 3: The Leadership Journey Series
In Part 1, we explored the awakening moments that transform managers into authentic leaders. Now, let’s dive into the practical journey of building leadership that creates lasting impact. How do you move from inspiration to implementation? From good intentions to transformative results?
Over the past decade of developing leaders across Africa—from corporate executives at organisations like UNHCR to student prefects transforming school cultures—I’ve discovered that sustainable leadership development follows a predictable, learnable pattern.
The Three-Phase Leadership Journey
Phase 1: Foundation – Discovering Your Authentic Voice (Months 1-6)
The Challenge: Most emerging leaders try to copy successful leaders they admire, losing their authentic voice in the process.
The Heart-Centred Approach: True leadership begins with self-discovery, not imitation.
What Successful Leaders Do in This Phase:
Clarify Their Core Purpose
- Identify the problems that genuinely energise them to solve
- Connect their personal values with their leadership vision
- Define success beyond traditional metrics of wealth and position
When I transitioned from corporate analyst to leadership consultant, I spent months in deep reflection, asking: “What unique contribution can I make to African leadership development?” This wasn’t just career planning—it was purpose discovery.
Validate Their Vision with Real People
- Test their leadership ideas with those they want to serve
- Listen deeply to understand real needs, not assumed problems
- Adjust their approach based on authentic feedback
I started Lead from the Heart with small workshops, testing my concepts with real leaders facing real challenges. Every session taught me something new about what African leaders actually needed versus what I thought they needed.
Build Their Minimum Viable Leadership Style
- Develop authentic communication patterns that reflect their values
- Practice leading small initiatives before taking on larger challenges
- Establish personal leadership principles that guide decision-making
Your Foundation Phase Action Plan:
- Purpose Clarity Exercise: Write down the top three problems in your community or industry that genuinely frustrate you. Which one would you work on even if you weren’t paid?
- Feedback Loop Creation: Identify 5-7 people you want to serve and have honest conversations about their real challenges and needs.
- Leadership Experiment: Take on one small leadership responsibility where you can practice your authentic style without high stakes.
Phase 2: Growth – Building Teams and Systems (Months 6-18)
The Challenge: Many leaders get stuck in the “heroic leadership” trap—trying to do everything themselves rather than building sustainable systems.
The Heart-Centred Approach: True leadership multiplication happens through developing others and creating scalable processes.
What Successful Leaders Do in This Phase:
Recruit Vision-Aligned Team Members
- Look for people who share their purpose, not just their skills
- Create diverse teams that bring different perspectives and strengths
- Focus on character and growth potential, not just current competence
At Lead from the Heart, our most successful programs happen when we work with teams united by shared values and complementary skills. Our TLA implementation succeeds because we partner with organisations like Royalty World and Mendem Foundation that share our commitment to transformational leadership development.
Develop Scalable Processes and Systems
- Create methods that work without their constant presence
- Document their successful approaches so others can learn and implement
- Build feedback systems that enable continuous improvement
When we rebuilt Panus Software, the key wasn’t just fixing immediate problems—it was creating systems that could prevent similar crises and enable sustainable growth.
Establish Cultural Foundations
- Define and communicate the values that guide team behaviour
- Create environments where team members can flourish authentically
- Build traditions and practices that reinforce their leadership vision
Your Growth Phase Action Plan:
- Team Assessment: Evaluate your current team or network. Who shares your vision? Who brings different but complementary strengths? Who might you need to add?
- System Creation: Document your most successful leadership approaches. What can you teach others? What processes can operate without your direct involvement?
- Culture Building: Define 3-5 core values that guide your leadership. How will you embed these in your team’s daily practices?
Phase 3: Impact – Scaling Your Vision (18+ Months)
The Challenge: Many leaders plateau at personal success rather than creating systemic change that outlasts their direct involvement.
The Heart-Centred Approach: Sustainable impact comes from multiplication—developing other leaders who can carry the vision forward.
What Successful Leaders Do in This Phase:
Expand Their Sphere of Influence
- Build strategic partnerships that amplify their impact
- Develop new programs or initiatives that serve broader communities
- Create networks of influence rather than just chains of command
Today, Lead from the Heart works with organisations across Africa, but our impact multiplies through the leaders we’ve developed who are now creating their own transformative programs in their communities.
Develop the Next Generation
- Mentor emerging leaders who can eventually surpass their achievements
- Create learning opportunities for team members to grow into leadership roles
- Share knowledge and resources freely to benefit the broader community
Through TLA, we’ve seen student prefects become peer mentors who develop other students. The program’s greatest success isn’t in the initial participants—it’s in the leaders they become who then develop others.
Build Legacy Systems
- Create institutions or practices that will continue beyond their direct involvement
- Establish sustainable funding and support systems for their vision
- Document and share their methodology for broader application
Your Impact Phase Action Plan:
- Partnership Strategy: Identify three organisations or leaders whose missions align with yours. How might you collaborate for greater impact?
- Succession Planning: Who in your current sphere could you develop to carry forward your vision? What do they need to succeed?
- Knowledge Sharing: What unique insights or methods have you developed that could benefit other leaders? How will you share them?
The Heart-Centred Competitive Advantage
Why does this approach create more sustainable success than traditional leadership development?
Authenticity Creates Trust
In our work with organisations like UNHCR, Spectra Beauté, and Data Girl Technologies, we’ve consistently seen that authentic leaders inspire deeper loyalty and achieve better results than those who rely on positional authority alone.
“Working with Lead from the Heart was like unlocking a treasure trove of creativity. What truly set them apart was the warmth and inclusivity they wove into every interaction.” – Doris Ngum, Royalty World
Purpose Drives Performance
Teams united by meaningful purpose consistently outperform those motivated primarily by financial incentives. Purpose-driven organisations also demonstrate greater resilience during challenging periods.
“The retreat was a great experience that allowed me to get to know my colleagues better and feel more connected to the team. It gave me the inspiration and motivation to do my best work.” – UNHCR-CAR Staff Retreat Participant
Service Creates Sustainability
Leaders who genuinely serve their communities build stronger, more sustainable organizations. This approach creates positive cycles where success enables greater service, which generates more sustainable success.
Building Your Leadership Network
The Power of Strategic Relationships
Your leadership impact is directly connected to the quality and diversity of your relationships. Successful heart-centred leaders intentionally build four types of networks:
1. Peer Networks
- Fellow leaders facing similar challenges and opportunities
- Regular connection and mutual support systems
- Collaborative partnerships that multiply individual impact
2. Mentor Networks
- Experienced leaders who’ve built what you want to build
- Advisors who share your values and can guide your development
- Wisdom sources for navigating complex leadership challenges
3. Community Networks
- Those you serve and want to impact positively
- Feedback sources for staying connected to real needs
- Advocacy supporters who believe in your mission
4. Development Networks
- Emerging leaders you’re helping to grow
- Team members you’re developing for greater responsibility
- Students or protégés who will carry your vision forward
Measuring Heart-Centred Success
Traditional leadership development often focuses solely on financial metrics or positional advancement. Heart-centred leadership requires a more comprehensive success framework:
Financial Health
- Sustainable revenue and profitability
- Resource access and management efficiency
- Economic impact on your community or industry
Team Development
- Team member satisfaction and retention rates
- Leadership development within your organisation
- Cultural alignment between values and daily practices
Community Impact
- Positive change created for those you serve
- Problems solved and opportunities created
- Contribution to broader social or economic development
Personal Fulfilment
- Alignment between your values and daily actions
- Continuous learning and growth
- Life satisfaction and sense of meaning
Regular Self-Assessment Questions:
- Am I still connected to my original purpose?
- Are my actions creating the positive impact I intended?
- Am I developing others while continuing to grow myself?
- Does my leadership reflect my authentic values?
Overcoming Common Growth Challenges
“I Don’t Have Enough Experience”
Heart-Centred Response: Authenticity and genuine care often overcome experience gaps. Your fresh perspective and commitment to serving others can be more valuable than extensive credentials.
Action Strategy: Partner with experienced advisors while building competence through small, manageable leadership challenges.
“I Don’t Have Sufficient Resources”
Heart-Centred Response: The best leadership solutions solve real problems for real people. If you’re genuinely creating value, people will support your efforts.
Action Strategy: Start with what you have, prove your impact, and reinvest results into expanding your capacity.
“The Environment is Too Competitive”
Heart-Centred Response: Competition validates real demand. Your authentic approach and unique perspective are your sustainable competitive advantages.
Action Strategy: Focus on serving your community better than anyone else, rather than simply trying to outcompete others.
Preparing for Multiplication
In our final article of this series, we’ll explore how to scale your leadership impact exponentially—moving from personal success to systemic change that transforms entire communities and industries.
We’ll dive into the specific strategies that enable leaders to create a lasting legacy, develop sustainable institutions, and multiply their impact through others.
But for now, assess your current phase and commit to one specific action that will advance your leadership foundation:
If you’re in Foundation Phase: What’s one leadership experiment you’ll start this week?
If you’re in Growth Phase: What’s one system you’ll create to operate without your constant presence?
If you’re in Impact Phase: Who’s one emerging leader you’ll begin mentoring this month?
The leaders Africa needs aren’t just those who achieve personal success—they’re those who build sustainable systems that create opportunities for others to succeed as well.
Ready to accelerate your leadership development? Our customized leadership workshops and retreats are designed to help you navigate each phase more effectively. Contact us to discuss how we can support your unique leadership journey.
Silas Achu is the Founder and Leadership Consultant at Lead from the Heart, a premier leadership development organisation that empowers African executives and emerging leaders. Through partnerships with organisations like UNHCR, Royalty World, and educational institutions across Africa, Lead from the Heart has impacted over 2,000 leaders. Connect with Silas at silas@leadfromtheheart.co.uk or visit www.leadfromtheheart.co.uk.
Next in this series: Part 3 – Creating Your Leadership Legacy: From Personal Success to Systemic Change
