“I am the Person I have been waiting for”
Waiting is not a common virtual. Most of us tire from waiting, we get bored while waiting, we lose our patience, we frown, we get mad, we get agitated, and at times even give up and go on something else. After all, time waits for no man and a slow woman has no chance as I hear people saying.
Waiting for the Grow module 1-session 1 tested my patience and my ability to patiently wait. Those of you who know us (CivSource Africa) Know that we keep our word, and our commitment and never want to let our partners, clients, and those we work with down. We love to commit and adhere to times lines. So here I was with my GROW Cohort 2 road map with plotted schedules ready to kick start at the said time and life happened.
One thing that my placement at the Mopane` Leadership Program has taught me is to understand and appreciate the things I have control over and those that I do not. The delay of the session was never in my control. So, I patiently waited for a signal from our partner’s Imprint to finalize the psychometric evaluation processes and ICF-U to allocate coaches. As easy as these processes might sound, the wait taught me that some processes can not be rushed lest you don’t get the best out of them. So, I waited.
All things come to those who wait - Lady Mary Montgomerie
After some prayer sessions with my colleagues at work and Dr. Lydia Mpanga, a new date was set after we had successfully identified and assigned each Grower to a Coach and ensured that all Growers had responded to their psychometric test evaluations. 3rd Sept 2022 was music to my ears. We were finally going to start the learning sessions a month later after a colorful launch on 30th July 2022 that brought together thought leaders to motivate the Growers of 2022-2023. (Moses Tenga – CEO of International Talent Management Academy, Moses Rutahigwa - Head of Consumer, Private, and Business Banking at Standard Chartered Bank, and Adekemi Ndieli – Deputy Country Representative UN Women).
“In learning, you will teach, and in teaching, you will learn.” - Phil Collins
The session was exactly what I envisioned and anticipated. The facilitators Dr. Lydia Mpanga and Dr. Jeff Sebuyira Mukasa were worth the await. The presentations and conversation were on point, participation was at 100%. 95% of the cohort was present. We were also honored by the presence of coaches and the huddle leaders who belong to the GROW Cohort 1 alumnus. I can confidently say the session was a success. Our focus during this first session was on knowing ourselves as leaders.
“I am the person I have been waiting for.” This statement came to life today during the presentations that interrogated the emotional intelligence of leaders and how best we know ourselves as leaders before thinking of leading others, the value of self-awareness, purpose and personal mission statements, discovering passions and strengths, values and contributions we make as leaders and our life goals. All these and more left a footprint in the hearts and minds of Growers as we anticipate the next learning session on 17th Sept 2022.