Dr. Thomson Mpinganjira: What Qualities Make A Good Business Leader?

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Dr. Thomson Mpinganjira
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What skills must an individual possess in order to be an effective leader? A study recently published by Harvard Business Review looked at 195 leaders working in 15 countries around the world. Participants were asked to select 15 critical leadership qualities from a list of 74. This article explores the results.

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Providing a Sense of Safety

56% of respondents agreed that communicating clear expectations is a fundamental skill of effective leadership. 67% of participants agreed that high moral and ethical standards are one of the most important components in great leadership.

Combined, these attributes are integral to creating a trusting, safe environment. Leaders who communicate their expectations effectively ensure that their workforce is on the same page, avoiding blindsiding employees and causing confusion. Similarly, when leaders display high ethical standards, they convey commitment to fairness, instilling confidence in their employees that they will ‘play by the rules’. Combined, these two attributes create a safe environment where employees can relax, leaving them free to invoke the brain’s higher capacity for ambition, social engagement, innovation, and creativity.

Promoting a Sense of Connection

Effective leaders communicate effectively and openly. Humans are a social species. We want to connect with each other; to feel a sense of belonging. From an evolutionary perspective, forming attachments is vital. In a world full of predators, it improves our chances of survival. Studies show that a sense of connection can not only impact emotional wellbeing, but also productivity.

Fostering Organisational Learning

Effective leaders show that they are open to new ideas and approaches. They show flexibility and the ability to change their opinions. In doing so, they demonstrate that they encourage learning. While perseverance is vital in business, obstinance and rigidity stifle creativity and innovation.

Employees seek out employers that will help them to grow. They want to see commitment to ongoing training. Progression and development are important to all of us. When leaders demonstrate their commitment to helping their staff advance, this investment is reciprocated, strengthening staff loyalty and inspiring the employee going the extra mile for his or her company.

Building a Strong Support Network

Effective business leaders do not try to shoulder the entire burden of the business alone. Instead, they surround themselves with people they can depend on, be it for counsel, mentorship, or simply a sounding board. Such relationships may be within the company, or external. Effective leaders remain open to a broad range of ideas and are willing to take the best advice offered to transform ideas into action.

A good leader knows when to delegate. They surround themselves with people they can rely on to get the job done. This allows them the time and space to take a step back; to see the business as a whole; and to see where the business is now and how best to take it forward.


Thomson Mpinganjira: Founder of FDH Financial Holdings

Dr Thomson Mpinganjira is one of the most important Malawian businessmen of his generation. Having built a financial empire from scratch, including establishing the Malawian Stock Exchange and opening his own bank, Thomson Mpinganjira has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, building FDH Financial Holdings from nine employees to a workforce of more than a thousand individuals.

Dedicated to corporate social responsibility, Dr Thomson Mpinganjira supports numerous community programmes throughout Malawi, providing financing for healthcare and educational initiatives. In addition, Thomson Mpinganjira’s organisation is one of just a handful of Malawian companies to offer its staff comprehensive healthcare, safeguarding the wellbeing of all employees, their spouses and their children.

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Dr Thomson Mpinganjira is one of the most important Malawian businessmen of his generation. Having built a financial empire from scratch, including establishing the Malawian Stock Exchange and opening his own bank, Thomson Mpinganjira has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, building FDH Financial Holdings from nine employees to a workforce of more than a thousand individuals. Dedicated to corporate social responsibility, Dr Thomson Mpinganjira supports numerous community programmes throughout Malawi, providing financing for healthcare and educational initiatives. In addition, Thomson Mpinganjira’s organisation is one of just a handful of Malawian companies to offer its staff comprehensive healthcare, safeguarding the wellbeing of all employees, their spouses and their children.