As part of ACCORD’s ongoing Capacity Strengthening Initiative for women-led NGOs and CBO’s in South Africa, fifteen women peacebuilders received a four-day training to enhance their leadership skills within their various organisations. These sessions took place on 3, 18, 24, and 31 March 2022 via the zoom platform.
While organizations hold human capital with various talents and capabilities, it is leadership that harnesses individual efforts towards the collective organisational goals. By inspiring and motivating teams and coordinating personal actions for the advancement of a common goal, leaders help their organisations and communities achieve excellence. As such, during the virtual trainings, participants brainstormed the different leadership styles, authoritarian; participative; delegation; transactional; and transformational, and ways in which they can improve the relationship between employers and employees. The participants further understood that effective leadership is built on a solid foundation consisting of a clear mission, a vision for the future, a specific strategy, and a culture conducive to success. Participants were encouraged to use journaling as a tool for critical reflection in order to better discover themselves and their authentic thoughts, and not what they “should” be thinking about, which is generally the mode of operating when dealing with fast paced decision making. The reflections made from the journaling will be revealed during the next one on one coaching sessions. ACCORD looks forward to more sessions with these local women peacebuilders as they journey through personal leadership and mastery.
