Are We Not Walking Alone?

Why we must preserve social networks in spite of modernisation and urbanisation
Why we must preserve social networks in spite of modernisation and urbanisation

 

I walked through my neighbourhood with the family last Christmas, knocking on doors, sharing hampers and fraternising with people that I should have known but didn’t. The most interesting experience was when my next door neighbour opened the door and looked at us with this curious look that almost said, “Yes, can I help you?” I could understand her consternation but the bigger question was begging to be answered. How could we live next to each other for over a year and not be acquainted with each other?

 

As I pondered over the impact of urbanisation on our social lives and the individualistic nature of modern society, I cast my mind back to my childhood in the early seventies in Takoradi and the contrast was clear. I particularly remembered the fun times we had staying in a four storey block with eight apartments housing different families. We could spend hours playing soccer, watching television, reading together, doing our homework or even eating in one flat or another without our parents being too alarmed or concerned. If you ever went out of order, the nearest parent or an adult passing by would take responsibility for meting out the required discipline. It was part of the unwritten social contract.

 

“You’ll Never Walk Alone” is a show tune from the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel. The song is also sung at association football clubs around the world, where it is performed by masses of supporters as they remind themselves on match days about mutual support and togetherness. This tradition began at Liverpool Football Club in the early 1960s and later spread to several other clubs. These are the foundations the communal kind of socialisation birthed in us. Not surprisingly, there are a number of people in my professional network that can be traced all the way back to those childhood associations. It would however seem that the collective nature of the communities we grew up in is now a thing of the past.

Today, you may just have to learn to walk alone. Many have simply confined themselves to their homes, often complete with high walls and electric fences. The focus on the extended family has given way to an individualistic nuclear family outlook. The exigencies of urbanisation, traffic and economic diversity mean that even spouses could have their offices thirty kilometres apart in the same city. The growing child in many urban homes is often restricted to playing with his or her siblings and often finds solace in a laptop, videogame, television or pet.

 

This is not a solely Ghanaian phenomenon. If anything we have borrowed it from the fast-paced, developed western society. Robert Putnam, a Harvard University political scientist, famously argued in his 2000 book Bowling Alone that the average American’s social capital has declined steadily since the 1960s. Social capital refers to the collective value of all your social networks (the people you know) and the inclinations that arise from these networks to do things for each other (terms of reciprocity).

 

It is becoming increasingly obvious that the traditional medium of regular, face-to-face engagement in relationships cannot keep pace with the changing face of our world. Keeping in regular touch and growing relationships through continuous communication inevitably have to depend on technologies like mobile telephony and online platforms like the internet and social media.

 

This brings my mind to a few loose coalitions I belong to comprising either friends, old schoolmates, business associates or fellows in one leadership programme or another. The most enduring and by far the most closely-knot is MOBA ’84, the association of old boys who were in my class in Mfantsipim School. The level of commitment and camaradie exhibited by members scattered all over the world and the ability to go the extra mile for each other is a typical example of social capital at work. Interestingly, the strongest cord that binds this unique group together is a group e-mail network that is kept alive through regular postings, discussions and arguments about all manner of issues. Not too long ago, I listened to Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah of Joy FM talking about the benefits of belonging to his coalition of brothers known as The Kaladan. It was simply a case of young men with shared interests and perspectives joined together in a social network glued together by a commitment to support each other at all times.

 

So how important are relationships and networks? Can we really say that people who walk alone are missing anything? Do we not attract a whole different set of problems when we open up to people? These questions flooded through my mind as I read the book, The Virtual Handshake, sent to me by my friend Kafui Dey (and by the way I recommend it for those who want to know how to build social networks online). As I read the book, I stumbled on some evidence of the benefits of social capital to people and to businesses. It was based on a book by Professor Wayne Baker of University of Michigan Business School entitledAchieving Success Through Social Capital. Baker summarized some benefits of social networks as follows:

 

1.      Getting a job: More people find jobs through personal contacts than by any other means.

2.      Pay and promotion: People with rich social capital are paid better and promoted faster at younger ages.

3.      Influence and effectiveness: People who are central in an organization’s networks are more influential than those in the periphery.

4.      Venture capital and financial stability: Seventy-five percent of start-ups find and secure financing through the informal investing grapevine: the social networks of capital seekers and investors. Similarly, bankruptcy is less likely for firms with well-connected executives and board members.

5.      Organizational learning and doing: As much as 80 percent of learning in the workplace takes place through informal interactions.

6.      Word-of-mouth marketing: Advertising increases awareness of products and services, but personal referrals and recommendations are extremely influential in the decision to purchase.

7.      Strategic alliances: The more strategic alliances a company creates, the more alliances it is likely to create in the future.

8.      Democracy: Robert Putnam found in his 25-year study of democracy in Italy that those regions with rich social capital enjoy stronger economic development and more responsive local governments than those regions with poor social capital.

9.      Happiness: Extensive studies in psychology and medicine also demonstrate that social capital can improve your personal quality of life. A stronger social network leads to greater happiness and a greater sense of meaning.

10.  Health: Robert Putnam writes, “People who are socially disconnected are between two and five times more likely to die from all causes, compared with matched individuals who have strong ties.”

 

A high level of social capital is critical for your professional and personal success. It is practically impossible to rely on personal face-to-face contact as the sole means of maintaining relationships or networks. In the light of rapid changes in our world and the ever-growing importance of the internet and social networks, it is imperative for each one to spend time crafting a strategy for using online platforms to preserve some of the benefits of social networks and relationships that we simply cannot afford to lose.

 

Peace & Blessings!!!

Source: Albert Ocran

Turn to Africa; Zenith Bank MD tells investors

Mr. Daniel Asiedu, MD/CEO of Zenith Bank (Ghana) Limited has made a strong case for foreign investors to invest their funds in Africa, because of the continent’s vast potential.

Speaking exclusively to the B&FT in an interview ahead of the much-anticipated Vodafone Africa Business Leaders Forum scheduled to take place on the 10th – 12th November this year at the Accra International Conference Centre, Mr. Asiedu noted that “in the past ten years, six out of the ten fastest growing economies in the world have emerged from sub-Saharan Africa namely Angola, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Chad, Mozambique and Rwanda.

This is further backed by IMF’s prediction that Africa will grab seven of the top ten places in the next five years. In the same vein, some research institutions have predicted that Africa’s economy will grow at an average of 7%, which is slightly faster than that of China.

This alone should inform investors of the huge potential Africa has, and that “the time for investors to get in on the action is now.”

As a matter of fact currently, 40 percent of the continent’s one billion population live in the cities compared to 28 percent that lived in the cities in 1980. It is projected that the figure will rise to 50 percent by 2030 with Africa’s top 18 cities having a combined spending power of $1.3 trillion.

The combined GDP of African countries are greater than $1.6 trillion and larger than that of India or Brazil. It is the 10th biggest economy in the world. In addition, Africa’s real compound GDP growth has been 5% annually between 2002 –2009 which is at par with Russia and higher than that of developed countries.

He however stressed that democracy, which in turn has led to greater accountability, improvement of economic management, urbanization and rising incomes have all contributed positively to Africa’s success story.

Mr. Asiedu will be speaking at the Vodafone Africa Business Leaders Forum which is Africa’s largest leadership gathering in 2011. The theme of the event is ‘Enhancing Africa’s Business Opportunities through Effective Public Private Partnerships’, and it is being organized by BIA Conferences and B&FT.

On the forthcoming event, he said it has proven to be an excellent platform for political, business and civil society leaders in Africa to exchange ideas, network and push Africa’s development agenda forward.

“The fact that we are currently preparing for the 7th edition is an indication that the event has been successful and made a meaningful impact and I am really looking forward to taking part in this year’s event.

“I will be speaking specifically on the issues of cost of borrowing, bank profitability and access to inexpensive capital. There has been a lot of public debate on these areas and I would like to share my thoughts on them.”

He said governments in Africa have done their best to overcome the challenges which face businesses in Africa and we must applaud their efforts taking into cognizance the fact that they have worked with limited resources.

“However, there are still some challenges such as issues of excessive bureaucracy, infrastructure, qualified labor, corruption, health and education. These are not insurmountable problems and will be overcome in the long run.

“Financial regulation and a strong regulatory body are key factors for any investor, because essentially these factors assure the investor of the safety of his investment. Also key to investors is the judicial system. It must be seen to be fair and devoid of political or any other interference,” he noted further.

Mr. Asiedu mentioned that top investment destinations in Africa such as Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Angola, Mauritius, Morocco, Kenya, and Uganda have put together an array of incentives to encourage Foreign Direct Investments including the setting up of Export Free Zones, consolidating various agencies required to process investment procedures into one cohesive agency thus eliminating bureaucracy and shortening the timelines of investors.

They have also reformed their judicial processes, and improved their regulatory framework to permit profit repatriation, tax incentives and exemptions from import duties for raw materials needed for production.

On Zenith Bank’s presence in Africa and elsewhere, he said, “we can be found in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Gambia and the United Kingdom. We also have a representative office in South Africa and will soon be in China.”

On reasons why the Bank is doing so well in Africa he responded, “Zenith Bank is a customer focused Bank. Our mission statement ‘To continue to invest in the best people, technology and environment to underscore our commitment to achieving customer enthusiasm’ underscores this service promise, and our business model is built around delivering convenient banking for our customers.”

“Uniquely we deliver our services on a very strong, robust and secure IT platform, enabling us to provide technology driven products and services which enhance our customers banking experience,” he added
source: myjoyonline.com

THE X-FACTOR!!! Why Some People Succeed Where Others Fail

This blog is all about bringing you the best thoughts in human capital development. My friend Martyn Mensah wrote this article for the August 2011 edition of our biannual IDEAS Magazine. Enjoy it!!!

I am sure that there are a good number of us who have often pondered about one of the great imponderables of life: what makes the difference between those individuals who make it to the rarefied atmosphere of outstanding success and the vast cohorts of also runs? The truth is that there are a huge number of ambitious, capable, competent, intelligent and talented people who, despite some very determined efforts, have not gotten past being just average in their endeavours. There are times when, like that irritating song, I just cannot get this question out of my mind. I have had the good fortune of working with and for some of our continent’s finest entrepreneurs and at the same time I have consulted for many who, despite their glaring potential and their herculean efforts, “live in the grey twilight that knows not victory or defeat”.

So the question kept niggling me and day after day, I scoured books, the internet and other resources for the potential answer. Whilst there were many propositions and prescriptions that sought to explain that unknown essence which surrounds the stars of the world, I could not help but feel that these were all rather theoretical. Let’s face it, successful people differ immensely in personality and style and yet there is something that they have in common – a common thread that runs through each of them. This thing is very difficult to identify because it is often an amalgam of subtle traits that gel into an attitude – a mind-set – a way of being. What makes this even more difficult is the fact that many successful people have not thought through what it is that lies at the heart of their success. This elusive element is what I am calling the X FACTOR and it is that which makes the difference between the average ones and champions.

The “breakthrough” came one day as I sat in my office. My screen-saver scrolled across my laptop – “WORK LIKE YOU DON’T NEED THE MONEY; LOVE LIKE YOU’VE NEVER BEEN HURT BEFORE; DANCE LIKE YOU WOULD WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING”. And I had one of those moments that you can only describe as a “Eureka” moment. I suddenly saw something in this statement which I had seen every day for quite a few years and yet I did not even know who originated this statement. Rigorous internet research threw up the fact that this was attributable to a gentleman who played baseball in the 1920s, called Robert Leroy Paige (nicknamed Satchel). And to me, it seemed to capture the various elements of this X factor. In case you are wondering about the connection, let me share what I saw in Satchel’s statement.

To me, WORK LIKE YOU DON’T NEED THE MONEY means you have a passion and love for what you do, and strongly believe that your product or service fulfils a real need in the marketplace. Your prime focus is on being excellent in everything you do. This excellence results from combining the gifts and passion you naturally possess with discipline (the time, effort, and hard work you are willing to invest) and your beliefs (the translation of your thoughts into empowering actions and outcomes). You have determination, patience and a positive attitude in abundance such that when others throw in the towel, you are more determined than ever to press on. This motive or force is the quintessence of all your drive for achievement and not financial return.

In contrast, if money were to be your sole driver, the discipline and sacrifice needed to succeed will become a burden and the patience that is required to build great things will be a struggle. Shortcuts will become attractive and compromise will be your preferred modus operandi as the quest for cash causes you to lose focus and re-order your priorities. It can lead to the sacrificing of customers, staff, family, competitors, values and ethics on the altar of cash. You are more at risk of losing your uniqueness as you are likely to rush to copy those who you think are making it financially.

So this first concept proposes that there must be a higher ideal that serves as the clarion call for your efforts and not one as base as money. If one sincerely identifies this and it becomes the reason for everything that you do, success is very likely to attend your hard work.

The next element seems even farther removed from the world of business; after all, what does love have to do with it? But digging beneath the literal meaning of this statement reveals what LOVE LIKE YOU’VE NEVER BEEN HURT really means.

Successful people understand that business success depends critically on the quality of human interaction – with customers, colleagues, partners, financiers, suppliers, staff, regulators, etc. The most successful people I know are fastidious about building, nurturing and preserving solid relationships with all stakeholders. The key message here is that one requires strong relationships as a prerequisite for success…. Relationships which have suspicion, mistrust and hidden agendas as their defining characteristics cannot be productive relationships.

One of the nation’s top CEOs always reminds me that if one claims to like — if not love — your fellow man, then this will be demonstrated in respect, honesty, integrity and empathy towards others. This is a fundamental truth which enables us to get along with and relate well with different types of people irrespective of class. If you understand the mechanics and application of good relationship building, you will demonstrate certain distinguishing behaviours, including the following:-

Ò  You are not over-eager to be the “BIG BOSS” with staff waiting on you hand and foot and people scurrying for cover when you appear.

Ò  You retain the confidence and humility that truly great leaders have and as a result, people will be eager to work with and for you (not out of fear).

Ò  You operate in a cocoon of trust. In other words, you give trust and expect trust. You understand that trust is a function of two things: Character (integrity, motive, intent) andcompetence (capabilities, skills, results, track record). You demonstrate these in everything you do and expect those around you to do the same.

Ò  You don’t expect the worst from people until they give you abundant reason to do so.

Great people generally tend to give back generously and widely without keeping a balance sheet of their giving. This trait stems from their understanding that success cannot be achieved without the help and support of external players e.g. staff, the community, etc.. So, yes, as counter-intuitive as it would initially appear, loving generously (and of course, sensibly) results in an environment that is highly conducive to achieving success through excellence.

The last dimension says DANCE LIKE YOU WOULD WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING. If you’ve ever watched a lousy but enthusiastic dancer, you can imagine what this seeks to communicate. They appear to be dancing to a sound that only they can hear…and they definitely appear to be having a lot of fun to boot. Indeed, when you are all by yourself, you pull off dance moves and gyrations which you will never dare to repeat in public. Often, we stop ourselves from doing or saying things that we really want to because we are concerned or even intimidated by what others will say about us. For those who never reach their full potential, they must wonder how different their lives might have been if they had taken that opportunity or voiced that opinion.

For me, the big insight into this element is this; this is not a dress rehearsal, it’s the real life. It is therefore important that every effort is made to enjoy the ride. To do this, successful people carry their own sunshine. They dance their own way, find their own beat and exude their passion. In living their lives in this manner, they recognize that there are many options to choose from in anything that they do. They look, not only at the obvious and trite options, but they create new ways of doing things and in so doing earn descriptors like maverick, eccentric, deviant, non-conformist and the like. They cherish the freedom to question the usual definitions of success and imagine possibilities other than the ones that are familiar to all.

The other profundity hidden in this seemingly simple statement is that it is essential to be absolutely true to yourself as you pursue success. There must be a consistency about everything that you do, driven by the realization that pretence is only self–delusion. Whilst it is helpful to look at role models and mentors, it is important to accept that you cannot succeed as someone else. A cursory examination of success reveals that successful people are confident & comfortable in their own skin, freeing them to carve their own path, chart their own course and create their own legacy.

This is my attempt at defining the X- Factor; the sublime essence of the successful person. I hope that, to some extent, I have achieved my objective of capturing something which is quite difficult to define. The seemingly obscure inspiration (Satchel Paige’s statement) for this insight only confirms the elusive nature of the X-factor. Although I think I have found a perspective to look at this complex trait, I still believe that there is more to the secret of success than this. I cannot shake the feeling that success cannot be prescribed in a formula.

At best, the markers that indicate the path to success can be identified but there remains a single, significant element that does not lie in our control; the gift of the blessings of God, which perfects the hard work that of necessity attends the quest for success. All that we can do therefore is prepare ourselves as best we can so that we will be ready and worthy of this free and generous gift, whose granting no human mind can encompass. Remember, “WORK LIKE YOU DON’T NEED THE MONEY; LOVE LIKE YOU’VE NEVER BEEN HURT BEFORE; DANCE LIKE YOU WOULD WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING” and watch out for the grace that will deliver the success which you so deserve.

I trust that you have enjoyed and been inspired by Martyn’s thoughts. Keep learning and excelling in the things you love to do.

Reference":albertocran.com