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Leadership Lessons with Dr Jerry Gule

Dr. Jerry Gule is currently the CEO of The Institute of People Management. He holds a Masters in Education from Harvard, has a Masters in Education from Pittsburgh and a PhD in Education from Harvard University. He started his career in lecturing at the university of Swaziland and spent many years at blue chip companies including SAPPI, Bromor Foods, Standard Bank, PWC and a long and distinguished career at Total SA where he transformed the organisation in terms of employment equity, women empowerment and human resources. He then applied his talents to the Marketing and Services Competency Centre across Africa and the Middle East for Total SA.

Gail Cameron, Founder and MD of IE Group and My Pocket Coach met up with him to discuss his journey and lessons that he has to share as a leader in his industry.

Leadership Lessons by Dr Gule:

  • Leadership is never static, it is complex, it is always shifting, it is circumstantial or situational.
  • A leader is a leader because they work with a group of people – it is not about an individual but a supportive team that you can trust.
  • Being a leader means being accountable and taking responsibility.
  • Leading is a temporary privilege.
  • We all have blind-spots which can blindside us. Understand that we will all make mistakes to learn from.
  • Receive feedback with grace and do not let your ego stand in the way.
  • Be transparent and honest.
  • Know and understand your WHY? and keep to your true north.

Advice for next the next generation of leaders:

• The time of being a lone-ranger or a know-it-all is long gone.
• Keep transparency and honesty up front and centre.
• As a leader you have to always think of the collective.
• Have a heart for people. You deliver through the people.

Leadership is never static, it is complex, it is always shifting, it is circumstantial and situational and it is not about an individual but about a group.

Enjoy the full interview here: