This week I’m writing from London – on the train from Heathrow to Whitechapel to be precise. I’m here to visit my two eldest daughters, my grandson and my middle brother.

In England, people don’t talk to strangers, not like in South Africa, where it’s normal to greet and chat with fellow passengers. I’d forgotten this as I popped a joke with the man next to me, whose wake-up alarm just rang out. But it was the sound of my chuckling that sparked the thought of how much I love family. My laugh is the same as my middle brother’s laugh. 

I talk like my sister, and we both have the same habits and sound like our late mother so much so that I have to look carefully at photos to know which is which. And my aunt Llona, the last living relative of my dad, is so like him in looks, language and habits that one has to pinch oneself to know who is who. 

Perhaps it’s this strong personal connection with family that has drawn me to build a team of people who connect and complement each other. The importance of alignment in vision and values. 

Just like family though, in a functioning team, there is both appreciation of connectedness and safety for robust disagreement. 

And love. 

Perhaps the team works because I love my people. Each hand-picked for their potential to grow and their passion for making a difference. And united in this shared journey through life. 

This week, I’m celebrating my leadership skills that bring people together for fresh thinking, robust opinions and fresh insights. 

Good leadership is a form of love. For me, L.O.V.E leadership follows four guidelines;

L: Lead with the intention to draw diverse people together to achieve better results than you can alone 

O: Others are a blessing to widen your insights and bring gifts beyond your own opinion and experience 

V: Values are the core that binds all of us together 

E: Empowered people can bring their full capabilities into the world. 

Have you ever wondered what you could achieve if every member of your team unlocked their full potential?