How To Lead Intentionally | The Leading Ladies Conference
Leadership is the ability to impact and leave your mark in the lives of people. That's why leadership must be intentional.
Those were some of the words of Dr Madison Ngafeeson, the organizer of the Leading Lady Conference which took place in Yaounde from the 6th to the 7th of July 2018.
This conference was a new thing to me and for most of us who attended because in Cameroon, events that encourage us (women) to discover ourselves, know our worth, follow our dreams and live intentionally in order to impact the lives of other women are rare.
The Conference
Generally, the conference was good. The speakers were inspiring. We had talks, breakout sessions and time to network. There were 2 breakout sessions with three classes going on at the same time during each session. We had two hours for networking after lunch on the second day of the conference.
It was such an inspiring conference and I hope it has set the pace for more like this to come.
We had wonderful speakers like Dr Ngafeeson Madison himself, Pastor Frankie Powell and Dr Lisa Prudy Wafo whose success story almost brought us to tears. The other speakers took us through classes during the breakout sessions.
From all the inspiring stories told during this conference, there was one thing they had in common. That was leading intentionally. Which in other words means intentionally impacting the lives of people by living your God-given purpose.
We are all leaders because we have someone who looks up to us for one thing or the other. We have to lead them (impact their lives) but we are not often intentional with our leadership and therefore our impact is not really felt by those we lead.
Dr Madison told us the story of how his life was impacted by the women in his life. And this impact made him the man he is today. And he asked a very important question which was - what if these women had not played their role of leadership in his life? He definitely wouldn't have been the person he is today. That's why it's important for women to lead intentionally so that we can have a greater impact on the lives of others.
Today I will be sharing with you how to lead intentionally and create an impact that can change other people's lives.
In order to lead, you need to know who you are and what impact you want to make in the world. And that implies you need to know your purpose. Your purpose is that thing you are sent to do in the world. Your reason for being here. It's what drives you, what motivates you, puts a smile on your face, what makes you cry or what brings you joy and fulfilment. It's the essence of your life.
Every woman (and man) has a purpose. And as Pastor Frankie Powell said:
These words sank so deep into me because I think the same. Your purpose sets you aside from the others. It's the most unique feature you have because no one can live your purpose better than you.
Frankie Powell went further to say that if you discover and live your purpose, no one can also be as good at being you as you. And that God gives us a purpose we need to discover.
Here are a few questions he shared to help you find your purpose. So ask yourself the following questions:
And to summarize all these questions, WHAT ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT? WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING AND WHAT ARE YOU GOOD AT DOING? This means you should add your passion to your gift and get your purpose.
Don't forget that your purpose is about impacting the lives of other people. Your purpose is meant to change the lives of others for the better. The situation you were born in, whether good or bad is tied to your purpose.
The poverty and pain you experience are meant to forge and direct you towards your purpose. The obstacles you face like obesity, poverty or handicap are linked to your purpose because your success will inspire those going through the same problem. They will know that if they keep working hard they will overcome every obstacle as well and become as successful as you.
So end the chapter of living a life without purpose, turn the page and start writing a new chapter of living your purpose.
I will like to sum up this point in five important words: "WORK HARD" and "NEVER GIVE UP".
Dr, Lisa Prudy Wafo told us her very touching story of how she left from nothing to something in life. She explained all the obstacles she faced along the way which brought her back to point zero every time. But the one thing that made her successful today was her hard work and the fact that she never gave up.
The road to creating an impact on people's lives and being a leader is not easy. Others have tried and failed some succeeded but you need to strive to be better than those who came before you.
Like Dr Lisa Prudy said in reference to her story:
It's better to die while trying than to give up. It's your responsibility to think and be better than the previous generation.
During the breakout sessions, I joined the career woman class and it was really eye-opening and inspiring.
Dr, Bame Patience gave us great advice on how to stay relevant in the job market. She mentioned the following points:
PREPARATION + OPPORTUNITY = BREAKTHROUGH
You have to be ready for the opportunity so that you can qualify to get it.
Develop skills that are needed in the 21st-century labour market which is the age of technology. This century is filled with the replacement of human labour with machines so develop skills which require you to do critical thinking because machines can't do critical thinking.
It's not enough to be knowledgeable. You need very practical skills that you can use or show someone. I think this point is very true because when university graduates finish school, they have the knowledge but very little skills. They also don't know how to transform their knowledge into skills. So we need to develop skills from our knowledge or learn new skills to develop a good career.
Develop global skills that will make you available in the global job market.
Like she said, employability is much more than having employment. It is being able to transit from one job to another, unlike our parents who had and kept just one job from the beginning until the end of their careers. Like she said:
Because it is motivating and makes things easier.
The Business Lady class was fired up with knowledge by Nina Ngasa, a successful entrepreneur who shared her story as a businesswoman. Here are some of the lessons from her story:
Have a bigger plan and think ahead of your competitors. Have a good plan and a business idea.
Think smart. Make use of the problems we have in society to create a product or service that solves that problem. Come up with new ideas and set the pace in your market. This will help you conquer the market.
Don't just sell your products but develop your brand to keep your customers coming back.
Have confidence in your products and sell them with confidence.
Ignore the naysayers and those making a mockery of what you do. Don't be ashamed to do an activity that brings you an income even if it is seen as downgrading by your peers and friends. Don't be afraid of what people will say about you selling to earn a living.
Let your detours shape you like a stone which is transported by a river with high currents. The stone may be knocked against other stones as the river transports it but in the end that stone will become a very smooth and shiny stone. And when people see it they will want to pick it up and put it where everyone can see and admire it. Let your detours make you a better person.
Looking back at the case of Dr Lisa Prudy, her obstacles shaped her and directed her to her purpose. Every detour she met was a step closer to the successful woman she is today.
Believe that there is something better after every detour because your detour isn't a dead-end in life. So embrace your detours, let them shape you, learn the lessons from them and allow them to transform you into the person you are meant to become.
Detours come sometimes to change us into better people and stir us in the right direction. To respond to detours with wisdom. At this point pastor, Frankie Powell told us that to be a leading lady you have to learn to deal with problems and make your problems work for you. He said our problems stand in front of us like fire and we all have a bucket in each of our hands to use on it. One bucket has water and one has gasoline. When you have problems or detours we have the choice to pour the contents of one of the buckets on our problem.
Your reaction to your problems is like having water and gasoline in both hands. Some of our reactions to problems only make the problems bigger and worse. But if we take time to understand the lessons of our problems as we find a way to solve them then we will make the most of our problems.
To live intentionally is to decide to aware and conscious of how you live and all the things you do with your life. Living intentionally is a decision. For example; If you want a happy and fulfilled life then you start to do the things that will make you feel happy and fulfilled. You don't wait for someone else to make you happy. This goes same for your purpose and leadership.
You have to decide to lead and impact the lives of people with your purpose and then find ways to realize it. Don't let things happen to you by chance. But make it be on your side by doing all that you need to do to have the life that you want to live.
I think that two days wasn't enough for such a huge content. it should have been at least three days. The second day was really tiring because the program was really long. Putting everything in one day made us finish in the night which I didn't really like.
I didn't like the food. The food was small and we had just one meal throughout the day. No water during the conference except during lunch. Maybe the funds were not enough but it wasn't nice to stay the whole day on that little food.
The breakout sessions were great! We had three classes per session and each person could attend just one class because all three classes took place at the same time. It was hard to choose a class to attend for each of the sessions but the ones I attended were superb. I really wish we had more time in the break out sessions so that we could ask questions.
The organization was good. Our notebooks had some branding thing going on and it felt good to have a book made for the conference. Honestly, from the moment I got the book, I started to feel like my money was worth it.
The program was printed directly in the book which was great but I wish I was given the detailed program before the conference.
This was really great. There was worship time, a great saxophonist and a gospel artist called Aunty Clo who made the event soulful and joyful. It was so nice to hear my favourite of Aunty Clo's songs called "My friend Jesus". Apparently, it was everyone's favourite as everyone stood up and sang along with her.
This was a great surprise. We were given beautiful certificates at the end of the conference and it was really awesome. This is a reminder that I am a leading lady and I have to continue to live my purpose.
This conference gave me the chance to meet new people as well as friends I haven't seen in a while like Marie Abanga who is a coach, lawyer and also a blogger. I also met my friend Yensi Helen who I interviewed on my blog. You can read that interview here and get to know this amazing young woman who helps women suffering from domestic violence.
This is how it happened at the Leading Lady Conference. I hope you learned a thing or two from this post. Thanks for reading and please leave your thoughts in a comment. Do share this post with other women and men who need to learn how to lead intentionally.
We are all leaders because we have someone who looks up to us for one thing or the other. We have to lead them (impact their lives) but we are not often intentional with our leadership and therefore our impact is not really felt by those we lead.
Dr Madison told us the story of how his life was impacted by the women in his life. And this impact made him the man he is today. And he asked a very important question which was - what if these women had not played their role of leadership in his life? He definitely wouldn't have been the person he is today. That's why it's important for women to lead intentionally so that we can have a greater impact on the lives of others.
Today I will be sharing with you how to lead intentionally and create an impact that can change other people's lives.
The Lessons
1. Know your purpose
In order to lead, you need to know who you are and what impact you want to make in the world. And that implies you need to know your purpose. Your purpose is that thing you are sent to do in the world. Your reason for being here. It's what drives you, what motivates you, puts a smile on your face, what makes you cry or what brings you joy and fulfilment. It's the essence of your life.
Every woman (and man) has a purpose. And as Pastor Frankie Powell said:
There is a difference between success and significance. Your success may not have any significance, but if you live a significant life you'll be successful.
These words sank so deep into me because I think the same. Your purpose sets you aside from the others. It's the most unique feature you have because no one can live your purpose better than you.
Frankie Powell went further to say that if you discover and live your purpose, no one can also be as good at being you as you. And that God gives us a purpose we need to discover.
Here are a few questions he shared to help you find your purpose. So ask yourself the following questions:
- What makes me cry or sad when I hear it?
- What makes me angry or frustrated?
- What makes me laugh, happy or excited when I see or hear it?
And to summarize all these questions, WHAT ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT? WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING AND WHAT ARE YOU GOOD AT DOING? This means you should add your passion to your gift and get your purpose.
Don't forget that your purpose is about impacting the lives of other people. Your purpose is meant to change the lives of others for the better. The situation you were born in, whether good or bad is tied to your purpose.
The poverty and pain you experience are meant to forge and direct you towards your purpose. The obstacles you face like obesity, poverty or handicap are linked to your purpose because your success will inspire those going through the same problem. They will know that if they keep working hard they will overcome every obstacle as well and become as successful as you.
So end the chapter of living a life without purpose, turn the page and start writing a new chapter of living your purpose.
2. Strive to be better than the generation before you and be intentional about it
I will like to sum up this point in five important words: "WORK HARD" and "NEVER GIVE UP".
Dr, Lisa Prudy Wafo told us her very touching story of how she left from nothing to something in life. She explained all the obstacles she faced along the way which brought her back to point zero every time. But the one thing that made her successful today was her hard work and the fact that she never gave up.
The road to creating an impact on people's lives and being a leader is not easy. Others have tried and failed some succeeded but you need to strive to be better than those who came before you.
Like Dr Lisa Prudy said in reference to her story:
It's not my fault that I'm born in a poor family, but if I die poor then it's my fault.
It's better to die while trying than to give up. It's your responsibility to think and be better than the previous generation.
3. Be dynamic, think global and stay relevant to the world
During the breakout sessions, I joined the career woman class and it was really eye-opening and inspiring.
Dr, Bame Patience gave us great advice on how to stay relevant in the job market. She mentioned the following points:
- You have to be prepared.
Like she said:PREPARATION + OPPORTUNITY = BREAKTHROUGH
You have to be ready for the opportunity so that you can qualify to get it.
- Acquire skills and not just knowledge.
Develop skills that are needed in the 21st-century labour market which is the age of technology. This century is filled with the replacement of human labour with machines so develop skills which require you to do critical thinking because machines can't do critical thinking.
It's not enough to be knowledgeable. You need very practical skills that you can use or show someone. I think this point is very true because when university graduates finish school, they have the knowledge but very little skills. They also don't know how to transform their knowledge into skills. So we need to develop skills from our knowledge or learn new skills to develop a good career.
Develop global skills that will make you available in the global job market.
- Be a flexible career woman in the 21st-century
Like she said, employability is much more than having employment. It is being able to transit from one job to another, unlike our parents who had and kept just one job from the beginning until the end of their careers. Like she said:
Over your career life, you may need to be a cameleon many timesSo you adapt to the changes you meet in your career.
- Develop a reading spirit.
You need to read a lot to have more knowledge and skills that will help your career.- Be intentional about your career and do what it takes to get to your goal.
- Come out of groups which don't serve you.
Surround yourself with people who inspire and motivate you to succeed.- Find a partner that supports your career.
Because it is motivating and makes things easier.
4. Think ahead of others. Be smart.
The Business Lady class was fired up with knowledge by Nina Ngasa, a successful entrepreneur who shared her story as a businesswoman. Here are some of the lessons from her story:
- Be a visionary
Have a bigger plan and think ahead of your competitors. Have a good plan and a business idea.
- Set the pace
Think smart. Make use of the problems we have in society to create a product or service that solves that problem. Come up with new ideas and set the pace in your market. This will help you conquer the market.
- Develop your brand
Don't just sell your products but develop your brand to keep your customers coming back.
- Sell with confidence
Have confidence in your products and sell them with confidence.
- Ignore those making a mockery of you.
Ignore the naysayers and those making a mockery of what you do. Don't be ashamed to do an activity that brings you an income even if it is seen as downgrading by your peers and friends. Don't be afraid of what people will say about you selling to earn a living.
5. Know how to handle life's detours along your path
In order to be a leading lady, you need to know how to handle life's detours or obstacles. Embrace your detours and find opportunities in the problems you face in your life.Let your detours shape you like a stone which is transported by a river with high currents. The stone may be knocked against other stones as the river transports it but in the end that stone will become a very smooth and shiny stone. And when people see it they will want to pick it up and put it where everyone can see and admire it. Let your detours make you a better person.
Looking back at the case of Dr Lisa Prudy, her obstacles shaped her and directed her to her purpose. Every detour she met was a step closer to the successful woman she is today.
Believe that there is something better after every detour because your detour isn't a dead-end in life. So embrace your detours, let them shape you, learn the lessons from them and allow them to transform you into the person you are meant to become.
Detours come sometimes to change us into better people and stir us in the right direction. To respond to detours with wisdom. At this point pastor, Frankie Powell told us that to be a leading lady you have to learn to deal with problems and make your problems work for you. He said our problems stand in front of us like fire and we all have a bucket in each of our hands to use on it. One bucket has water and one has gasoline. When you have problems or detours we have the choice to pour the contents of one of the buckets on our problem.
Your reaction to your problems is like having water and gasoline in both hands. Some of our reactions to problems only make the problems bigger and worse. But if we take time to understand the lessons of our problems as we find a way to solve them then we will make the most of our problems.
6. Live intentionally
To live intentionally is to decide to aware and conscious of how you live and all the things you do with your life. Living intentionally is a decision. For example; If you want a happy and fulfilled life then you start to do the things that will make you feel happy and fulfilled. You don't wait for someone else to make you happy. This goes same for your purpose and leadership.
You have to decide to lead and impact the lives of people with your purpose and then find ways to realize it. Don't let things happen to you by chance. But make it be on your side by doing all that you need to do to have the life that you want to live.
Things I liked and disliked about the conference
- The Content
I was generally satisfied with the conference at the level of the content. It was really enriching, inspiring and eye-opening. The speakers had stories that taught great life lessons.
- The Duration
I think that two days wasn't enough for such a huge content. it should have been at least three days. The second day was really tiring because the program was really long. Putting everything in one day made us finish in the night which I didn't really like.
- The Food
I didn't like the food. The food was small and we had just one meal throughout the day. No water during the conference except during lunch. Maybe the funds were not enough but it wasn't nice to stay the whole day on that little food.
- The Breakout Sessions
The breakout sessions were great! We had three classes per session and each person could attend just one class because all three classes took place at the same time. It was hard to choose a class to attend for each of the sessions but the ones I attended were superb. I really wish we had more time in the break out sessions so that we could ask questions.
- Logistics
The organization was good. Our notebooks had some branding thing going on and it felt good to have a book made for the conference. Honestly, from the moment I got the book, I started to feel like my money was worth it.
The program was printed directly in the book which was great but I wish I was given the detailed program before the conference.
- The Music
This was really great. There was worship time, a great saxophonist and a gospel artist called Aunty Clo who made the event soulful and joyful. It was so nice to hear my favourite of Aunty Clo's songs called "My friend Jesus". Apparently, it was everyone's favourite as everyone stood up and sang along with her.
- The Certificate
This was a great surprise. We were given beautiful certificates at the end of the conference and it was really awesome. This is a reminder that I am a leading lady and I have to continue to live my purpose.
- The Meet-ups
This conference gave me the chance to meet new people as well as friends I haven't seen in a while like Marie Abanga who is a coach, lawyer and also a blogger. I also met my friend Yensi Helen who I interviewed on my blog. You can read that interview here and get to know this amazing young woman who helps women suffering from domestic violence.
 |
| Helen, Marie and Me (from left to right). |
This is how it happened at the Leading Lady Conference. I hope you learned a thing or two from this post. Thanks for reading and please leave your thoughts in a comment. Do share this post with other women and men who need to learn how to lead intentionally.
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