Online Reporter
Hunt For Greatness
Milton Kamwendo
THE future cannot be left to chance.
Any organisation that is not cultivating the next generation of leadership is sowing seeds of failure.
The future lies in the hands of a prepared next generation.
Professor John Kenneth Galbraith, of Harvard University, once said: “Great leaders all have one characteristic in common: the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time.”
The next generation is anxious. It is looking for answers and builders. This call is urgent and cannot be ignored.
Building a strong foundation for this generation is a challenge and a call.
Intentionality, vision and a heart for mentorship are required.
Building the next generation is a commitment to shaping leaders, innovators and changemakers who will carry forward values, aspirations and legacies.
It is a commitment to think bigger. It is a challenge to be authentic and serious. Building the next generation allows us to preserve legacy and values.
Values are more than what we say, but what they see us do and who we are.
The values we instil in the next generation determine our trajectory. Passing on leadership qualities and character ensures continuity and growth.
Without deliberate investment, legacies fade away and the progress made by one generation is easily lost.
Building the next generation means equipping for future challenges.
The emerging challenges are complex and unprecedented. The future does not look like the past.
This should never be an excuse for ignoring the call to build the next generation, equipping it with attitude, skills and knowledge.
We have to build the next generation’s capabilities for critical thinking, innovation, adaptability and emotional intelligence to navigate and thrive in these changing times.
Tomorrow’s leaders need to be competent and purpose-driven. Building the next generation involves nurturing individuals who lead with vision, compassion and a sense of responsibility for the greater good.
Next generation leaders need to have minds and hands that work, as well as hearts that care.
They need feet that are willing to walk the long journey of translating vision into reality.
Building the next generation is principled work that requires intentionality and resources.
The right kind of education is the cornerstone of building the next generation.
Academic achievement is a good foundation, and lifelong learning is a piston that drives progress.
Eric Hoffer, a renowned philosopher and social thinker, profoundly reflected on learning. He once said: “In times of change, learners inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.”
Building the next generation means creating opportunities for formal and informal learning, and exposure to diverse ideas and experiences.
We have to encourage inquiry and inspire the pursuit of industry and excellence.
Actions speak louder than words.
The next generation learns more from observing our behaviour than from what we tell them. The child watches what the elders do, mimics them and learns.
Bear in mind all the time that the next generation is always watching.
When we choose to lead, we use the right to pause being watched.
Modelling integrity, humility and authenticity in our personal and professional lives inspires greatness.
Mentorship bridges the gap between generations. It provides the younger generation with guidance, encouragement and access to wisdom that comes from experience.
Encourage seasoned individuals to mentor the youth, sharing knowledge, while empowering them to make independent decisions.
Lived experiences and stories are special treasures of inspiration. Authenticity is a powerful transmitter of wisdom.
From our setbacks, we can teach that failure is never final. From our failures, we can teach wisdom and perseverance.
No experiences of one generation should be wasted by not being synthesised into wisdom.
Building the next generation is worthwhile and challenging work. Choose to inspire the next generation.
Share your stories
Stories of resilience and triumph inspire hope and courage.
Share experiences of your journey, struggles and victories with the next generation to motivate them to persevere through their own challenges.
Nurture faith and spirituality.
Faith provides a moral compass and a source of strength.
Encourage the next generation to develop their spirituality, grounding their values and decisions in a higher purpose.
Teach the youth to live lives that matter and that life is more than accumulation.
Celebrate, validate and affirm the next generation.
Recognise and celebrate the accomplishments of young people, no matter how small.
Affirmation builds confidence and motivates them to pursue greater goals.
The efforts invested in building the next generation are creating a legacy of hope, progress and transformation.
A well-equipped generation carries forward the dreams and aspirations of those who came before, while innovating and carving new paths for those who come after.
The life of a nation is always much longer than the shadow of any single individual.
Building the next generation is an act of faith — faith in their potential, in the power of mentorship and in the vision of a better future.
It is a calling to see beyond the present, to nurture seeds that will grow into mighty trees that provide shelter, nourishment, greatness and inspiration for years to come.
The work starts today, building brick by brick.
Committed to your greatness.
Milton Kamwendo is a leading international transformational and motivational speaker, author and accomplished workshop facilitator. He is a cutting-edge strategy, team-building and organisation development facilitator and consultant. He can be reached at: mkamwendo@gmail.com
