Rosita Najmi, a global development economist with diverse experience in corporations, governments, and nonprofits, explores the art of leadership communication. She emphasizes the need to understand various leadership languages instead of sticking to a single style. Najmi shares compelling anecdotes from her work in West Africa, illustrating how adaptability in communication fosters collaboration and drives success. She also addresses pressing issues like gender equality, climate change, and data, highlighting how effective leadership can unite diverse sectors.
Leadership style should be replaced with leadership language to effectively communicate and contribute across different sectors.
To address complex issues, leaders need to focus on data, climate, and power and collaborate across sectors.
Deep dives
The Importance of Leadership Language
Leadership style is not as useful as leadership language. Becoming conversant in the languages of different sectors allows leaders to communicate and contribute across various organizational realms. Multilingual leaders are successful in bridging the gap between the corporate world, nonprofit sphere, international development, and the public sector. The key is to adapt and personalize leadership based on the specific situation and people involved, rather than sticking to a default style. Being a multilingual leader involves speaking fluently with all groups and translating among them.
Focus on Data, Climate, and Power
To address complex issues like power imbalances and gender equality, leaders must focus on three key topics: data, climate, and power. These sectors measure impact differently and have distinct approaches and timelines. They must collaborate to reach desired outcomes. For example, public sector leaders can create equity through regulations and incentives, while businesses can design products that empower female customers and invest in diverse supply chains. Philanthropy and international development play a role in removing barriers and funding research. Multilingual leaders can harness the languages of these sectors to collaborate and find solutions to complex issues.
In a globe-trotting career that has spanned corporations, governments, nonprofits and philanthropy, Rosita Najmi has often found herself translating among them. Instead of focusing on leadership style, she makes the case for becoming fluent in the languages of leadership, explaining how it can help you adapt to audiences across industries and collectively achieve your goals.