Many are qualified technically and otherwise, but lack both the adaptability and confidence for the new call: What we may tag "applied professionalism" or "applied competency". Then there is the issue of style, class and carriage: What we call "finesse". This is the most telling of their known deficiencies. It manifests in personal interactions and at public presentations. It is not about speeches but about language, it is not about questions but about enquiry, it is not about control but content. We have otherwise good people who perform below par, for this reason.
Then the spouses: thoroughly left behind when their husbands or (less so) wives were climbing up the ladder, or positioning to be picked. As first or second or third ladies, our obsession with office and status has placed/plunged many unprepared/ill-prepared spouses into limelight. Many cannot even read prepared texts! You can then imagine how they may perform other intellectually-challenging and resource-consuming tasks. Disaster. Yet, not entirely their doing.
What to do? That is the point of this Position Paper. Unlike the limited crash programmes our
folks embark on, I thought we should have a home-grown package of Capacity Building in this regard. This concept is borne out of my own experiences over TWO decades of involvement. I have viewed, reviewed and helped to revamp friends, colleagues, and clients successfully over this period. I hope this concept will help even more people.
PREAMBLE
Africa is unique. Believe it. And please act it. Public office or high position is not compositely prepared or planned for. That is not surprising, it is just a subset of our general tardiness in national development and international interaction. It is why even at the African Union level there is less harmony than expected. Dialogue, debate, dissent and negotiation can do with "Social Graces" which many are yet to acquire. To be a smooth operator, even in hostility, needs class, courage, integrity, finesse and hospitality NOT hiding behind officialdom or vain diplomatic inanities. People see through you from a million miles! If you be refined, they'll respect even in dissent.
My African FINISHING School Concept is like the popular saying "what they don't teach you at Business School" or a more robust "university of real life". You must be real, solid and flexible (i.e. pragmatic). You must be smart but wise. You must be African. Not European, not Asian, not American.
When you get elevated, get educated! That is the basic motto. As you read the official files, tread the civilized lines. Get your spouse up to speed. And the time is short. Very short.
While employers should help you adjust, you must develop yourself. As you go, drag your spouse (and household, especially grown-ups) along. Avoid embarrassment and double shame! Finally, remember that your now performance is key to public acceptance and future elevation. So, learn and master Social Graces. Getting the finishing touches is like icing on the cake. And this one is with our rich African Flavour.
GOALS and OBJECTIVES
1. To equip and polish office holders and their spouses for the challenges, etiquette and style of higher office/special posts
2. To expose them to the "Gems of African Renaissance" to support their success
3. To help them in Productive & Selective Networking
4. To groom "Family & Household Members" on their appropriate roles/duties
5. To entrench the African Flavour in "Social Graces"
6. To develop, produce and provide high quality publications and multimedia materials
7. To support national, regional and continental bodies/authorities
8. To help civil society operators through Leadership Packages/Programmes
MODE/FORMAT
A. Special Clinics
B. Workshops
C. Modular/ Sandwich Training
D. Intensive Immersion Tutorials
E. Executive Retreats
F. Household Plan
G. NGO Class
DURATION
Depending on status and assessment, training will vary as case and class vary. It could range from one to twelve weeks, and one to six months.
CONTENTS
* Etiquette
* Speeches & Languages
* Presentations
* Communication
* Negotiation
* Diplomacy & Security
* Afro-Gems
* Style
* Fashion & Foods
* Global Thematics
* Post Needs & Office Challenges
* Service Delivery & Due Process
* Managing Meetings
* Media Matters
* Corruption Challenge
* Personal Development
* Legacy Matrix
* Biographical Journal
* ICT for Social Graces
It is such a pleasure when one encounters a well-groomed, well-prepared and polished office holder. When we go on international assignments or to global fora, nothing is more depressing than seeing our compatriots lose it all because of wrong language, style or temperament. It hurts. Political Parties must take this seriously, since the public sector still plays a dominant role in African Affairs.
PARTNERS WELCOMED
I am looking forward to possible partners in this endeavour. We need to widen the intervention. Reach me at victoronoviran@yahoo.com or veonoviran@gmail.com. Who knows!
