Ellen Hagan

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BEST HR PRACTICES FOR SCHOOLS – transformational leadership for schools 740 1024 David Attricki

BEST HR PRACTICES FOR SCHOOLS – transformational leadership for schools

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, It is an honour to stand here today and speak to a group so invested in shaping the future of education in Ghana and beyond.  My thanks to the Digital Educational Group for hosting us today and bringing together such an inspiring group of school leaders, directors, and future school owners. We’re here because we understand one thing: a positive school culture isn’t just a “nice-to-have” – it’s the backbone of a thriving school community. As Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Education today must go beyond academic instruction; it should empower individuals to thrive in a rapidly changing world. This summit offers us a valuable platform to share ideas, strategies, and best practices that will enable us, as leaders, to nurture environments where students, teachers, and staff flourish

I would like to put all this in context. As you heard with my intro, I wear several hats, I have founded a company that has blazed the trail for 30 years, the first of its kind in Ghana which is arguably the leading hr company in Ghana and the only HR company in Ghana club hundred.  The irony is not lost on me that I still blunder my way though what works to be able to nurture a positive culture. 

When we co-founded Legacy Girls College, Ghana’s first all-girls private school, it wasn’t just to provide rigorous academics. We set out to create a place where young women could grow, feel empowered, and be part of something bigger than themselves. But this wasn’t something we could achieve alone. It required recruiting the right teachers and staff, building a culture that they would want to be part of, and setting up an environment that brought out the best in everyone.

Understanding Culture in Schools

Let’s start by defining what I mean by “positive school culture.” Culture in a school setting refers to the values, beliefs, attitudes, and norms that shape how things are done. It impacts how teachers and students feel about coming to school, how leaders make decisions, and how much commitment staff members are willing to invest in the mission and vision of the institution. When we speak about HR best practices, it’s essential to approach them as foundational building blocks of culture, rather than stand-alone policies.

Today, I’ll take you through the four pillars that should support a positive school culture –transformational leadership, recruitment, retention, and productivity – with examples from our experience at Legacy Girls and from other schools and organizations worldwide.

Transformational leadership in education

This requires us to lead with vision, inspire change, and empower individuals to unlock their potential. It goes beyond maintaining systems—it drives innovation and meaningful engagement at every level. Such leadership was exemplified by Finland’s education reforms. Finland shifted from a rigid, top-down model to a learner-centered approach where teachers were empowered to innovate. As a result, Finland’s education system now ranks among the best globally, reflecting the power of leadership focused on autonomy, collaboration, and continuous growth. This aligns with Peter Drucker’s insight: “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” I ask the question, how flexible are we in our teaching methodologies?

 At the heart of transformational leadership is the ability to create a shared vision—one that unites stakeholders and gives meaning to their efforts. When teachers, students, parents, and administrators co-create a vision for the school, they develop a sense of ownership and belonging. A compelling example is the Riverdale Country School in New York, where leadership focused on building character and emotional intelligence alongside academic rigor. Their efforts to engage students, teachers, and parents in shaping the school’s mission have led to a thriving community where emotional well-being and academic excellence go hand in hand.

As Stephen Covey said, “Leadership is communicating to people their worth and potential so clearly that they are inspired to see it in themselves.” Sadly despite similar models with the Parent-teacher networks, some parents are so sold on academic prowess, that they use euphemisms to justify unethical approaches to passing exams.  They will not pay their school fees, but will lure teachers with money to treat their children differently with extra tuition.  Of course the repercussions are that the teachers must justify the monies they collect from parents and through fair or foul means they either provide questions or encourage cheating.  As a result, we do not even know how well to trust some exams results so in Legacy, we trust our entrance and internal exams more than we do others as a means of selecting students into our school.

Transformational leadership also involves placing students at the center of the educational process. When students feel valued, heard, and involved, they engage more meaningfully in their learning journey. The Ashesi University in Ghana offers a powerful example of this principle in action. Ashesi’s founder envisioned a university that would not only educate students academically but also instill ethical leadership. Through programs that encourage student participation in governance and community service, Ashesi has cultivated graduates who are not only academically capable but also socially responsible. This echoes the belief of Aristotle: “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”

Recruitment: Finding Teachers Who Believe in Your Mission

Building a positive school culture starts with bringing in teachers and staff who don’t just see teaching as a job but as a calling. When I first started in HR, I learned a valuable lesson: you don’t just hire skills; you hire values. And that principle applies in schools as much as it does in any organization.

Recruitment Strategies with a Mission-Driven Focus

  • Branding Your School as a Community of Purpose and the School to be: At Legacy Girls, we’re not only looking for teachers who are strong in their subjects; we want educators who are passionate about developing young women into leaders. That’s why we highlight our mission across our platforms. We don’t just post about academic achievements; we share stories that reflect our values and vision. This has worked well for us as with admissions, the young girls are the ones who see our activities on Instagram and social media and inform their parents “we want to go to Legacy girls”.
  • Building Partnerships for Talent Pipelines: Great schools don’t just recruit; they cultivate talent. We partner with teacher training institutions across Ghana to create a pipeline of future educators. I’ve seen this approach work wonders, not only at Legacy but in many other schools around the world. These partnerships allow teacher trainees to experience our school culture firsthand, so when they join, they’re already aligned with our mission. We use the National Service Scheme as well as teaching assistants in Universities to our advantage in this regard.
  • Global Tools for Precision in Hiring: In today’s world, the power of data and technology can’t be ignored. Many schools, even in Ghana, are adopting AI-based hiring tools to screen candidates based on values alignment, teaching styles, and diversity. Imagine interviewing teachers who not only have the qualifications but also fit your school’s culture seamlessly.
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Retention: Keeping Your Teachers Invested and Inspired

Recruitment gets talent through the door, but retaining that talent is where the real work begins. From experience, I can tell you that salary alone isn’t the answer. People stay where they feel they belong – where they feel seen, valued, and heard.  Retention isn’t just a policy; it’s a culture.

Managing talent is a solution to retention and it should be approached with deliberation and planning, getting into the habit of re-recruiting employees and engaging them constantly in discussions as well as in training and development which will keep them productive, not only for the present, but for the future.  After all is said and done, the conclusion is that “retention of employees, especially those I describe as high flyers is a complex issue and there is no magic wand solution unquote (Barrett 2005:1)

In the 19th Century, according to Dibble (1999), the type of employment relationship in existence was the one which hinged on loyalty and entitlement.  Due to gradual changes in the world of work, it appears this type of employment relationship, even though still existing has by a large extent been taken over by what Dibble calls the new 21st Century employment relationship.  .  this new contract is based on an exchange. Have something that the other party wants and is willing to pay for.Herman indicates that the difference between one job and another may not be significant, but it might appear to be so, especially where the people are looking out for change in other aspects of their life. In our current situation in schools, it appears, poaching is the order of the day.  Even when people may not be looking to move, they will come and dangle a carrot in front of the teachers and take them away in THE MIDDLE OF THE TERM.  Why would owners and directors of schools who know the implications of such actions do that? 

I am a member of an association of schools and I posted this question on our platform and I kid you not …a platform that is so vibrant with literally postings and text messages every other minute was silent for, two whole days.  I had to repost my question and added the question – is there an elephant in the room before I got a call from our president and a subsequent reply on the platform chat which said in a nutshell we will have to have a code of conduct and that it is an important, though complicated issue.   So having given this background,  I will now attempt to answer how we can retain our staff.

Creating an Environment That Encourages Loyalty

Prioritizing Well-being and Balance: Workplaces  are demanding places. That’s why in L’AINE we introduced flexible and agile working methodologies for our staff.   At Legacy, we also provide mental health resources because we understand that teachers can’t pour from an empty cup. I’ve seen this strategy used in international schools as well, especially those that champion staff well-being as a part of their core mission. When staff know you care about their health and happiness, they stay loyal and committed.

  • Consistent Recognition and Appreciation: Retention is built on gratitude. We should make it a point to recognize teachers for their creativity and dedication. At Legacy ”more for more” was created to reward teachers whose students exhibit academic excellence in external exams and teachers awards night during speech days are organized where we highlight achievements of teachers, no matter how small.. This simple practice of appreciation creates a culture where teachers feel valued – and they’re more likely to stay because of it.
  • Personalized Career Development Paths and Mentorship: Every teacher at Legacy is unique, and we encourage them to pursue what they’re passionate about. We offer continuous training and assign mentors who help our new teachers navigate their roles. One of our teachers started as a shy newcomer, but through our mentorship program, she’s now leading one of the most popular clubs on campus, inspiring the next generation. This focus on growth makes teachers feel invested in, and they, in turn, invest back into our school.
  •  
  • Productivity: Empowering Teachers to Bring Their Best

Productivity in schools isn’t only about pushing teachers harder; it’s about empowering them to bring out their best. This means creating an environment where teachers feel empowered, engaged, and supported.

Strategies to Boost Productivity Through Empowerment

  • Collaborative Goal Setting: One of the most effective strategies we use at Legacy Girls is collaborative goal-setting sessions. Teachers are part of setting school-wide goals and classroom-specific objectives that tie into the school’s mission. A teacher once told me, “This isn’t just a job to me; it’s a partnership.” She saw her classroom goals aligning with our overall mission, and this connection fueled her commitment and productivity.
  • Leveraging Technology to Streamline Work: By using classroom management tools and assessment software, we’ve managed to reduce the paperwork load on our teachers. With less time spent on administrative tasks, our teachers can focus on creativity and quality teaching. Schools around the world, from Finland to Kenya, are embracing technology to improve teaching efficiency, and it’s an approach that works for us in Ghana, too.
  • Continuous, Constructive Feedback Over Annual Appraisals: Regular feedback is more effective than yearly evaluations. At Legacy, we’ve adopted a culture of continuous feedback, allowing teachers to make real-time improvements and grow. One teacher shared with me that these sessions help her feel “on track” and appreciated, instead of just waiting for the end-of-year review. This real-time support makes a tangible difference in teacher engagement and performance.
  • Providing Opportunities for Leadership: We encourage our teachers to take on leadership roles, even outside their classrooms. Some lead committees; others initiate student programs. These roles give them a sense of ownership over the school’s success. When teachers feel trusted with responsibilities, they rise to the occasion, contributing their best to the school community.

Closing and Key Takeaways

In closing, building a positive school culture is about bringing together people who believe in your mission, nurturing them, and creating an environment that lets them thrive. Remember these key takeaways:

  1. Recruit for Cultural Alignment: Attract teachers who connect with your school’s mission and values – not just the job.
  2. Retention is Built on Belonging: Show teachers they matter through wellness initiatives, appreciation, and mentorship.
  3. Empower for Productivity: Set meaningful goals, streamline administrative tasks, and give teachers autonomy and leadership.
  4. Transformational leadership in education also demands resilience and adaptability. As challenges arise—whether in the form of limited resources, policy changes, or resistance to innovation—leaders must remain steadfast and view these challenges as opportunities for growth. As John C. Maxwell put it, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”

As school leaders, we’re not just shaping academic paths; we’re building communities. When teachers are engaged and supported, our students benefit immensely. Let’s make our schools places where the best educators want to be, grow, and make an impact. Let us reflect on the legacy we wish to leave as educational leaders. Leadership is not about personal accolades but about the lives we impact and the communities we transform..

As we lead, let us commit to building cultures that reflect our highest aspirations—cultures that encourage learning, nurture potential, and create lasting change.

I encourage each of you to take the insights from this summit and apply them boldly in your schools. Lead with vision, empathy, and purpose. Empower your teachers, engage your students, and foster meaningful relationships within your school community. Together, we can create schools that are not only centers of learning but also places of inspiration and transformation.

Thank you, and I wish you a fruitful and inspiring summit.  

SCHOOLS SUMMIT FLYER

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION 1024 576 David Attricki

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

Introduction

Communication is the essence of life. It is necessary. Communication is part and parcel of our daily interactions with people. Without that mankind would be better off living in isolation. Without communication treaties and relationships would not have been made between countries, people, communities and ethnicities. Ideas would be difficult to generate because without the existence of communication, how would you tell your ideas to others. Desires and feelings would be hard to express.

What is Communication?

Communication can be defined as how we give and receive information and convey our ideas and opinions with people around us. Communication is a two-way street; It involves both how we send and receive messages.

One important point to note is that communication varies. For instance, communicating ideas in the world of work is different from communicating in an academic setting. In a classroom setting, the teacher usually leads the group discussions, and the students respond or ask questions when directed to do so. In the work environment, your supervisors may ask you for your opinion.

Communication can be categorized into several aspects these are:

  • Verbal communication
  • Non-verbal communication
  • Aural
  • Written and visual communication
  • Verbal communication: it is defined as the use of sounds and words to express yourself this is in contrast in using hand gestures to communicate.
  • Non-verbal communication: this is defined as the use of facial expressions, hand gestures, body positions in communicating this is done in absence of words and sounds. This could be linked to body language.
  • Aural communication: this involves the transmission of information through the auditory sensory system. (The system of speaking and hearing). It usually encompasses both verbal communication and paralinguistic communication to convey meaning.
  • Written and visual communication: it is the process of conveying messages through the use of words. To further explain, any message that is exchanged between two or more people through the use of written words is defined as a written communication.

The importance of effective communication

To an employer, good communication skills are essential, employers rank good communication skills at the top of the list of potential employees. Ideas and message are relayed across to each other without the occurrence of miscommunication.

When can communication be described as “effective”?

Effective communication is about more than just exchanging communication. It is about understanding the emotions and intentions behind the information. It is also about being able to clearly convey the message.

When is Communication ineffective?

Ineffective communication can be defined as the attempt to communicate something to others but it is perceived differently than what you intended. All too often, when we try to communicate with others, something goes astray. We say one thing and the other person hears something else and misunderstanding, frustration and conflict ensue. Effects of this can cause problems in home, school and the work environment

What is stopping you from communicating effectively?

Stress and out of control emotion:

When you are stressed or emotionally overwhelmed, you are more likely to misread other people, send confusing or off-putting nonverbal signals, and lapse into unhealthy knee-jerk patterns of behaviour. To avoid conflict and misunderstandings, you can learn how to quickly calm down before continuing a conversation.

Lack of focus:

You can’t communicate effectively when you are multitasking. If you are checking your email or planning what you are going to say next or daydreaming. You are likely not going to understand what the person is saying to you. You need to avoid distractions and be focused.

Inconsistent body language:

Nonverbal communication should reinforce what is being said and not contradict it. If you say one thing, but your body language says something else, your listener will feel that you are being dishonest. An example is saying yes whilst you are shaking your head no.

Tips in mastering the art of effective communication

  • Engaged listening: always listen carefully to what others have to say. Effective communication is more of less talking and more listening. We listen for many different reasons: to understand instructions, to empathize with another individual, or to judge whether a plan is good or not.
  • Ask questions: for communication to be effective, if one has difficulty in understanding what the other person has said. The best solution is to ask questions.
  • Avoid interrupting other people especially when they are speaking. Respect them by letting them finish saying what they are saying.
  • Nonverbal communication: e.g. maintaining eye contact to the person you are speaking to.
  • Asserting yourself in a respectful way: being assertive means expressing thoughts and feelings and needs in an open and honest way, while standing up for yourself and respecting others.
  • Communicate clearly: for communication to be effective, make sure everything you say is understood. Be confident in saying what you need to say but be tactful. It is significant to avoid giving vague and ambiguous messages.

Conclusion

With communication, ideas and opinions would be understood amongst ourselves. Misunderstandings and confusion would then cease to become an issue in the work environment, the home and our society as a whole.

DEMYSTIFYING WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND FEMINISM: WOMEN’S ENGAGEMENT IN NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. SPEECH DELIVERED BY DR. MRS. HAGAN AT THE NATIONAL WOMEN ACTION CONFERENCE – IDEA FACTOR 1024 683 David Attricki

DEMYSTIFYING WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND FEMINISM: WOMEN’S ENGAGEMENT IN NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. SPEECH DELIVERED BY DR. MRS. HAGAN AT THE NATIONAL WOMEN ACTION CONFERENCE – IDEA FACTOR

Good afternoon, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to speak to you this morning on a topic that is dear to my heart.

Because I am one that tends to see a glass as half full rather than half empty, I do believe in the social, economic, and political equality of the sexes. That is Feminism! I strongly believe so even though it is still very much a man’s world.

My conviction is that empowering women is the process through which we can make this belief a reality.  Afterall, what is the point in one woman being empowered when millions are not?

I will want us to accept that our progress to this ideal is hindered by our own sense of self worth.  We women must accept that we have been stereotyped and stop accepting to be in these boxes society has put us in. Sadly, we do not even realize it that we have to do the work ourselves and shift our mindset.  The first step, though is accepting that we need to change our mindset.  A few days ago, I was part of a panel discussion of a women’s group of very talented professional women in a male dominated profession and the female president in a bid to explain why we should not compare ourselves to others said and I quote “if your husband has not yet to bought a car for you and your friend’s husband has done so, don’t compare….” I broke protocol and interrupted the President and asked “why can’t she buy a car for herself or even for her husband and must wait for her husband to do so” … This, coming from a highly accomplished woman leader says it all. Someone who probably bought her OWN car and other things for herself and others.   What then can we expect from someone less educated, less accomplished?

We have a lot of work to do.  We must make use of our most important resource as women, time.  We will attend all functions – Let’s take a quick look at the schedule of a typical woman for a Saturday – Outdooring at 7.30 a.m – dress code white – after the outdooring, we must make an appearance at a funeral – dress code is black, so we dart into a washroom available and change into black ..after the funeral I must absolutely show my face at a friend’s wedding so the colour code is green so there I pop into another washroom nearby and change and make an appearance…. The list goes on.

We do not have time to exercise, we do not have time for preventive medicine and do our periodic check ups, as a result, diseases that could be prevented, we are getting and dying and leaving our children in distress… because we women are the fulcrum of our families.  What hurts me is a disease like cervical cancer takes 15 to 20 years for cervical cancer to develop in women with normal immune systems. It can take only 5 to 10 years in women with weakened immune systems, and yet how many of us take time off to have our pap smear.

So how do we empower our women?

  • education: education, education, advocacy, affirmative action…
  • WE MUST BE EXCELLENT AND EXPERTS IN OUR LINE OF WORK SO WE ARE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. MEDIOCRITY IS NOT AN OPTION
  • WE should dress decently.
  • when you are in positions of influence, put policies in place to help fresh mothers, as an HR practitioner I believe a lot could be done in the world of work if we were more intentional about making women more hungry – hungry for leadership positions, with the current situation, we leave the men to decide on policies for our welfare and they get it wrong as they do not know how it is like to be a woman and they wont ask us, because they think they know.
  • We should be intentional about increasing women participation in national and community development.
  • Mentor a girl close to home or at work.
  • Tell the women in your life that you care be kind to one another and speaks words of affirmation to the young girls
  • We are the ones who train the boy child. Teach them to be feminists!!
  • If you choose to get married, choose the right man. Do not be pressured into marrying just anybody because of the ticking of the biological clock

To conclude, as women, we should not let ourselves be defined by the restrictions that are placed on us but we should find ways to be the movers of the changes we want to see in the way women in our society are treated.  Thank you.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP
CEO SERIES ENTREPRENEURSHIP – PRESENTATION BY DR. MRS. HAGAN AT TESANO BAPTIST CHURCH ON 20th August 2019. 1024 683 David Attricki

CEO SERIES ENTREPRENEURSHIP – PRESENTATION BY DR. MRS. HAGAN AT TESANO BAPTIST CHURCH ON 20th August 2019.

THE DIFFERENT HATS WE WEAR

  • Work – Career woman
  • Home – Mother, Wife, Care giver
  • Church – Chorister, Usher, Bible groups
  • Schools – PTA Member.
  • Activities: Parties, Weddings, Funerals
  • Homework, BOARD MEETINGS ETC

SO HOW DO WE BALANCE?

  • Balance means differently to different people – you must know what balance means to YOU
  • How do we use the all-important resource – time?
  • Listing goes a long way
  • Be selective
  • Find time for yourself
  • It is not about you?

ONE IMPORTANT RESOURCE – TIME

  • How well do you use this? People attend 4 functions, change…Funerals? 24hours? Anyway, to get round this?
  • How punctual are you? Remember Benjamin Franklin
  • You are not a superwoman…Ask for help! You can do everything but not ALL at the same time
  • Learn to say NO!

WHERE DO WE START FROM?

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

FOR THE 21ST CENTURY CHRISTIAN

What is happening in the 21st Century?

  • Technological Advancement
  • Man building a scientific laboratory in space—ISS-International space station orbiting the Earth 16 times daily for the past 15years at unimaginable speed of 27,600km\h in space. Voyager 1 travelling for the past   36 years (1977) to intercellular (out of our solar system into star galaxy system) and covering over 6 billion km in space is dumfounding.
  • Mars rovers sending incredible pictures to the earth and
  • Man planning to colonize another planet sounds weird

 

WONDER OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook, twitter, Instagram, newsletters, sandbox, WhatsApp, blackberry networks, YouTube, and limitless Apps! All these just on your phone

HOW ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES?

  • Computer Advancements – from remotest part of Paga, uncountable sermons can be accessed online, downloaded, watched on YouTube, podcast, mp4, Mp3 audio etc.  What an amazing century!
  • Quick and easy Travel to places all over the world
  • Skype -Video calling from across the world

LIMITLESS OPPORTUNITIES … BUT

  • As a 21st century Christian, the path to heaven remains the same!
  • The focal point and driving force of a Christian’s personal development should be to transport him\her from earth to Heaven!
  • In this 21st century, you are challenged by the environment and exploits in the world to develop self in order to be able to influence

As a 21st Century Christian

  • We develop ourselves to fulfill a purpose; to accomplish what God put us on the earth for.
  • Don’t just go through the motions of life, know who you are and why you are here so you can develop in the right direction.

KNOWING YOUR PURPOSE

If you don’t know where you’re going any road will get you there!

  • What do I really want to achieve in life?
  • What kind of person do I want to be?
  • Where do I see myself in the next couple of years?
  • How do I plan to get there?

2 important days in our lives

  • The day we’re born
  • The day we discover why we’re born
  • The tragedy is: a lot of us are living and dead who do not discover the second day.

WHAT IS EXCELLENCE?

  • The quality of being outstanding or extremely good.
  • It is a mentality and a way of life.
  • Excellence is a first-class mentality in which one believes that he or she has the opportunity to achieve greatness in life. It is an everyday way of life in which the individual strives for the best in everything that he or she does.
  • The size of your dreams must always exceed your current capacity to achieve them. If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia.

QUOTES ON EXCELLENCE

  • The secret of fulfillment is excellence…… to do something well is to enjoy it! Ellen Hagan.
  • “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.”  Martin Luther King Jr.

MY STORY – THE EARLY DAYS

  • At some point I became dissatisfied with my “international” job – I got hungry
  • I liked teaching, I liked talking so. The rest is history…good to be passionate about what you do
  • Scancom tried to poach me from my own business/company
  • Doing crazy things: Getting resources, I found out that second hand car buyers are really rich.
  • Bought my first car – brand new – cheapest in the market
  • The woes of an entrepreneur
  • Getting a good team together is a nightmare
  • Renting office space is even more of a nightmare
  • Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity (L’AINE buildings)

Kingdom Mindset

A Kingdom Mindset is being mindful of God’s business here on earth and acknowledging one’s strategic role in championing it.

A Kingdom Mindset;

    1. Is a fixed mental attitude or disposition;
    2. It is ruled by God, i.e., governed by His perspective, will, purposes, plans and desires;
    3. It predetermines or decides in advance a person’s responses to and interpretations of situations.

HOW CAN THIS BE ACHIEVED?

  • Doing business with integrity
  • Treating people with respect
  • Rewarding faithful team members
  • Encouraging shared learning
  • Developing talents.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS LATER??

  • HR Focus Africa Magazine
  • HR Focus Universe
  • Focus Digital
  • HR Consultancy
  • 28 awards in two years?
  • Giving back, talks, bridging the gap between academia and industry, how to find their dream. Etc

Different Hats

  • Chairman, L’AINE Foundation
  • Co-founder, Legacy Girls’ College
  • Member, University of Ghana Business School Board
  • Delegation Member, ILO Conferences
  • Book Author and Article Publisher
  • Marriage Counsellor

            (Among others)

Blazing the Trail

  • JONAH, AND THE WHALE
  • STEVE JOBS – IPAD
  • MANAGEMENT TRAINING VIDEOS
  • THE ONLY HR MAGAZINE IN GHANA – HR FOCUS

IT’S ALL ABOUT GOD

  • Solomon tried everything and yet did not find fulfillment:

Learning, Pleasure, Great accomplishments, hard work and financial reward (“A successful career”), Popularity and Fame, Wealth, Family, Anticipation of the Future.

The conclusion of the whole matter, which is really quite simple:

Fear God and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

What is Personal Development?

Process of improving awareness and identity, developing talent and potential, building human capital and employability to enhance quality of life and realize your dreams.

Personal Development

  • Why? – To keep yourself updated and continuously growing in our fast-paced world.
  • Planning, preparation and dedication
  • Know what you want and go for it

DOING BUSINESS

  • I have realized that L’ AINE Services is a ministry, my auction is in the market place, not the temple.
  • 1 borrow Dr. Myles Munroe’s words when I say Christ gave the Church some gifts and functions – to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to train the saints for the work of their ministry.
  • That word “ministry” means to exercise their gifts.
  • So, the goal of all leadership is to help people under your care to first discover their purpose and then help them develop the character and skill to execute that assignment.
  • Purpose is the discovery of your reason for existing … without purpose, life is an experiment.
  • In my desire to see the youth function properly, both in the workplace and in the community at large, I provide career counselling and mentoring sessions for them.
  • I believe not all of us need to look for jobs, so to encourage people to create jobs for others; I put together the L’ AINE Foundation, which sponsors individuals to begin their own business.
  • My passion also extends to empowering girls from high school and in view of this, I have co-founded Legacy Girls Leadership School, a secondary institution which aims at nurturing and guiding the leadership potential in girls.

LEADERSHIP & ETHICS

Only One Leader Can Make a Difference

  • Ethical Leadership is leading by knowing and doing what is right. The problem with ethical leadership is that it is difficult to define “right”. Ethical leadership is divided into two parts. The leader must act and make decisions ethically, and second, the leader must also lead ethically in their attitudes and interactions.

What is condoned by society?

  • Survival of the fittest
  • Issue of petrol coupons
  • Over payment of salaries
  • Relationships… “understanding”
  • Do we do the right thing even when no one is looking

It Takes Effort & Courage

  • Competitiveness, ambition and innovation will always be important to success but they must be regulated by core ethical principles
  • You have to make that decision: “Mawe ataa so”

Creating Right Ethical Values

What do you stand for because if you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything in business.

  • WESLEY GIRLS – Ewurabena re texting
  • L’AINE – USP
  • ASHESI – Honour code

Example

Your office provides you with an opportunity to buy yourself lunch and the money is significant, 100gh a day.  All you need to do is submit a receipt to support your lunch.  You are happy with roasted plantain and groundnuts and therefore make arrangement for receipts from a caterer friend so you can use the money meant for your own lunch in a “better”, cost effective way.  After all you don’t need a 100ghc lunch.

Remember

  • It pays to be hungry
  • Be passionate about what you do
  • Excellence is everything
  • Running your own business is tough, one nightmare after another
  • It is also the ultimate

“TOMA”

  • (top of mind awareness) Ask questions at meetings and make contributions (simply means .. Be prepared… do appropriate research, etc)
  • As leaders, gain confidence, increase effectiveness and make a positive impression each time you speak.
  • When you attend lunches and dinners, don’t “overfill” your plate. Better to go for seconds that having an overflowing plate. Learn the skills of fine dining
  • Choose what to eat – be careful about macaroni
  • control your consumption
  • Control your conversation

Market your personality

  • Personal branding is basically selling someone your personality. You need to think hard about HOW you act. You should have a clearly identifiable personality so that people can easily feel like they know you personally, even if they’ve never met you. Your style of delivery should be as unique as any other aspect of your personal brand.
  • learn strategies for tasteful self-promotion; and gain the insights that will enable you acquire the polish of accomplished world-class professional

Mediocrity is not an option

  • Set hard standards for yourself in everything you do.
  • Sharpen yourself – Be knowledgeable about current affairs.
  • Push beyond your limits – when you think you have outdone yourself, go a little bit further.
  • Seek high education

Become the best. You could ever be

  • You need to create the perception that you are very good at what you do.
    • Continue learning and updating your knowledge, especially if your expertise is based around the online world. If you were an ‘expert’ two years ago but have since stopped learning and challenging yourself, you’re not an expert anymore.
    • Become “Extra from ordinary” … it means sleeping less hours than others would, work hard

Personal Development

  • Before 20: Be a good student, make enough mistakes as you grow. Dust yourself off when you fall and try again.
  • 30 – 40: Think clearly about working for yourself, if you really want to be an entrepreneur.
  • 40-50: Do all the things you are good at. Focus on your strengths, because at this age it is too late to try out new areas.
  • 50 – 60: Work for the young ones. They are doing better than you so rely on them, invest in them.
  • 60+: Spend time on yourself. Go to the beach, travel, enjoy life.
  • Remember: Mistakes are inevitable. Forget about regrets and enjoy the ride!