Maternal model of leadership

By Samuel LARTEY (Prof.)

 Mothers, without formal training or incentives, instinctively understand the needs of their children, guiding them with care, patience, and foresight. These qualities includes empathy, resilience, and adaptability are not only vital for raising a family but also provide valuable lessons for leadership in personal, business, and political spheres.

This feature delves into how the principles of maternal leadership, rooted deeply in Ghanaian tradition, offer powerful insights for effective leadership. Much like a mother who nurtures each child’s unique needs, leaders must remain attentive to their followers, whether they are employees, customers, or citizens.

When their needs are neglected, others, including competitors, will be quick to step in and fill the void. By embracing the maternal model of leadership, by being attentive, compassionate, and adaptable leaders in Ghana’s national economy can foster loyalty, trust, and sustainable success.

In examining this leadership style, we explore how these qualities translate into business and governance, illustrating why neglecting key stakeholders is not only detrimental but opens the door for competitors eager to seize opportunities left behind.

Empathy and Individualized Care

In Ghanaian households, mothers stand as pillars of strength, wisdom, and nurturing. They inherently understand that each child is different, requiring distinct forms of support, discipline, and encouragement to thrive.

This ability to provide individualized care is not just essential for raising children but is also a critical lesson for leadership. Just as mothers tailor their care to meet the unique needs of each child, effective leaders must learn to adapt their leadership style to the specific requirements of those they lead.

This principle of empathy and personalized care holds relevance in personal leadership. A recent World Bank survey revealed that Ghanaian SMEs that adopted individualized leadership approaches experienced a 12% increase in employee satisfaction and a 10% rise in productivity.

This data underscores the importance of understanding the diverse needs of individuals within any team or organization. In personal growth, the ability to adapt to the strengths and weaknesses of those you mentor or manage is vital for fostering development and success. Just as a mother instinctively knows which child needs encouragement and which one requires discipline, personal leaders must be attuned to the dynamics of their team, offering guidance with empathy, insight, and care.

The Balance of Discipline and Encouragement

In the bustling marketplaces of Accra, Kumasi, and beyond, the essence of maternal leadership is evident in the way businesses are managed. Many Ghanaian business owners, particularly women, have honed the art of balancing discipline with encouragement, a key to their success. Just as a mother intuitively knows when to be firm with her children and when to offer praise, effective business leaders understand when to push their teams toward higher performance and when to provide support and motivation.

According to the Ghana Statistical Service, 44.4% of businesses in Ghana are owned by women, many of whom draw on their maternal instincts to run their enterprises. These women recognize that too much discipline can suppress creativity, while too little can lead to complacency. Striking the right balance fosters an environment where employees feel both challenged and supported, enhancing productivity and loyalty.

For example, MEST Africa, a business incubator based in Accra, has witnessed over 400% growth in the businesses it supports by cultivating a mentorship culture that mirrors the maternal approach of offering a blend of discipline and encouragement in equal measure.

This balanced approach creates not just thriving businesses, but sustainable, motivated teams that are equipped to excel in an ever-evolving marketplace.

Staying Close to the People

Just as a mother is intimately involved in her children’s lives, effective political leaders maintain a close relationship with the communities they serve. In a country where family and community values are paramount, leaders who distance themselves from their constituents’ risk losing touch with the very people they are meant to represent.

A powerful example of this approach is seen in the leadership of former President John Agyekum Kufuor, who was known for his accessibility and grassroots connections. His administration’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), launched in 2003, was a direct response to the healthcare needs of ordinary Ghanaians, particularly those in underserved communities.

Within its first five years, NHIS enrollment rates soared to over 40% of the population, demonstrating that when leaders stay close to the people and address their real needs, transformative social change can follow.

Similarly, the maternal instinct to listen and respond is reflected in the most successful political leaders. According to a 2021 Afrobarometer report, 57% of Ghanaians felt that their leaders were too distant from their constituents.

This disconnect reflects a failure to adopt the maternal leadership principle of being present and attentive. Just as mothers know that neglecting their children leads to disconnection, political leaders who ignore the needs of the people risk being replaced by those who are more in tune with the public’s concerns.

Maternal leadership, with its foundation in empathy, attentiveness, and responsiveness, serves as a model for political leadership in Ghana, showing that staying close to the people is essential for effective governance and lasting impact.

Ignoring Your Customers or Citizens: A Leadership Pitfall

One of the key lessons from maternal leadership is the danger of neglect. Just as a mother knows that failing to meet her child’s needs will lead to someone else stepping in, businesses and political leaders face similar risks when they ignore their customers or citizens. In Ghana’s competitive business landscape, companies that don’t listen to their customers often lose out to competitors.

For instance, MTN Ghana’s success, growing to 58% market share in 2023, was driven by its responsiveness to customer feedback. In politics, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) leveraged digital platforms to stay connected with voters during the 2020 elections, a strategy that contributed to their victory. Leaders who neglect their stakeholders risk being replaced by those who are more attentive.

Maternal Leadership in Ghana’s National Economy

The principles of maternal leadership extend naturally into the management of Ghana’s national economy. Just as mothers manage their households with limited resources, economic leaders must balance competing demands while ensuring long-term sustainability. Prudent economic management mirrors a mother’s budgeting efforts to ensure that every family member has enough to thrive.

Ghana’s push for economic self-sufficiency through initiatives like “One District, One Factory” (1D1F), launched in 2017, reflects this maternal principle of resourcefulness. Like how a mother ensures that each child’s needs are met, the 1D1F initiative equips each district with resources to foster local growth. By 2023, the program had facilitated the establishment of over 100 factories, creating jobs and invigorating local economies, much like a mother maximizes what she must ensure the well-being of her household.

Conclusion

The leadership qualities demonstrated by Ghanaian mothers including empathy, personalized care, balance, and attentiveness are essential for personal growth, business success, and political governance. Just as mothers nurture their children with a blend of love and discipline, leaders in all spheres must learn to balance encouragement with accountability, remain closely connected to those they serve, and tailor their approach to meet individual needs.

Maternal leadership is not merely a cultural tradition; it is a timeless and effective model for guiding families, businesses, and nations toward lasting success. In a country where family and community values are deeply embedded, leaders who embrace these principles will not only build stronger organizations and governments but also contribute to a more united and prosperous Ghana. Leadership is motherhood, and the lessons derived from this sacred role hold the key to the nation’s future success.

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