News
Lead Without Title (2)
The greatest challenge facing many organizations globally today is leadership. Nine out of ten Chief Executive Officers of small, medium and big corporations view people as their number one critical success factor. Meanwhile, six out of ten employees end up not having the skills or attitude or attributes they claimed to possess at the interview or stated on their beautifully and professionally crafted curriculum vitae.
Lead without title, is a new management concept recently popularized by Robin Sharma, one of the world’s top success and management coaches- to draw the attention of business executives to the inherent dangers in leading with title both for the organization as well as its people.
Principles of Leading without Title:
Lead without title as a management concept focuses on grooming every employee to have a leadership and ownership mentality regardless of such employee’s position in an organization. The question is: how do we make a cleaner or a security guard in Zenith bank, for instance, to have the same mentality like Jim Ovia, the CEO? The success of any organization depends not on its gross staff strength but on how many leaders it has among its employees. Like the slogan we used to paste on the staff notice board of Nigerian Bottling Company some years back says: ‘take this business as your own and 100% of your decision will be the right ones’. The concept of leading without title aims at making employees to have a new mind-set that leadership has little to do with the title on the business card or the size of an office or the rank of an officer. Furthermore, leadership is not about how much money an individual makes or the naira worth of clothes he wears. Neither is leadership about an individual’s family status. Leadership is a way of life, a philosophy or principle; an attitude and a state of mind. According to Robert Joss, dean of Stanford Graduate School of business: ‘’ by leadership I mean taking complete responsibility for an organization’s well-being and growth, and changing it for the better. Real leadership is not about prestige, power, or status. It is about responsibility’’. Leadership in an organization talks about who gets the problem solved fastest and at the least cost, who fixes it before it breaks, who has banana for the monkeys, who has the staying power, who has the strength of character and discipline, who has the persistence, who sees the big picture all the time and live it…Leading without title entails, a paradigm shift; it is a win-win situation for the organization and its people, the goal for all staff from the Chief Executive Officer to the cleaner is one but the responsibility may differ. Lead without title de-emphasizes ‘big-man syndrome’ in an organization.
Against the backdrop of the foregoing, if there is, therefore, any issue that should occupy the attention of CEOs today, more than any other management challenges, it is how to inculcate the concept of leading without title into the DNAs of our respective organizations. A cursory look at the performances of most of the multinationals companies in Nigeria when the indigenous CEOs took over in the 1980s will reveal a sad scenario of win-lose situation in some organizations. And the winners that emerged in the affected companies are the CEOs and the management staff. The big losers are the organizations they presided over as all the key business indicators of most of these organizations took a fast lane southward, while the respective bank accounts of individuals who managed these organizations swell.
Why Companies should de-emphasis Titles:
It is critical and urgent not only for individuals to lead without titles. But it is equally important for organizations in Nigeria to imbibe the new management concept of leading without titles .Of late, especially since the consolidation exercise of banks and insurance companies, the penchant for companies to parade their ‘ titles’ has gone to a dangerous level. Awards that have no meaning or bearing to the business are being sought by several organization from doubtful and obscure corners with a view to looking good. Even, some organization gave themselves awards! But the truth is, the companies that win at the end of the day the biggest share of the mind of consumers will be determined by the consumers based on only three variables: value for money (VFM), fit for purpose (FFP) and speed of delivery (SOD).Title has no place in the winning game! Why then this unbridled quest for titles? What lessons can we learn from the failure of organizations which had led with titles in the past? Can an herbalist anoint a pastor? – If no, why then should a bank seek legitimacy from those who know next to nothing about banking? Organizations need to be careful because many have gone the way of Daewoo company- in the process of leading with title. Not too long ago in Lagos, almost all the management staff of a big multinational were sent parking when the Board found out that the Management team had inflated the revenue and profit of the said company by unbelievable figures just to look good. It will be recalled that this same company and its leadership had been declared as the ‘’best’ in almost every key business indicators shortly before the bubble burst.
Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced plans to introduce Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) baggage tracking technology across domestic and international airport terminals to tackle the growing problem of delayed, misrouted and missing luggages
Michael Achimugu, director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NCAA, disclosed this at a stakeholder engagement forum in Lagos.
Achimugu said the RFID-enabled system would replace the traditional barcode-based baggage tracking framework and provide airlines and passengers with real-time visibility of checked luggage from check-in to final collection.
According to him, the technology would improve baggage traceability, reduce mishandling and strengthen accountability across the baggage-handling chain.
Unlike conventional barcode systems, RFID technology allows baggage to be automatically scanned at multiple points without requiring direct line of sight, enabling real-time tracking of luggage throughout its journey.
Achimugu said issues involving short-landed, missing, lost or damaged baggage had remained among the major complaints from air travellers, alongside flight delays.
He said the introduction of RFID technology was therefore aimed at improving baggage-handling standards and restoring passenger confidence in the aviation sector.
The NCAA said the initiative also aligns with IATA Resolution 753, which requires airlines to track baggage at key points during the passenger journey.
The authority expects the technology to provide more accurate information on the location of luggage, facilitate quicker resolution of baggage-related complaints and improve the overall passenger experience.
The NCAA said the initiative would also strengthen accountability among airlines and other stakeholders involved in baggage handling at Nigerian airports.
eTranzact International Plc has called for increased adoption of digital payment solutions among micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), saying access to technology is critical to improving business efficiency, financial inclusion and growth.
The company also said it was deepening its partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to expand digital access and financial literacy among small businesses across the country.
In a statement, the Divisional Head, Merchant Services, eTranzact, Mrs. Abimbola Reis, stated this at the SMEDAN/eTranzact Town Hall Engagement in Lagos recently, themed, “Financial Literacy and Inclusion for MSMEs Leveraging on Fintech Innovation.”
Reis described MSMEs as the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, noting that the sector comprises almost 40 million businesses and contributes significantly to economic growth and job creation.
However, she said many businesses continue to face challenges including limited access to finance, inefficient payment systems, weak financial reporting, cash-flow constraints and inadequate access to digital platforms.
She added that trust concerns also affect businesses’ ability to access finance, while heavy reliance on cash increases exposure to theft and makes payment reconciliation more difficult.
Representing the Director-General of SMEDAN, Prof. Yinka Fisher said the town hall was aimed at generating practical ideas and solutions that would support the growth and expansion of MSMEs.
“The essence of this engagement is to share ideas and concepts that will help MSMEs thrive and expand. Our partnership with eTranzact is about expanding the frontiers of MSMEs and ensuring they continue to grow,” he said.
Also speaking, representative of the Director-General of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dr. Praise Adedigba said businesses could no longer depend solely on hard work to remain competitive.
As the world marks International Youth Day, attention once again turns to the opportunities and challenges facing young people as they prepare for work, financial independence, and adulthood.
In Nigeria, the urgency is clear. According to UNICEF, about 7% of young people aged 15–24 possess basic ICT skills, highlighting a wider gap in the skills required to participate effectively in an increasingly digital economy.
At the same time, the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, continues to prioritize skills development, job creation, entrepreneurship and social inclusion.
For PalmPay, youth empowerment goes beyond corporate social responsibility. It is an investment in the people who will shape Nigeria’s workforce, businesses and economy.
This belief is reflected in initiatives focused on financial literacy, employability, digital skills and access to opportunities.
Through its Graduate Trainee Programme, PalmPay provides young graduates with opportunities to gain workplace experience, develop professional skills and build careers in a fast-evolving industry.
The investment also extends to financial education. Through its NYSC Financial Literacy Programme, PalmPay brings practical financial education to young Nigerians at an important transition point, helping Corps members develop better habits around saving, spending, budgeting and protecting their money.
For young women, Purple Woman provides another pathway to economic empowerment, creating opportunities for internships, learning and professional development while supporting greater female participation in the technology sector.
Speaking on the importance of youth empowerment, Chika Nwosu, Managing Director of PalmPay Nigeria, said: “Nigeria’s young population is one of its greatest assets, but unlocking its potential requires access to the right skills, knowledge and opportunities. At PalmPay, we are committed to equipping young Nigerians to learn, earn and thrive in an increasingly digital economy. We believe that investing in young people today is an investment in a stronger, more inclusive Nigeria.”
These initiatives reflect a broader belief that youth empowerment is most meaningful when young people are given the knowledge, exposure and opportunities to apply what they learn.
A graduate given workplace exposure today can become tomorrow’s business leader. A Corps member who develops sound financial habits can carry those lessons into their career and personal life. A young woman given access to professional opportunities can gain the confidence, experience, and networks to create opportunities for others.
Investing in young people is a great strategy for building a stronger, more productive, and more inclusive economy.
This International Youth Day, PalmPay reaffirms its commitment to investing in young Nigerians and contributing to a broader national ambition where the young population is not just counted, but equipped, employed, empowered, and positioned to lead.
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