Name: Garikai Chikwekwete

Title: Provincial Finance and Administration Officer

Organisation: Environmental Managament Agency

I am an energetic individual with over 12 years of experience in Accounting and business and have the ability to pursue diverse aims simultaneously and successfully.

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Leadership!

I hope Garikai's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. What have you found most challenging as a leader?

Planning for the days ahead, especially in an environment that is very turbulent. Keeping up is a matter of life and death.

2. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

I think i was born a leader because everywhere i go i am usually given a leading role, so then i have come to accept that i am a leader and i still need to improve myself so that i become a better leader.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

Usually i start with the most difficult tasks in the morning as i would usually want to get a lot of things done early in the morning when the energy levels are still high. I would enjoy relaxed after lunch hours as i will be cooling off for rest.

4. What's a recent leadership lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of?

Leadership is a part of you, and you have to always exercise it even from the deepest of sleep. Leadership and decision making is one of the scarce resources we are having these days.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

The slight edge by John Olson. It talks about the simple disciplines that we have to commit to everyday, so a to achieve our ultimate goals. So it is the same with leadership, it takes one little step at a time and the impact of your leadership will definitely be felt in the long run. This usually happens when you are trying to use the charismatic type of leadership as compared to the authoritarian type. I have come to accept that i will always use the charismatic leadership as opposed to the authoritarian.

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young leader, what would you say to them?

Everything we do in life takes time, so you have to prepare for 20 years to come today. Every little bird is got to learn to fly, you just have to be patient with yourself. Juss keep your eyes on the goal. It may not happen today, it may not happen tomorrow but it will surely happen. Keep the faith

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader, so far?

I have plenty of these stories cant quite pick one. All these stories are mostly inspired by my current job role at The Environmental Management Agency and they invoice a lot of decision making in a time of crisis. I have managed over time to manage crisis times to the satisfaction of my superiors.