Strategic Leadership Archives – Page 2 of 4

Universities on Fire: Betrayal, Broken Promises, and the Silent Halls of Learning

2 Comments / Higher Education, Kenya, Opinion, Strategic Human Resource Management, Strategic Leadership, Strategic Management / Mary Mugo

Our public universities are not characterized by the silence of learning. It is not the silence that comes when a professor makes an insightful comment or when students bend to learn. No, there is something unusual about the silence. It is the silence of empty lecture halls, abandoned libraries, and unhappy students waiting in despair. […]

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Tokenism in the Workplace: When Appearances Replace Action

Leave a Comment / Business, Opinion, Strategic Human Resource Management, Strategic Leadership, Strategic Management, The Workplace / Mary Mugo

We have already discussed the politics of survival, SILENCE, and sycophancy. However, another issue frequently follows closely behind.: tokenism. You understand what I mean, right? The vibrant integrity posters, the never-ending talks about innovation, the glossy reports that are released, the new committees that are established, and the wall-mounted slogans.. However, if you take a

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The Politics of Survival in Institutions: When Power Games Replace Purpose

Leave a Comment / Opinion, Strategic Human Resource Management, Strategic Leadership, Strategic Management / Mary Mugo

We have already discussed sycophancy—how leaders increase their status by appeasing those in positions of authority and silence—how employees learn to keep their heads down to survive. What occurs when these two forces come together is the politics of survival, which is even more destructive. People spend more time at many institutions learning how to

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The Culture of Silence in Institutions: When Speaking Up Becomes Dangerous

2 Comments / Higher Education, Kenya, Opinion, Strategic Leadership, The Workplace / Mary Mugo

In our previous article, we discussed how institutions appear to favor sycophancy when leaders advance by appeasing those in positions of authority rather than standing with their peers. But sycophancy is only part of the story. The other half is silent. Let’s continue the discussion. If sycophancy is one aspect of our institutions, then silence

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When Truth Becomes Inconvenient: Leadership, Sycophancy, and the Academy

Leave a Comment / Higher Education, Kenya, Opinion, Strategic Leadership / Guest Writer

Let us be honest. Have you ever noticed how academics and professors frequently lose contact with the people they once walked with after moving up to top offices? Previously, they had pushed for better working conditions and fair compensation among their colleagues, but all of a sudden, they appear to have forgotten. In meetings, they

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The Language of a Leader: Words To Inspire, Influence, or Destroy

Leave a Comment / Kenya, Opinion, Strategic Leadership / Mary Mugo

Today we delve into the language of a leader and why a leader must weigh their words. Leadership has its roots in communication and is not solely about position, power, or strategy. A leader’s words have the power to inspire or demoralize, to bring people together, or to drive them apart. Leaders in education, industry,

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Sycophants in Politics – The Architects of Failed Leadership

Leave a Comment / Kenya, Opinion, Political leadership, Strategic Leadership / Mary Mugo

In politics, sycophants are crucial in misleading politicians, subverting governments, and facilitating corruption. Being surrounded by yes-men and yes-women causes leaders to lose touch with reality and frequently create policies that benefit a select few at the expense of the majority. Sycophants are parasites who take advantage of leaders while offering nothing in return. They

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Ruto-Raila Alliance: A Political Masterstroke or Betrayal of Trust?

Leave a Comment / Kenya, Opinion, Political leadership, Strategic Leadership, Strategic Management / Mary Mugo

In my opinion as a strategist and governance expert, political alliances are strategic decisions with long-term consequences. President William Ruto and Raila Odinga’s recent reunion exemplifies political pragmatism, raising crucial questions about opposition dynamics, power consolidation, and the strategic positioning of key personalities ahead of 2027. Kenya’s political scene has taken an unexpected turn as

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Navigating Toxic Personalities in Meetings and Other Work and Social Setting.

Leave a Comment / Strategic Leadership, Strategic Management / Mary Mugo

We have all come across them in our professional interactions: coworkers who are able to disrupt and poison meetings with their toxic presence, undermining otherwise fruitful discussions. However, if you have a thorough understanding of these personalities and know how to deal with them, you can make sure that your meetings stay concentrated, collaborative, and

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Stop the Idiocy and Using Citizens as Pawns. A Call for Peace and Unity in Kenya

3 Comments / blog, Kenya, Opinion, Political leadership, Strategic Leadership / Mary Mugo

Politicians are expected to be role models and representatives for the people they serve. It is no secret, however, that many of these leaders engage in behavior unbecoming of their position. This behavior ranges from corruption and deception to verbal abuse and physical violence. It is high time for political leaders to stop this idiocy

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