by Etsko Schuitema

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Foreword

Occasionally one comes across an idea or theory that changes one's heart and mind. With his theory on leadership Etsko Schuitema achieved this with several prominent leaders in the FirstRand Group. Etsko asked a fundamental question that led to a paradigm shift in one of the FirstRand companies. He asked, "Do you use your people to get results, or do you use results and the work environment to enable you to care for and grow your people?" This question made us realise that we could be using our people merely as a means to an end.

This realisation confronts one with one's own worldview. One's view of the world determines one's intent and consequently one's attention, which manifests itself in all relationships. The scary part is that we are not always aware of our own worldview and how it affects our relationships. With this philosophy, Etsko helped us at FirstRand to understand the difference between being in the world to get, to give in order to get, or to give unconditionally. This new insight into benevolence in social systems and the bottom line of a company had a great impact on our organisation.

The understanding of his views on the legitimacy of power in a relationship is crucial for any leader. I have witnessed the impact on a financial services group, but I can imagine the difference it could make in the sporting arena. Think of a future with coaches embracing this philosophy!

The power of his theory lies in its authenticity. This is not just another guideline or inspirational book – it speaks to the fundamental value system of a leader. I support Volker Hooyberg's view on one of Etsko's earlier editions: "The insights that he so ably articulates in this book are fresh, basic and consistently helpful to all those who reflect on what they can do for others".

— Francois Hugo
— FirstRand

by Etsko Schuitema

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Foreword

When Etsko Schuitema asked me whether I would like to write the foreword for INTENT, I was delighted and honoured, and accepted immediately. Only later did I realise how difficult it was going to be. It is hard to state simply and in few words the effect that the ideas presented in this book have had on me as a person and on the organisation that I work for.

I first met Etsko around 10 years ago when I attended one of his leadership courses. Since then AEL has been heavily involved in implementing all on the ideas presented on that first course. Etsko's thoughts on leadership have been thoroughly enunciated in his two prior books, Beyond Management, and Leadership. These books set out the material covered in his Leadership course, and introduce us to the concept of leaders being there to give rather than to take. It is by their ability to give – to make the contribution that is required of them – that the strength of a leader is judged. It is a values-based thematic which brings forth the conditions under which people work for the leader becaus they want to, rather than because they have to. Simply put, the role of the leader is to care for his/her subordinates and to grow them in the deeper sense of the word. Care and growth is now an integral part of the fabric of the organisation in AEL.

While we were implementing the Leadership programmes and cascading the ideas from the top of the organisation to the bottom in AEL, we found the need for a Personal Excellence course that would go hand in hand with the leadership thematic and would build the personal characteristics needed for unconditional giving. "How can you lead others, if you have not even attempted any degree of self mastery yourself?" The 'growth' in the CARE AND GROWTH model, we discovered, does not only refer to the growth in terms of size of job or level of responsibility, but refers to the inner growth – the maturation process. We needed some input, a process, that would enable us to give people a framework for this inner growth. It seems that we were not alone in this situation, because Etsko had started working on these issues in parallel with our evolution in AEL, and after a number of pilot projects the Personal Excellence course was born. This book is the backbone of the Personal Excellence course and over 80 of our managers have attended this wonderful, intense and incredibly enlightening experience that is usually held in the beautiful Drakensberg Mountains in South Africa. It has been a life changing experience for many of them, and, critically, years after people have attended the course they still remember the essence of the teaching and have made progress on the personal issues that surfaced for them during the process.

There are many books on personal excellence, just as there are many books on leadership. Many of them cover what to do and how to do it, and are backed up with research that is not always conclusive or easy to follow. Also, the issue of causality is not normally dealt with to any extent. If, for example there is a statistical correlation showing that leaders who communicate well have low absenteeism and better productivity, is it the communication causing the low absenteeism and better productivity? Or are all three of these the result of a fourth factor, that was not measured by the study? After years of working with the concepts in this book, we would argue that the root of all of these is this issue of intent. Intent is very subtle, it is not easily measured statistically, but it is instantly recognised by the people working in the organisation. It drives the behaviour of the individual and results in the same behaviour being interpreted in different ways by subordinates. It is the essence of what personal excellence is about.

This book is not only for leaders, it is for everyone. In a business context it is especially relevant for leaders, but the concepts obviously apply to everyone. It gives us a framework for our growth as human beings throughout our lives. It is refreshing in its logical approach and is applicable in our personal lives and our work lives. I have grown immensely as a result of the material in this book, and still continue to get benefit from the concepts. It has truly been a life changing experience for many of us as we move along the path towards maturity. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has a genuine interest in using everyday life experiences to grow in a holistic way as a human being.

— Graham Edwards
— CEO African Explosives Ltd (AEL)

by Etsko Schuitema
(this book is out of print)

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Foreword

Watching Etsko Schuitema grow into the authentic individual he has become has been an amazing process. I first met him as a younger colleague in the South African Mining Industry in 1984 and it is my pleasure to make the observation that this man has gone far beyond what the late Abraham Maslow called 'self-actualisation'. He has not only grown as a human being, but has also developed his remarkable talent for interacting with people. He knows exactly how and why leadership can empower people to become leaders themselves.

The insights which he so ably articulates in this book are fresh, basic and consistently helpful to all those who reflect on what they can do for others. The theme of generosity is addressed and captured clearly and sets a standard for the explanation, in essential terms, of the practical meaning of making a living in modern society. The potential impact of the book's authentic message on the sphere of management and much of organisational life is significant. He makes a fresh contribution to the role of benevolence in organisational systems, and introduces original perspectives on how to shift from mediocrity to virtuosity in the workplace. These will ensure healthy bottom-line earnings. The concluding chapters successfully clarify the key issue of authenticity. In the increasingly globally-connected world in which we live, such an approach sets an inspiring example of how to deal with the tasks every manager faces.

This book, now reprinted for the third time, is valuable also for its thematic account of human communication which focuses on the core issue of credibility. The author has earned such credibility and his contribution deserves to reach the public. It exemplifies basic ethical guidance, especially to those who have been placed in a position of authority over others. Coping with such responsibility in the workplace is the subject of this book. Readers in this position will be challenged to recognise themselves as individuals and discover the characteristic of authenticity within themselves which will in turn inspire the effective development of the people who report to them.

— Volker Hooyberg
— Department of Communication Science, University of Zululand

Seldom have I been so honoured and excited by something as the author's request that I write a foreword to this work. There is undeniably a touch of nepotism in my views, but I cannot adequately express the fundamental impact that exposure to the author's insights over the past number of years has had on my professional and personal life.

Thirty years of intimate contact with the economic environment as a professional financial journalist and broadcaster formed a basis of understanding that I believed was whole and complete. But this cannot compare with the insight that Etsko and his work have given to me in the last few years.

In this book you will find a key that goes far beyond understanding the true dynamics of business, organisational and economic structures. It goes beyond the cutting edge of any of the most advanced management theory, incisively and surgically removing the management school hocus pocus that has muddled our economic lives to nearly beyond salvation.

The most profound statement of all – that we are on this earth to give and not to get – is at the same time the most unpalatable and the most challenging.

At first, I too responded to these conclusions with the jaundiced journalist's eye. Until the overwhelming implications of this truly old world logic started to dawn and influence my very being.

For that I am deeply indebted to the author. If, upon reading this book, you experiene only a fraction of what I have, your life would have changed forever.

— Jerry Schuitema