{"id":13672,"date":"2026-10-16T07:54:17","date_gmt":"2026-10-16T07:54:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/?p=13672"},"modified":"2026-10-16T07:58:28","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T07:58:28","slug":"learn-how-south-african-leaders-are-navigating-uncertain-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/eu\/blog\/learn-how-south-african-leaders-are-navigating-uncertain-times\/","title":{"rendered":"Learn how South African leaders are navigating uncertain times"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 id=\"h-key-takeaways\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key takeaways<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Resilient systems and good collaboration can provide the strong foundation needed to navigate uncertain times.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Leaders need to step back and take an objective view of their business to understand how to adapt.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>People need to feel seen, heard, and valued for who they are as well as what they bring to their roles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">South African business leaders are feeling anxious. From the rise of AI to a new generation of talent entering the workforce, they\u2019re unsure how to adapt people and processes for the future. Not to mention high rates of unemployment, the skills gap, and connectivity issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But there\u2019s reason to be optimistic. The government is committed to making energy more reliable and affordable. People are eager to learn new skills. And the country is <a href=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/finance\/869643\/south-africa-is-beating-some-of-its-biggest-competitors\/\">more resilient to global uncertainty<\/a> than other emerging markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSystems are like sandcastles on a beach. The market changes and flattens them, but with the right foundation and great collaboration, you can quickly rebuild something new,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mWCY7OuDV5o\">said Lochner Eksteen<\/a>, CEO of <a href=\"https:\/\/i-cloudius.com\/Home\">iCloudius<\/a>, speaking on his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstprinciplethinking.org\/\">ongoing First Thinking Principle podcast<\/a> on the latest challenges and opportunities in South Africa. \u201cThe system is a mirror of the people. It\u2019s really as good, chaotic, or clinical as the business or people, and how they organise around your products, services, or processes.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, what\u2019s your system telling you? How can you establish a stable foundation? And what\u2019s the best way to get people working together?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-step-back-and-see-your-business-clearly\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step back and see your business clearly<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As leaders, it can be hard to step back and take an objective view of your business. But if you want to build resilience, it\u2019s vital to have an accurate picture of the current state of play. Trish Vosse, Chief Strategy &amp; Growth Officer at Courier Guy, advised mapping the informal network \u2014 the strong personalities influencing decisions, where things are going wrong, and what people really think when they\u2019re being authentic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe players on the sidelines might be where the flow of information actually goes,\u201d she said. \u201cLearning the informal way things are done is how you find your true company culture. It comes down to old fashioned listening and humility.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To get people to open up, they need to feel seen, heard, and safe. Those at the top can lead by example by showing their human side. \u201cVulnerability is an enabler. Only when the top-level are willing to say, \u2018this is not working\u2019 can you release the tension and open conversations about how to do things better,\u201d said Eksteen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, leaders still need to lead. That means maintaining a certain distance and upholding the strategic vision. Sonja Blignaut, Complexity Practitioner &amp; Thought Leader, warned of the dangers of getting too focused on one thing. For example, implementing AI for the sake of it, without thinking about the long-term impact, or getting so caught up in redesigning a process that it no longer fits the operating model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGet off the dance floor onto the balcony. When you take a step back you can look at where the patterns are and find opportunities you\u2019ve not thought about,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/DxRsI6916W4?si=y_qTp0iLR0fonc9T\">she said.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is where partners like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/uk\/services\/professional-services\/\">Salesforce Professional Services<\/a> can be really valuable, taking those big ideas, testing them, and making a clear roadmap to achieve meaningful change.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-separate-your-business-from-your-identity\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Separate your business from your identity<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wilfred Greyling, Systems Architect and Business Founder, <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/YWcxGoA3CkM?si=N-1ERsMpvjGFi5oU\">spoke candidly<\/a> about one of the hardest lessons for founders \u2014 seeing the business as separate from themselves and not being threatened by outside opinions. This was echoed by Healthcare Executive, Riedwaan Jabaar, from Value Based Care, who emphasised the importance of doing the right thing over being right.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A common pitfall of founding a business, Greyling explained, is \u201cYou can\u2019t hear or see anything that anybody else tells you, because you <em>must<\/em> know. You are clever and you understand. You think, \u2018Don\u2019t come in and tell me what to do\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over time, this means founders can become a risk to the business. While there are many catalysts for change, the success or failure of a project depends on the drivers behind it. For example, when it comes to company growth, a leader who misinterprets feeling overwhelmed as a sign that business is booming can push for growth and fail. Psychologist Carien Human warns this is a shortcut to burnout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What companies really need is for leaders to take on less of the workflow and step into a strategic role. If they have the right systems in place and a team they trust, the business will thrive.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSystems get projects through, but founders struggle to let go,\u201d said Greyling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to Vosse, they need to embrace being a \u2018servant leader\u2019, letting front-line workers or managers be the hero of the story and redefining what success looks like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-learn-to-live-with-uncertainty\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Learn to live with uncertainty<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The most successful leaders are discerning. They listen to their people, understand their own limitations, and are willing to sit with discomfort. They take time to make decisions rather than rush into new projects out of fear of being left behind. In uncertain times, this can be challenging. Uncertainty often leads to anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But while we can\u2019t know the future, we can change our attitude to uncertainty. Stephen Wardle, a Salesforce Account Executive, suggested that as adults, we\u2019ve forgotten how to manage a feeling we navigated with ease as children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re experiencing a form of assisted living. Algorithms tell us what to listen to and what to watch. We expect stability and certainty, and don\u2019t like discomfort,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen I saw my child working on an art project without a plan, I watched her deal with complexity in a very natural way. That challenged my own thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To cope with anxiety in the workplace, we need more than a change of mindset, we need to rethink how we\u2019re using technology. \u201cSometimes we want to use technologies to outsource our relationship with uncertainty. We want it to be a map or GPS, instead of a compass,\u201d said Blignaut. Her solution? \u201cShift to being more experimental.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wardle agreed, adding, \u201cUse your technology as a companion rather than giving people standard operating procedures.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Technology as a companion \u2015 especially AI like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/agentforce\/\">Agentforce<\/a> \u2015 is far more resilient and adaptable than systems set in stone. This makes it easier to manage change and rebuild those sandcastles when the tides of the market change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It also addresses one of the top fears around AI: that it will replace us. \u201cWe\u2019re seeing the most unbelievable things happening from an AI point of view, but what we\u2019re finding is that humanness has to be elevated,\u201d said Ursula Fear, Senior Talent Program Manager at Salesforce. \u201cIt\u2019s really important to feel psychologically safe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-harness-the-power-of-people\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Harness the power of people<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">South Africa is celebrated for its diversity and resilience, and the podcast series highlights the power of people as a key theme. And how do you harness people power? Christiaan Brink, Divisional Managing Director at Adapt IT, <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/lX9GwovWmSo?si=X9ZW_c3P9pWP0zGh\">explained<\/a> the importance of tapping into the collective intelligence of your workforce as \u2018real people\u2019 and working together to achieve common goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Industrial Psychologist and Applied Theatre Specialist, Lurinda Maree, recommended bringing humour and playfulness into the workplace to break down communication barriers across the corporate hierarchy. This makes space for more honest discourse and greater empathy between teams. While technologies like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/slack\/\">Slack<\/a> help people stay connected and provide visibility of conversations across the organisation, they can\u2019t replace human connection.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vosse explained just how critical this has been in her experience: \u201cMaking employees feel heard is where you can win or lose your transformation. And they want to be heard by a human, not by filling in surveys.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Incorporating that human touch into transformation is an end-to-end process. It starts with asking staff what they need to do their job well and shaping systems and processes around it. After go-live, Vosse highlighted the importance of in-person training. Showing employees how the new, improved technology has addressed their pain points is a great way to boost user adoption.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And change should be a state of being, not a one-off journey. Capturing employee or customer sentiment and feedback must be an ongoing process to keep people happy and productive. Maree advised celebrating endings as well as new beginnings, marking each chapter as the company evolves and keeping people engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Drive change from a stable foundation<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">South African business leaders have huge opportunities ahead of them. While it\u2019s tempting to get caught up in the excitement around AI, or to push for growth, they need to go back to basics. Establish a strong foundation, look at the departments quietly propping up the business to ensure they\u2019re running well, and tap into the human need for connection, curiosity, and creativity.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou can\u2019t just start walking without planning the journey. Do something to stabilise the space,\u201d advised Greyling.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the role of workers is being redefined at a rapid pace, investing in your people will always pay off. There\u2019s a significant shift toward a culture of collective intelligence and collaboration. That means giving everyone a voice, acting on what they\u2019re saying, and creating a workplace where people can thrive.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not sure where to start? Eksteen\u2019s podcast series is specifically tailored for business leaders in South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re at a crossing point in South Africa. There are people making expensive decisions and trying to build their business, not knowing they\u2019re going down the wrong path,\u201d explained Eksteen. \u201cEveryone on this podcast has a passion for the country and its people. And we want to share what we\u2019ve learned.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Watch the round up <a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstprinciplethinking.org\/\">here<\/a>, or browse by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstprinciplethinking.org\/\">episode<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From the rise of AI to change management, businesses need to adapt people and processes to stay ahead of the game<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":755,"featured_media":13673,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sf_justforyou_enable_alt":true,"optimizely_content_id":"6ad0fa45e8a2b853298e756b","post_meta_title":"","ai_synopsis":"","_sf_experience":"","_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"sf_topic":[227,103,67,68,3],"sf_content_type":[437],"coauthors":[598],"class_list":["post-13672","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","sf_topic-company-culture","sf_topic-corporate-culture","sf_topic-leadership","sf_topic-leading-through-change","sf_topic-thought-leadership","sf_content_type-blog"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.2 (Yoast SEO v28.2) - 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