The 10% Differentiator

Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa, is home to a number of lions. I took this photo at a water hole early one evening just as the pride were having their last drink before nightfall. It is a magical time of the day as the blazing African sun sinks below the shimmering horizon. This male was in his prime and clearly a leader in the group.

What separates one leader from another? Just as a prime lion leads its pride, effective leaders possess unique attributes that propel them beyond the norm. The 10% Differentiator is not about a quantifiable numerical increase in performance or skill. Rather, it symbolises the additional capacity a leader requires to drive an organisation, manage a project, or oversee a department beyond the accepted norm we have grown accustomed to. It represents the unique attributes or processes propelling one from being 'good enough' to achieving 'excellence'.

This concept pushes organisations out of their comfort zones, challenging the status quo and nurturing an innovative, courageous, and resilient culture. It calls for leaders to transcend the realm of familiarity and predictability and explore the challenging, but potentially transformative, territory of the 10% Differentiator. Following the global pandemic, a leadership shift towards connection, innovation, and resilience has become critical.

My photo of a female lioness reflects her position of strength in the pride. The female lions are the pride’s primary hunters and leaders. Their mutual co-operation and teamwork are what result in a successful hunt for the pride.

Are you ready to discover the power of your '10%'? To unlock your potential that could catapult the organisation from good to great, from capable to extraordinary. This is the path to organisational excellence.