People celebrate Freedom Day at the Union Building. The writer says responsible leadership ensures greater social justice and forms a society where freedom is not just a concept for the few, but a lived experience for all.
Image: Herbert Matimba
April is all about celebrating Freedom, especially the freedom that came for all with the birth of the new South Africa, where all citizens are equals, and the end of a despotic government.
However, notwithstanding gaining this freedom more than 30 years ago, the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation reported in their 2025 Reconciliation Barometer that South Africans continued to report low confidence in political leaders and institutions since 1994, with deep concern in leaders’ ability to do what is good and right. As a result, few people experience the promise of freedom. We clearly need more responsible leaders for the experience of freedom to become ubiquitous in our perceptions.
Responsible leadership however cannot be manufactured through impressive strategies. It also does not manifest through polished intentions or by following a recipe with a few simple steps. The world and its associated challenges are far too fierce and complex for this to happen. Instead, responsible leadership has to emerge from the core of who we are.
It’s about first doing the hard, intrinsic work of changing ourselves so that we can, in turn, change the system for the better. This self-change is not just about tweaking certain aspects of ourselves, but about systematically transforming at the core of our being and as a whole. This thematic focus offers a pathway to progress on our journey towards becoming being-centred leaders who can lead with responsibility.
The responsible leadership pathway is a systemic journey that is cyclical and iterative, combining three main concepts: authenticity, meaningfulness, and a reflective mindset.
Moral authenticity is an essential part of the pathway as the polycrisis we live in consistently presents numerous opposing challenges and pressures, often making it difficult to act responsibly. Acting responsibly in the face of these challenges requires the conviction to do the right thing and the moral courage to act on them.
Authenticity involves accepting accountability and facing the repercussions of one’s actions. However, to avoid destructive authentic traits like arrogance, stubbornness, and self-righteousness, authenticity must be balanced by virtues such as humility, vulnerability, considerateness, open-mindedness and humaneness. Developing into a responsible leader thus requires intensive, transformative work on our authentic selves.
A sense of meaning in one’s life is among the most critical concerns for human beings. It’s about having a purpose and engaging in meaningful, self-transcending activities and goals, all of which promote responsible behaviours. A clear sense of meaning forms the basis of our convictions and energises us to act purposefully, coherently, and significantly, even when it requires moral courage.
However, if we don’t take the time to reflect on our experiences and thinking, and their meanings and implications, we do not learn from them. It is through reflection that experiences transform into meaningful learnings. We need to digest and synthesise their significance, uncover patterns, and gain insights on our pathway to responsible leadership. Cultivating a reflective mindset is essential for understanding and engaging with the world in a responsible manner.
Mias de Klerk is Emeritus Professor in Leadership and Organisational Behaviour at Stellenbosch Business School and the author of the recently released book “Being-Centred Responsible Leadership – A Systemic Pathway”.
Image: Supplied
Responsible leadership is not a new leadership style but a generic quality of all leadership forms and styles, inclusive of all leadership approaches. It is about enacting a responsible mindset toward oneself, one’s organisation and their places in the larger world, for the long-term benefit and sustainability of everyone and the planet. Embracing responsibility is not only necessary for the long-term sustainability of the world, but it also comes with a profound sense of freedom for oneself and others. Being a responsible leader who contributes positively to the greater good enhances not only our own psychological freedom, but also others’ experience of freedom.
Choosing the right path avoids the shackles of regret or guilt. Even though doing the right thing might sometimes be difficult and may have undesired consequences, it creates a sense of pride and contentment, unlocking the door to mental freedom.
Leading with responsibility also provides others with permission to act with responsibility, creating a society, environment, and ultimately a world where everyone can experience a sense of internal freedom and freedom from injustice. Embracing responsibility comes with a profound sense of freedom. Despite its challenges, accepting responsibility for ourselves and our actions is utterly liberating.
*Mias de Klerk is Emeritus Professor in Leadership and Organisational Behaviour at Stellenbosch Business School and the author of the recently released book “Being-Centred Responsible Leadership – A Systemic Pathway”