Barbara Johnson - On Changing Circumstances & life Changing development for South Africans.

This week Africa Business Communities meet with Barbara Johnson, founder and leader of Leadership Dimensions, on better personal performance and contribution in Business and Professions.

 

Who is Barbara Johnson and what is your motivation?

"Barbara Johnson is the founder and leader of Leadership Dimensions.  Barbara’s primary motivation in life is to find meaning and purpose of Life for herself and for her clients.  Her greatest pleasure is to change lives for Better Personal Performance in Business and in the Professions. We all have the capacity to transform ourselves – the question is when?  Leaders are required in the world, if not us, who?  Transformation leads to Transcendence – we are all called to get over ourselves, transform and transcend towards others, cause and Life itself."

 

Kindly introduce your company to us

"Leadership Dimensions is a business with a difference in Africa.  It is about pure determination, standing one’s ground, forging ahead regardless of others perceptions, that  has made Leadership Dimensions what it is today.  Being a coach was not enough for Barbara.  Barbara feels that it is inadequate to coach someone who is suffering.  Use the suffering, transform the suffering and transcend the suffering is for Barbara the fundamental foundation for coaching.  Hence, Counsel/Coach has differentiated Barbara in the coaching profession nationally and internationally.  As for the development of business – it first started with dissatisfaction around how business treated people that drove Barbara to search for another way.  Africa is not for the faint hearted.  Africa is the heartbeat of the world.  Africa is being called to be more, better and faster.  Africa has the potential in that it has wonderfully unique individuals in wonderfully unique circumstances.  What we do with it, is now up to us.  There is no more time for excuses, pity stories or feelings of entitlement.  Now is Africa’s time to stand up for what she believes in, take a stance for what is the right way forward and to become a meaningful partner in the business world of the world."

 

Is South Africa a viable economy for such business?

"South Africa is viable for such business in People Development. The South African economy has a much greater potential than it is presently delivering.  The economy is bursting to be all that it is but is being held back, in not getting to grips that it is our people that are the core drivers of delivery.  When business gets it, that it is the people that need the focal attention of development, then the economy will burst its present day boundaries and be more of what it is meant to be.  South Africans suffer the frustrations, the limitations and the norms of everyday business.  This can be changed by changing the way we get to use that which frustrates us and transform it into something that actually works for us."

 

What impact has your company had on both black and white South Africans?

"Leadership Dimensions has worked with both white and black South Africans.  The Counsel/Coach and Training approach has brought about life changing attitudes, life changing circumstances and life changing development for the many Barbara has encountered."

 

How does it take to be a business coach and and owner in Africa?

"Leadership Dimensions is a business with a difference in Africa.  It is about pure determination, standing one’s ground, forging ahead regardless of others perceptions, that  has made Leadership Dimensions what it is today.  Being a coach was not enough for Barbara.  Barbara feels that it is inadequate to coach someone who is suffering.  Use the suffering, transform the suffering and transcend the suffering is for Barbara the fundamental foundation for coaching.  Hence, Counsel/Coach has differentiated Barbara in the coaching profession nationally and internationally.  As for the development of business – it first started with dissatisfaction around how business treated people that drove Barbara to search for another way.  Africa is not for the faint hearted.  Africa is the heartbeat of the world.  Africa is being called to be more, better and faster.  Africa has the potential in that it has wonderfully unique individuals in wonderfully unique circumstances.  What we do with it, is now up to us.  There is no more time for excuses, pity stories or feelings of entitlement.  Now is Africa’s time to stand up for what she believes in, take a stance for what is the right way forward and to become a meaningful partner in the business world of the world."

 

Are you funded? Do you need addition funding?

"Leadership Dimensions is funded solely by Barbara Johnson and a family trust.  Funding is not required at this stage.  Global development of this work would probably need funding – Barbara is open to discussion."

 

What are the challenges and successes chalked?

"Leadership Dimensions has faced many challenges of external limited attitude and thinking.  It is after all, all about attitude that translates into thinking that prevents action and therefore reduces delivery.  Barbara is all about challenging the attitude that brings about the thinking so that action can be taken and allow for quality delivery.  In this, lies Leadership Dimensions success."

 

What is the latest news about your company?

"Leadership Dimensions latest news is that Barbara has accepted the invitation of BNI Business Networking International to be an Assistant Director.  BNI is an international networking group of business professionals with a code of ethics, accountability and relationship building who pass to each other word of mouth referrals that translates into global business. Soon to be launched is BNI Legends – 10000 Hills area of KZN South Africa.  A visitors’ day is presently being set up for Thursday June 23.  People interested my contact Barbara Johnson on +27 (0)82 784 7656 or +27 (0)31 716 8226."

 

bj@leadershipdimensions.co.za;

 

http://www.leadershipdimensions.co.za

 

View the page of Barbara Johnson

 

This interview series is powered by Africa Business Communities.
Do you want to showcase your company or your business plan too? Send an e-mail to Isaac Twumasi Quantus - isaac@africabusinesscmmunities.com

 

This article was originally posted on South Africa Business Communities

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