The Leader’s Currency: Wielding Influence and Diplomacy in the African Diaspora – Dr. Marcia Thomas
What does it mean to lead today, especially as an entrepreneur of African descent navigating a globalised world? You stand at a powerful intersection, a bridge between rich heritage and modern opportunity. The challenge isn’t just to succeed; it is to lead with a resonant voice that inspires trust, fosters connection, and builds a lasting life and legacy. It requires a delicate balance of strength and grace, of holding firm to your values while engaging with a world of diverse perspectives.
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In a profound conversation on The Obehi Podcast, faith-based leadership consultant Dr. Marcia Thomas, author of A Leader Like You, illuminated the path for diaspora leaders.
See the full podcast interview with Dr. Marcia Thomas
She unpacked the essence of leadership that transcends titles and flowcharts, revealing how your character can become your most valuable currency. This is the art of leading from roots to relevance, where who you are is far more powerful than the position you hold.
The Heart of Influence: Why People Truly Follow You
Before we can lead, we must understand why people choose to follow. Dr. Thomas skillfully dismantles the myth that leadership is tied to a title.
“Leadership is not about your title, it’s not about your position or the flowcharts,” she explains. “It’s really about how you make people feel.” It is one life influencing another. So, what is the source of this influence? Dr. Thomas identifies several reasons people might follow you:
- Position: They follow because you are in charge. This is the most basic level of leadership.
- Character: They follow because they trust who you are. Your charisma, integrity, and persona convince them you are worth listening to.
- Expertise: They follow because of what you know.
- Connections: They follow because of who you know and the potential benefits.
- Contribution: They follow because of what you can do for them.
While each of these can be a starting point, the ultimate goal is to earn loyalty through trust. When you build your character, develop your expertise, and use your position to serve others, you create a powerful impact.
“If you make people feel that they have made the right choice and that you can be trusted,” Dr. Thomas notes, “then that is the highest point that you can get in relation to loyalty.”
This is the foundation of servant leadership, a model rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ, which prioritizes service, humility, and integrity over personal gain. “A true leader does not demand service,” she states, offering a powerful paradox, “but one who serves.” This mindset shift is the first step toward achieving the self-mastery required for impactful leadership.
The Leader’s Blueprint: Principles for a Lasting Legacy
To build a leadership style that endures, you need a blueprint founded on unshakeable principles. Dr. Thomas outlines several key pillars that are especially crucial for leaders in the African diaspora who are navigating complex social and professional landscapes.
1. Integrity: Your Character is Your Currency
Integrity is the bedrock of trustworthy leadership. It’s about being “morally upright… consistent… honest,” leading from the inside out. Dr. Thomas passionately argues that for a leader, your “character becomes your currency and empowerment becomes your trademark.”
This means your values are not situational; they are consistent, whether in public or private. You are the real deal. When you are true to yourself, you can’t be false to anyone else. This authenticity is magnetic and builds the deep trust necessary for a loyal following.
2. Empathy and Compassion
Effective leadership requires a deep connection to the people you lead. Drawing from Matthew 9:36, Dr. Thomas emphasizes the need for compassion. “We must care about people, we must love, we must understand, and we must share the hardships and hurts of others.”
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This involves active listening and respecting how others feel. Empathy is the engine that drives a leader to genuinely care for their team, fostering an environment of psychological safety and mutual respect.
3. Forgiveness and Resilience
Leadership is a human endeavour, and mistakes are inevitable. A Christian leadership principle that has universal application is forgiveness. “Forgiveness is very essential… because it admits and embraces the fact that everybody makes mistakes,” Dr. Thomas advises.
A leader who models forgiveness creates a culture where team members aren’t afraid to take risks or admit when they fall short. This builds resilience, allowing people to “bounce back from their setbacks and their challenges,” ultimately fostering innovation and growth.
Diplomacy Without Dilution: How to Stay True in a Global World
One of the most pressing questions for the African diaspora community is how to practice good diplomacy without “watering down our values.” We often exist in spaces where our culture and perspectives are not the default. Dr. Thomas offers a transformative perspective on this dilemma.
“What I’m finding is that persons want us to be ourselves,” she reveals. “We seem to be anxious… to assume what people want outside of us being ourselves. Persons want to understand us and persons want to learn from us.”
The key is not assimilation, but authentic representation. We must not sacrifice our values, culture, or beliefs to please others. Instead, we should share them “lovingly and respectfully,” highlighting why we hold these beliefs. This approach fosters mutual understanding and engagement.
When you show up with integrity, kindness, and honesty, you command respect. Dr. Thomas assures us, “Kindness begets kindness… Honesty begets honesty.”
While it may require patience, consistently showing up as your authentic self will eventually force others to accept and respect who you are. “What we must never do is change us,” she asserts. “We must show up as we are.”
This is where defining your non-negotiables becomes critical. These are the core values you are not prepared to sacrifice. “They are usually aligned to your core values of honesty, integrity, of punctuality,” Dr. Thomas explains.
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These non-negotiables are your “character currencies that serve your purpose and make you sleep at night.” Knowing them gives you a firm foundation, allowing you to engage in any negotiation or interaction with clarity and confidence.
From One Generation to the Next: The Power of Mentorship
As my people in the Esan tribe of Nigeria say, “a society is doomed if the young are not taught the old tricks.” This ancient wisdom speaks directly to the vital role of mentorship in ensuring a thriving future. Dr. Thomas sees mentorship as the primary vehicle for developing future leaders in the diaspora.
However, she redefines mentorship not as a one-way download of information but as a dynamic partnership. “Mentorship is really a partnership,” she clarifies. “Many times, we think that when we mentor people, we just teach them… but we also hear from them.”
This powerful crossover, where “I teach you, you teach me, and together we do,” creates a community of practice that bridges the past, present, and future.
Through this collaborative exchange, mentors pass on stories of resilience, preservation, and innovation. They provide a “sure foundation” that doesn’t limit the next generation but instead “expands their understanding… their actions… and their interpretations.”
This is how we build strong, resilient, and innovative communities capable of solving the problems of today and tomorrow.
Your Leadership Story: From Insight to Action
Dr. Marcia Thomas’s wisdom provides more than just inspiration; it offers a clear call to action. True leadership is a journey of continuous growth and self-reflection. It’s time to own your story and lead with purpose.
- Define Your Leadership Currency: Reflect on why people follow you. Is it merely your position, or is it the strength of your character and the value you provide? Strive to build your influence on the solid ground of trust and integrity.
- Establish Your Non-Negotiables: Take time to write down 3-5 core values that you will not compromise. These are the pillars of your leadership. Let them guide your decisions and interactions.
- Practice Authentic Diplomacy: In your next interaction with someone from a different background, focus on sharing your perspective with confidence and respect. The goal is connection, not conformity. Use your unique story as a bridge, not a barrier. This is a core tenet of Obehi Ewanfoh’s Story to Asset Framework, which helps entrepreneurs transform their personal narratives into powerful marketing assets.
- Engage in Collaborative Mentorship: Seek out a mentor who can guide you, and look for opportunities to mentor someone else. Embrace the “I teach you, you teach me” mindset to foster mutual growth and build a legacy of empowerment.
To continue exploring transformative conversations like this one, dive into over 1,000 interviews on The Obehi Podcast or visit AClasses Media, home to over 2,000 articles designed to help you grow your business and build your legacy. Your journey toward impactful leadership is a story that is waiting to be written. Lead it well.
