Leaders urged to shift from success to significance

People deserve to be led well in an organisation, says Moses O'Connor, chief encourage­ment officer of Moses O'Connor Pte Limited.

A partner at SALT Inc, Mr O'Connor shared his views at the Leaders LEAD Symposium at Soft­tel Fiji Resort and Spa on Denarau Island, Nadi yesterday.

"I personally believe that proxim­ity matters. When we're in proximi­ty with leaders such as those in this room, it gives us a better under­standing of one another and how to lead well," Mr O'Connor said.

"Success leaves clues. The clues are visible if we are intentional about observing them. Our role is to help leaders across the Pacific transform and navigate the com­plexities of leading in the 21st cen­tury."

He added that regional leadership shifts from personal success to wid­er impact, with the Pacific context and proximity theme.

Level Up Consulting founder and leadership coach Catherine Fong­ Kumar said the biggest shift for her was moving from success to signifi­cance.

"There must be a move from per­sonal success to a life of adding value," she said.

"It's not that you stop pursu­ing personal success or that you weren't adding value before. The focus shifts to living a life that con­sistently adds value."

Ms Fong-Kumar said the transi­tion had been uncomfortable, but rewarding.

She said one area of growth since the last symposium was learning to move courageously through uncer­tainty.

Last year, shortly after the sym­posium, she left her full-time job to expand her influence.

"I needed to venture out and re­turn to my own business in lead­ership training, mentoring, and coaching," she said.

"That was a huge shift for me and part of what I call moving from suc­cess to significance. As John Max­well defines it, significance is about adding value to others."