Primeast

The passion for leadership at Primeast is intense and we have been supporting household-name clients around the world for over twenty years. Yet even by our own standards the challenge recently set by the British Council was a tough one.

The aim was to engage with 1,500 leaders from business and the public sector at six conferences in six days in cities throughout Ghana and Nigeria. It also meant travelling on eight aeroplanes in eight days and mastering the art of suitcase living. Fortunately the logistics support from the British Council was superb, providing accommodation, transport and generally making the tour an exciting and rewarding experience.

Under the title of “Growing Yourself and Your Organisation”. The message given by Primeast directors Russell Evans and Clive Wilson was: “leaders see a better world and have the strength of character (and responsibility) to make it happen”.

In support of this message each delegate was given a drinks mat showing PrimeFocus – a framework for leadership and change which was described and discussed at each event. The idea was that participants would put the mat on their desks and review where they were from time to time using the model. We challenged each audience to have 1 mat still on a desk and in use in 5 years time. In one venue many participants asked Russell and Clive to write ‘keep until’ date on their mats and to sign them!

As Russell said at the time, the response from the African leaders was incredible. “After each event, many stayed behind to talk more about the application of PrimeFocus in their work. Their enthusiasm to turn their visions for a better Africa into reality was impressive to say the least. We left feeling a real sense of energy at work in these vibrant countries.”