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by André Johnson (Author)
THROUGH THE LENS OF THE COVID-19 OFFICERAs cited by our President Ramaphosa: "Most of our health facilities have proven resilient, capable and able to withstand and deal with the surge". The events of 2020 will be etched in history for ever. Not since the Second World War, more than 80 years ago, has the world seen or experienced a global economic and social crisis to the proportions we have experienced. This book deals with building capacity to create new knowledge rapidly, substituting rigid approaches and an outdated compliance mentality with dynamic and responsive structures, policies and processes when having to manage complex and ambiguous problems as introduced by the Covid-19 pandemic. This book is not about me achieving a personal goal but realizing what this book could contribute to the Business leader and Health and Safety practitioner. Emotional intelligence determines the success of leaders. In the book I show how emotional intelligence should also be part of the repertoire of the practitioner and Business Leader. The book shows how to get off your chair with the team and take control of their goals and vision and to attempt to maintain business continuity in a time of chaos and stress. He emphasises how a servant leader, by serving others, will eventually help enhance the success and performance of the company. This book is not an effort to create a perfect management handbook but rather his story and personal journey during the pandemic, often personal and religious views captured in the moment and together growing towards conscious competence.If you are concerned about how your organisation will respond to an unexpected "Black Swan" event such as the Covid-19 crisis or, closer to the skin, how such an experience may influence you at an emotional and spiritual level, you need to read this very personal and self- revealing introspection as seen through the eyes of one of South Africa's leaders in the intangibles of the health and safety profession.The success of health and safety programmes will not only result in a reduction in fatalities, but also an increase in the connectedness and intangible transactions by providing a partnership based on values of care and collaboration towards a common objective of health and safe production.Yet, as an organisation, we have a new social and ethical responsibility towards the community and our employees. South Africa is a highly unequal society and a crisis like this has a major impact on the vulnerable and the poor. Most companies during this time have lost significant market capitalisation. Maintaining our social licence to operate converts into a different paradigm of maintaining our social and relationship capital in the future.ABOUT THE AUTHORAndre Johnson leads diverse technical subject matter experts including health and safety. He has close to 30 years of experience in Management in both Underground and Surface Mines.His main responsibilities include optimising departmental efficiencies to maintain customer and stakeholder satisfaction. This is at a mine with close to 4000 employees. His role includes scanning for new technologies and systems for enhancing the operational systems to achieve continuous improvement.His accountabilities included optimisation of processes, integration & alignment of the business process and the setting of work systems to enhance internal effectiveness. Andre was born in Kimberley in the Northern Cape and moved to Johannesburg in 1988, where he received his National Higher Diploma in Mineral Resource Management, Mine Surveyors certificate of competency, Masters in Mining Engineering at Wits University and the Executive Masters in Business Administration (EMBA) at the University of Cape Town. He also holds a qualification in Ministry and Community Service from the University of South Africa.Andre's winning aspiration is making a difference and assisting others to fulfil their life's purpose.
