In recent years there’s been a trend in international businesses to move away from hierarchical employee structures in favour of a flatter, more egalitarian approach to managing operations and people. While I fully support employees and colleagues treating each other as equals, I fear that in some cases companies may have over-corrected.

I’m certainly not saying that businesses require dictatorial CEs or elitist management structures. Far from it. But in doing away with hierarchical structures, organisations must beware of throwing the proverbial baby out with the bath water.I’m a leader. I say it unashamedly, because it’s my sincere belief that winning teams require assertive, creative, visionary leaders in order to remain successful and stay on course to greatness. It’s a universal truth, recognised by experts in all fields of life and business, that every ship needs a captain. To take this analogy further, the ship’s captain can be absolutely clear on where he wants to go and have a precise strategy on how to get there. He can be a great captain who treats his crew with respect and dignity. But unless he can rally his team and actually sail the ship, he’s destined to remain standing on the dock.

Success in modern business is hardly ever the result of an individual effort. It takes winning teams to build successful and sustainable companies. But what makes a winning team? It doesn’t fall miraculously into place: a winning team is created. And this requires effective leadership.So the question is this: what type of leader is able to build and lead a winning team? John Quincy Adams, sixth President of the US, once said: “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you’re a leader.” Here at Pamodzi Investment Holdings, we live by the philosophy of “tiyende pamodzi” (“together we strive”). It’s a reflection of our belief that, when it comes to building a successful business, unity is power. It epitomises our culture of togetherness and teamwork.

It’s only within such a high-performance culture, built on shared responsibility and accountability, that a team of people can be empowered to become winners. I once heard it said that the culture of an organisation is the shadow of its leader. It’s worth remembering that if you’re a leader, your actions and attitudes shape the environment in which others are required to perform. It’s a huge responsibility. But, then, if you’re a leader, you should be happy to shoulder it.

So, if you desire a winning team – lead! Confidently. By all means be democratic in your decision-making, but embrace your position – and then take your team to greatness.