Traveling to an unfamiliar place always comes with a sense of uncertainty. You wonder if you will be safe, if people will understand you, and if you will find your way. That was my mindset when I arrived in Shanghai. I was going there to speak about a topic few people find exciting, governance. Not marketing, not motivation, but governance. It is like talking about eating your vegetables. You know it is good for you, but it is not always enjoyable.
I had never been to China. I did not speak the language, and my usual tools like Google Maps and WhatsApp were blocked. Everything ran on WeChat. Yet what I experienced there changed how I think about leadership and communication.
At the Entrepreneurs’ Organisation event, I realised something powerful. Even though I could not understand a single word, I felt completely at home. Why? Because we were all connected by shared values. Respect, integrity, curiosity, and trust.
Values are not just words on a company wall. They are the bridge between cultures. They speak louder than language. When values are lived, not just spoken, they create a sense of safety and belonging.
One evening, we had to dress in red for a dinner. I went looking for a Chinese tang suit. I found a shop, but the women working there did not speak English. I showed them a picture, and they used a translation app. One woman took my hand and walked me to another shop to find the right outfit. Later, when I sent her a photo of the finished suit, she told me to bring it back so they could steam it for me, even though I had not bought it from them.
That moment captured something simple but profound. Service is not about transaction. It is about care. Even when you cannot speak the same language, your actions communicate who you are.
As leaders, we often rely on language to inspire and direct. But there are times when words fail. What then? You lead with values. You show empathy. You act with generosity. Those things translate universally.
What I learned in China was that leadership is not always about being understood intellectually. It is about being felt emotionally. The warmth, humility, and respect I experienced there will stay with me forever.
The people I met were incredibly successful, yet there was no ego. No one trying to prove who they were. Their confidence came from contribution, not comparison. That humility is something I believe we in South Africa can learn from.
As leaders, we must remember that our tone, our actions, and our attitude all communicate far more than words ever could. When we lead with heart, people follow even when they do not fully understand the language.
Leadership is about creating a space where others feel safe, valued, and respected. That is a universal language.