Leadership is probably one of the most misconstrued concepts, globally. It is far much more than what an alarming majority think it. Which, perhaps, explains why too many people believe they are leaders the moment they win an election or take an office. Indeed, methinks this is the very reason too many (especially developing) countries have struggled unsuccessfully forever to fix their huge performance deficit.
There ought not to be any haziness in and over leadership. The ad hoc recruitment process ought to be clear, goofproof and impartial. Winners and losers ought to have a pure understanding of the untold burden or weight of the solemn responsibility that leadership is -head or tail. Yes, no one goes into a leadership contest who is not a leader thenceforth, win or lose.
This is because leadership is not an office, not a post, not a rank. Leadership is far much more. Someone can win an election or even take a leadership position but is neither a leader nor in charge. Conversely, the loser can be the leader, the one everyone likes or rallies around.
These hallucinations of leadership are, in the main, especially in developing countries a function of a deeply malfunctioning system. Imagine choosing a leader based on the say-so of Chief Godfather. Imagine electing a nincompoop just because of money or relationship. Imagine, just imagine, preferring Satan to Christ all because of instant (but pyrrhic) easiness.
In order to not be caught in the web of complex vacuity often thrown up by over technicalising leadership, we need first to agree on what exactly is leadership not. Leadership is not brought, nor sold. Leadership is not charlatanism, nor imposture. Leadership is not commandeering, nor control.
Leadership is not brute force, leadership is not any such negaitive power. Leadership is not competition, leadership is not war. Leadership is not greed, leadership is not selfcentricity. Leadership is not about proving a point, leadership is not about teaching a lesson.
The epitome of leadership never amasses, never grabs wealth. Well, except for the sake of own people. They never are desperate for power, never abusers of power. Except to defend territorial integrity of own community or state or country.
Leadership is genuineness. Leadership is honesty. Leadership is humility. Leadership is love.
Leadership is ministry, a call. Leadership is selflessness. Leadership is service. Leadership is slavery, almost.
Leadership stands up to purveyors of injustice and such other inhumanities: always fighting against societal stumbling blocks, always showing courage, always speaking up. Leadership unifies: always gathering people, always mobilising, always sensitising. Leadership is everpresent: always showing up when occasion demands, always rising to the occasion, always tracking promise and performance. Above all, leadership guarantees peace and freedom: always entreating, always preaching, always reassuring.
You are not a leader if you disagree with any part of this serving. How much I love how that sounds. You are not a hundred percent leader if you don’t see yourself via the foregoing prisms. Serves you right.
However, I can help fix you right away. Here is leadership 101, a personal guide that can transform even monsters. First, recognise that leadership is a matter of the heart and head; leadership is spiritual. Change your mindset complete with your beliefs and your strategy and your style.
Fill your heart with love, twenty-four-seven. You can never be a leader without a heart that is endlessly and helplessly for people. That way, you kill and bury selfishness and in its stead develop empathy and patience. The twins are probably the two most vital ingredients that leadership requires to attain autopilot.
Leaders who let George fly become field marshals of life. They never have to shout or struggle to be heard or obeyed. In fact, they never even need to be present to be respected or accorded their due and more. First, they must kill and bury greed and impatience.
Number two, eschew blackmail and gossip. Fear hatemongers and talebearers. Discourage these acts and these people, even if you can’t. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.
Too many leaders failed or fell because not being forewarned they were not forearmed. They were soon swept away having been felled -no thanks to banana peels left behind by newfound friends who are almost always attracted by power. Too many had since died. Very many remain alive in forever regret.
Alas, nobody is learning. Everyone seems to believe their case is different. Or, that they are immune. Beware of the pitfalls of leadership.
Number three, always think about posterity. Anyone conscious of tomorrow, and how it judges without fear or favour, cannot but keep right enough now to gain from it then. Such a one is permanently joyful and kind and understanding. As a leader, that person belongs in Class 1A.
It is impossible to be a cheerful and generous and compassionate or sensitive leader but disconnected from your people. Except, you are a pretender to the throne of these graces. A leader who knows about seasons and times never plays God. This leader does what has to be done when it has to be done knowing that no mortal tenure is eternal.
Furthermore, no leader encourages injustice and oppression. These are the ways of a dictator. Dictators, not leaders, cabalise their jurisdiction. They divide and rule and have to deal with the attendant angst and chaos which keep their sphere of influence trapped in bad press and stunted growth.
If you know any so-called leader who is guilty of these charges, scrutinise their years and performance and people. You will readily see that nothing is going on: no human fruit, no joy, no peace to show for all the years. They lead nobody and have produced both nobody and nothing in spite of and despite the years and resources they have wasted. Such a crying shame.
Back to winning ways as we taxi to round off. Leadership is productive, must always be. Leadership is not wasteful, must never be. Leadership is inclusive.
Finally, a leader who knows his onions and the way goes the way deliberately carrying people along; never a control freak. They neither tell nor spread lies against their very people to gain advantage, because they themselves are the advantage. They don’t hate people they purportedly lead, even when those people are their opponents. The person who is in charge of leadership must be above board in every sense of the word.
God bless Nigeria!