By Henry Akubuiro
Amos Ologunleko functions in many capacities as an executive coach, management expert, plant manager, mentor, Tedx speaker, leader, pastor and author. “I am a man of many parts,” says the author of Leadership Got Born in a chat with Daily Sun on his new book.
“Service to humanity” is a big factor in whatever he does. Needless to say, his “life mission is to develop more leaders in geometrical proportions on the global stage.”
Thirty-one years after becoming the best graduating student at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, in 1991, he replicated the same feat by earning the prestigious award of excellence at Engineering Institute of Technology in Australia.
Over the years, he has carved a niche in the area of leadership. While some schools of thought believe that leadership is born, some others believe that it is made. Irrespective of these divides, the author says “practical experience has taught me that the journey of leadership begins when you decide to lead yourself well”.
Also, “authentic leadership is built on the foundation of self-leadership, watered by timeless principles, nurtured through purpose, and grows on the wings of impeccable vision casting. No one can give what he or she does not have.”
The title of his new book, Leadership Got Born, doesn’t seem to give much away. He explains: There are two aspects to the evolution of Leadership Got Born. The first has to do with how I show up on social media. I detest the toxicity on Facebook, for example, where insults and abusive tantrums are thrown at you just for airing your opinion. Hence, I decided on posting riddles and wisdom nuggets which soon gained widespread appeal amongst connected friends and associates.
“Once I have ten of these nuggets posted, I will then group them together as a block and post them on my blog. Hence, the appellation “Group of Ten – G.O.T”. The feedback that I received on the blocks of these nuggets suggested that they were refreshing. Therefore, I added “Blocks of Refreshing Nuggets – B.O.R.N”. Since my genre is Leadership, this is how Leadership GOT BORN evolved.
“The second has to do with resolving the contentious debate regarding whether leadership is born or made. As noted by Mr Fela Durotoye, one of the finest and globally acclaimed leadership icons out of Africa, ‘The age-old question, “Are leaders born or made?” has just been answered in a most remarkable way with the unique perspective and insight of Amos Ologunleko’.”
What inspired him to write this book? Ologunleko says it’s borne out of the need to fill a void. “My passion for mentoring led me into a deeper understanding of how aspiring leaders can be empowered, transformed, and motivated for greatness. Consequently, I scaled up my mentoring capacity over the last four years, and the main challenge had been how to get material that both mentors and mentees can use as a guide for their mentoring relationships.
“Since I could not lay my hands on any, I started converting the take-aways from my mentoring sessions into resource materials. These coupled with the archives of creative write-ups on my blog became the core of the materials that transformed into the latest leadership book on the global scene. The manuscript was tested with few of my mentees for potency as the book project evolved.”
He is an avid reader of leadership and motivational books, which he had collected over the last two decades. These resources were quite helpful in shaping his thoughts on the subjects under scrutiny.
Leadership Got Born contains a practical toolkit for aspiring leaders and mentors, which is why the author’s target audience include young professionals who wish to develop their leadership effectiveness with proven results consistently and sustainably. Others are CEOs, senior executives, and leading professionals who wish to guide, nurture and counsel aspiring leaders on how to develop exceptional leadership qualities will equally find the book helpful.
“This book is unique in so many ways. Part philosophy, part toolkit, and part visionary manifesto, my book offers a wealth of insights and practical techniques that will help readers transform their leadership style from ordinary to remarkable. Focusing on the STAR mode, TAPS toolkit, BRAND mindset, LEADWELL call, SOAR HIGH mandate, DATA future, and MENTOR influence, the book provides a clear and practical roadmap for developing the essential attributes of outstanding leadership. In the leadership masterpiece, readers will unlock:
“A robust framework for becoming an intentional and effective leader; a comprehensive guide to hone your leadership skills and mentor others; a clear and practical roadmap for developing the essential attributes of outstanding leadership; a compelling model for achieving success and fulfilment in leadership through the universal SOAR-HIGH mandate “ he says.
Other shafts include a “thought-provoking read that provides a deep understanding of what it takes to be a successful leader in today’s rapidly changing world; inspiring leadership reflections from industry leaders known as the Tribe of Mentors; a call to action to help readers apply the lessons learned in the book.
“Lastly, the last chapter compiles deeper reflections from top leaders and mentors such as Mr Babs Omotowa (Ex-Shell and former NLNG MD/CEO), Carlos Mandolesi (Elsewhere Global President of International Society of Automation), and many others covering gender diversity and inclusivity.”
Though we have training institutes that focus on leadership or/and management, the author maintains “there is dearth of authentic leadership practices. Our realities buttress the point that leadership is not so much about what you say but what you do and how you do it.
“Therefore, our curriculums must start spotlighting, studying, and analysing home grown case-studies to set examples of forthright leadership models that can be replicated. Leadership Got Born is set to contribute to this direction with contents that can be taught in leadership training institutes across Africa and the entire continents of the world.”
The principles of leadership propounded in his book are universal, says the author. And “It works whether in the family, politics, religious bodies, corporate organisations, or the boardroom. Leadership Got Born caters for leadership in diverse spheres of influence that I referred to as BALLISTIC GRAMMAR – Business, Advertising, Law, Literature, Information technology, Sports, Tourism, Insurance and Commerce or Government, Real estate, Academics, Military, Medicine, Agriculture, and Religion.”
He read his first leadership book during his second year in the university. Robert Schuller’s Tough Times Never Last, but Tough People do has had a lasting effect on him. He hopes students would find his work very useful, too.
‘My book is in the process of being introduced to university students, and my belief is that any student who comes across it would receive unspeakable inspiration for genuine impact and accelerated influence in life and ministry,” he says.
Leadership Got Born is available on online platforms such as Okadabooks and Amazon in kindle and paperback. Copies will be available in many outlets across the six geo-political zones in Nigeria. “There’s also a plan to engage book clubs in different parts of the country in due course,” he adds.