UNDERSTANDING LEADERSHIP PART 1

INTRODUCTION

I am a believer of the undying truth that Leadership is the foundation for the future. There are no great nations or organizations today if there were no great leaders. Great leaders make great organizations happen. The question is;
1. WHAT IS THE RESULT OF YOUR LEADERSHIP?
2. WHAT IMPACT IS YOUR LEADERSHIP CREATING?
3. WHY ARE YOU IN LEADERSHIP?

“Most people think they want to be leaders, but what they usually want is the rewards of leadership, not the responsibilities, they want the fun not the frustration, they want the exhilarating days and not the exhausting nights”
– Hans Finzel.

True leadership begins with;
1. The understanding of your PURPOSE
2. The understanding of your PERSON
3. The understanding of your PLACE
4. The understanding of your PEOPLE

DEFINITION:
Leadership is INFLUENCE – it is the ability to influence people towards achieving a worthy goal. "Everything rises and falls on leadership." - John Maxwell

PURPOSE OF LEADERSHIP
“When the purpose of a thing is not known, abuse is inevitable.”
– Dr. Mylse Munroe

- The purpose of leadership is not to produce followers
- The purpose of leadership is to produce leaders

People will gladly want and follow a leader who knows how to lead them to fulfil and achieve their set goals, plan and purpose, and they know when they see one.

In summary, leadership is service to the people. Leaders are called ‘Servant Leader’

They help to bring out the best of ability in the people they lead, they increase the values of their lives and they do not reduce or destroy it.
They lead people out of their comfort zones, pass through their fears and limitations to a place of success, greatness and fulfilment.

Someone once said that "80% of businesses and fortune 500 companies fail and crash, not for lack of financial strength or inability to master sales techniques, but for the lack of strong and proper leadership."

I read an article a while ago that, in the late 90s, some great minds in leadership position met for a close door conference in southern California to brain storm the possible challenges that could occur in the 21st century. And just before the dawn of the new millennium in 1999, after long deliberations, they submitted that; the problems of the 21st century will include;
- Increased crime rate
- Unforetold natural disaster
- Unexplained financial recess, down turns and melt down
- Terrorism
- Religious crises
- Political instabilities etc
But they concluded that the greatest challenge of all these shall be who to manage the fast changing world, which bottom line was on “Leadership”

ABILITIES OF GREAT LEADERS
Great leaders will challenge the people he leads to dare things, he makes them see the possibilities of their dreams and visions, and therefore patiently serve them, mentor them, challenge them, coach them to actualize these dreams.

They also give a sense of direction, a sense of mission and a sense of belonging to the people, leaders give realistic expectations, they correct errors without defeating enthusiasm, they know how to manage the failure of the people and lead them to a place called success.

Great leaders compliment the weaknesses of their followers with their strength, they create a platform for their people to thrive and grow in order to sharpen their skills, and develop their latent abilities. Their ultimate goal is to help the people get fulfilled in life and not merely get them satisfied.

True leaders don’t claim right, they are often criticized, someone said “It’s critical if you are not criticized.” And I think that’s true. Just make sure you do things right.

It is said that one of man’s greatest chief want in life is finding someone who can inspire and influence him to be what he knows he could be that he is not.

You must know that leading or managing people has never been so complex, so don’t make it so. Never give up on your people while leading them, you never can tell the kind of treasure they are carrying within, until you help them discover and deploy the potentials locked up in them.

..to be continued