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ROLE OF LEADERSHIP

31/05/2016 04:37:00 By Charles Samunenge

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LEADERSHIP is the vehicle that makes vision possible. The role of leadership is to create conditions in which people can give of their best time, talents, gifts and potential. As a matter of fact, the best opportunity for people to contribute to their best, whether in a family situation or work situation occurs in direct, transparent relationships characterized by love, trust, respect and good communication.

Homes, communities, businesses and nations will fail or succeed to the large extent due to the quality of the leadership. Leaders should always embrace purpose and articulate vision. Vision is the mental image of a preferred picture in the homes, communities or nation at large. Leaders must endeavour to understand purpose. Purpose reveals intention and destiny.

Vision and purpose are powerful ingredients that help leaders to stay focused, inspired and determined. Real leaders will always initiate change based on vision, purpose and values. Good leaders embrace good character, actually value integrity and possesses deep conviction to do right. Great leaders will always value team work; they are aware that nothing much can be achieved by the one man show mentality.

There is power in unity. Progressive leaders are usually aware that the legacy you live is actually the legacy you leave when you finally exit the planet. A leader must cultivate their spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional and relational qualities for effectiveness. When a leader lacks emotional maturity, his or her ability to communicate effectively will be compromised somehow. Our positions as leaders are not enough to be effective; we must also develop our relational skills.

Dr. Myles Munroe said, “...The most valuable component of leadership is not power, position, influence, notoriety, fame, talent, gifting, dynamics oratory, persuasiveness, intellectual superiority, academic achievements or management skills. It is character. Character is the cradle of credibility for the leader. Without the element of strong, noble, honourable character, leadership and all its potential achievement are in danger of cancellation....”

As a matter of fact, the most significant quality in a true leader, businessman or professional is their moral excellence and stable character. We need good leaders in government, economics, law, business, education, religion, medicine and entertainment in order for the nation to make progress. Leadership is important because it helps determine the quality of vision, direction, success and culture of societies and nations. Leaders at any level are key to the growth, preservation and prosperity of societies and nations.

Homes, societies and nations usually progress due to the quality of their leaders. Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher once said, “A man’s character is his fate.” It could equally be said, the character of family leaders, business leaders or national leaders is its fate. The role of leadership is to create the environment for others to grow and become leaders. Enlightened leaders create environments conducive enough for the prosperity of the people they lead. Real leadership is to have deep interest in people’s well-being. Great leaders are always willing at any cost to serve and impact people effectively.

Effective leaders will always expand and maximise their potential in order to help or serve others. As leaders we must have a sense of responsibility for the well-being of those we serve. We must be burdened for the well being of the people. A leader should not be obsessed with his or her personal agenda to the detriment or distortion of the corporate or national agenda. Effective leaders do not waste their time and energy in the rumour mill, they are too busy cultivating their talents, gifts and potential. Actually a real leader has the capacity to discern what is propaganda, and what is truth from whatever they hear or read.
Hindering others from growing economically or in their leadership skills is bad leadership. Taking five weeks to sign a document that could be signed in five minutes is bad leadership that will hinder the nation from achieving His Majesty’s dream of reaching First World status by 2022. Many nations are experiencing political, economical and social turmoil. Moral and ethical challenges have become the order of the day in today’s world. Economical uncertainty, political upheavals, unequal distribution of resources, civil unrest, the disintegration of the family structure, religious conflicts and raw greed has raised up its ugly head in society; this is partly due to the absence of quality resolute leadership. We desperately need resolute, passionate and compassionate leaders who have the strength and courage to tackle perplexing and overwhelming challenges of society. We actually need competent, effective and visionary leaders who are not afraid to initiate innovative and creative ideas in order to bring change to various spheres in our nation. Good leaders must be able to articulate vision, plan and manage change, organise and manage resources, and be able to work with others as a winning team. Great leaders usually possess the wisdom and ability to make decisions that affect the future of homes, communities and nation correctly. The nation needs leaders who will create conditions and the environment needful for businesses to thrive, our education system to be creative and innovative; and our workforce to be inspired.