Are there true Leaders in our Country(Nigeria)?
This is a question that many will respond to differently. My
personal take on this is quite simple. Simple in the sense that we lack
true leadership in our country including the continent of Africa.
Leadership is an Art that must be perfected through training/education,
but some have argued that some leaders are born. Let me state clearly
that Leadership as a subject for discussion is very broad. To this
effect, I will only narrow my discussion on this subject to a few
characteristics that a genuine leader must have.
Leadership characteristics includes and is not limited to the
following: leadership is not all about personality traits that a leader
possesses but it must be centered on the principles of impeccable
character; honesty/trustworthiness, must be dedicated to work, being
assertive, being curious and daring, must be accountable, being
innovative, maintain good integrity and sincerity, guided by one’s
values that will serve the common interest of its people, morals or
standards, self-awareness, justice to all, be a good communicator, be
able to promote collaborative ventures, being a good listener, being
accommodating, being charismatic/influential, goal driven/task-oriented,
ability to promote collaboration, be analytical, be action-driven,
service to others, respect for self/others and community building and
being focus/being visionary, plan and think strategically.
However leadership works better when teamwork exists. No leadership
will succeed through the actions of a single individual. Difficult and
selfish leaders will always encounter setbacks when they try to make
decisions that affect the populace/organization all by themselves.
Therefore, exemplary leaders enable others to act. A leader that foster
collaboration/accountability and build trust will achieve more
credibility among his or her people. This helps to build a sense of
teamwork which will eventually lead to project success and timely
completion. In today’s organizational settings/state affairs,
cooperation can’t be restricted to a small group of loyalists; it must
include peers, managers, customers and clients, suppliers, citizens and
those who have interest in the vision,
Leaders make it
possible for others to do good and acceptable work. They know that those
who are expected to produce the results must feel a sense of personal
power and ownership. Leaders now understand that the command-and-control
styles of the Industrial Revolution no longer hold. Instead, leaders
work to make people feel strong, empowered, capable, and loyal. Leaders
enable others to act and not by hanging onto the power they have, but by
giving it away to their followers when the situation called for.
If our leaders follow all the above leadership
principles/models very closely, they will move mountains in whatever
they do in their capacity as leaders, more better results will be
achieved, citizenry will be happier, the economy will blossom, we will
be more stable, politically and our leaders will be written in the good
books of history (posterity will judge them well). Demonstration of
wickedness or selfishness by our leaders is obviously absurd and
uncalled for. All we’re asking is for in our Country is for our leaders
to do the right thing at all times. Let them be a CHANGE ENGINE in OUR
SOCIETY. Let them Be TRANSFORMIST and be the true REFORMIST that some
of our leaders profess to be. Let them be real in their day day day
actions. Many have died for their INACTIONS/BAD LEADERSHIP. How many
more of our citizens do they expect to die before they will change for
good? Now is the time for actual/permanent positive change by our so
called leaders. We have been waiting for too long for the
CHANGE/TRANSFORMATION that they promised us. Leadership is not a given,
it’s a task to deliver to the people you serve. Be a Servant-Leader and
not the other way around. Good leadership is attainable/could be
maintained; it all depends on the individual that calls him/herself as
leader. Let me conclude by stating that, everyone of us is a leader by
our rights. But your being a true leader depends also on how you see
yourself, the role that you play as a leader on your
followers/subordinates and how others also perceived you.