Unleash the leader in you

Many a time, people think leadership is reserved for an exclusive class for politicians. In today’s world, everywhere you look people are looking for a leader in every sphere of life. People are hungry for inspiration, in politics, churches, in the work place even in sports. There is too much space for leadership waiting for YOU to take up. The iconic British writer William Shakespeare said, “Some men are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” Leadership and greatness are two interlinked ideas, think Paul Kagame, Barrack Obama, Mahatma Ghandi or Nelson Mandela. There is nothing you can really do about being born great like Price William or having greatness thrust upon you, like perhaps President Kabila of D.R Congo. But anyone can achieve greatness, although not as an end to itself. Mandela did not achieve his iconic status by pursuing fame. He went to jail for 27 years and by the time he came back he was great. The amount of sacrifice that one throws towards a cause is the cost of greatness. Greatness is a byproduct of commitment to a cause for good, not a result of a campaign to become great. Secondly, do not just aspire to be a leader for the sake of being able to step one very one’s head. A good starting point for someone who would like to unleash their leadership potential is to find a good cause, something that can change the lives of others in your immediate surroundings for the better. It could be your home, your class in school, your workplace and do not expect anybody to pay you for it. Thirdly, leaders do not rule. They serve others, in fact leaders are servants. You don’t have to tell anyone you want to be a leader, but people will take you as a leader when you listen to people, you become the force of good. Have courage but do not seek to be arrogant. Treat men equally regardless of their social status. Listen, listen, listen more than you speak, that is why you have two ears and one mouth. Think before you speak. Be prompt in making decisions without being rash. Act like a leader, be humble but incisive, talk with confidence, don’t be put down by people with malicious intentions, ignore them and leave them wondering, what’s wrong with this guy? Wear a genuine smile when everybody seems to be sinking. Talk to yourself. Let your inner-self know that you are a leader. Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Company said, “If you believe you can...or can’t...you are right! So you have the power to will yourself into leadership or fail to do so.” Be the person people will automatically seek for genuine advice, and make it a point to give back honest, genuine advice. Be the person that people will seek for direction and while at it, make sure you give that direction. Don’t act infallible; be honest when you do know something. Consult those you believe know what you don’t know. Listen to advice but judge every point of advice based on the position of the person offering advice. Learn to withdraw yourself from a difficult situation and look at it from all angles. There is no use getting worked up about a situation, it will never do you any good. Learn to direct your emotions correctly, using them to judge a situation without allowing them to take the better of you. This Sunday, begin the journey to find that leader in YOU! kelviod@yahoo.com