‘Good leadership is a virtue’

Eddie Zvinonzwa

LOOSELY defined, leadership can be said to refer to the ability of an individual or a group of individuals to influence and guide followers or other members of an organisation.

Those in leadership could head a family, community, workgroup, corporate body, right up to national level. The impact of the influence these leaders may have on the group could be lasting, but all the same, they define how well or otherwise the person is as a leader.

In his 2021 publication titled “Amplified Silence: Birthing Leaders” that bring solutions to hidden problems, Takudzwa Masapa explores leadership from a number of angles.

Just like different people will have different ways in which they conceptualise leadership, Masapa tries to give his own perspective of what a good leader should be.

He believes a good leader must possess the ability to identify a need.

In other words, the need here clearly refers to a specific challenge in an organisation or community. Perhaps this is what makes the book uniquely refreshing.

It adopts a simplistic approach to the issue of leadership.  “Identifying a need is not something that leaders choose to do, when they deem it necessary, but it is an obligation. This is what separates an ‘elite leader’ from the rest. If you cannot identify a need, then you are definitely a leader by ‘title’ and not by ‘being’,” reads part of the book on Page 7.

Writing in the foreword, life coach, author and strategist Cynthia Chirinda says: “The principles shared in ‘Amplified Silence’, have a cutting edge precision that can be applied spiritually and physically in the worlds of marketing, science, finance, art, intelligent systems and daily human interaction. That unique skill of being able to anticipate, listen and respond to the needs around you, is a game-changer that will affect how decision-making processes are navigated and how solutions are proffered.” (Prologue, P2)

The issue of leadership, therefore, transcends all sectors of life, making it a topic for everybody. That way, it becomes a universal topic and, as such, affects everyone.

The problem is we see certain countries where systems value and develop individuals ahead of institutions.

Institutions last, yet individuals do not.

We have seen many people in leadership positions being hauled before the courts for corruption. Like many other countries of the world, corruption is not new but perhaps how authorities tackle it will be the issue.

It is a cancer that has cost organisations and even countries dearly.

Masapa writes: “The biggest challenge we have in any organisation right now is the mentality that a leadership position is primarily a fattening spree. We forget to feed the people who entrusted us with the wise use of power.

“There is a Shona idiom that says, ‘Mbudzi inofura payakasungirirwa’, which connotes that leaders must use their positions or privileges to benefit or enrich themselves. A perfect case study would be that of the manipulation of the meaning of this idiom by company executives as they exploit the company’s resources. I strongly believe that there is need to make use of the avenues in the company rules that prevent exploitation of company resources for personal advantage and use by the executives.”

So unique is “Amplified Silence: Birthing Leaders” that it brings solutions to concealed problems and demands to be read in organisations, institutions of learning, churches and any other environments that people who lead.

The seven-chapter book is a must-read for those keen on understanding the topic of leadership. Masapa is an influential young man with a burning desire to make a difference in the lives of many.  His passion in life is to grow and equip others so that they become remarkable leaders who are able to impact lives.

He has also authored “Whosoever Wants to be Great” and “Your Guide to Elite Leadership.” A leadership coach and author, Masapa has written articles that have been published in the “Get Inspired” magazine, “Creative039” and “The Sensational” newspaper.

He graduated from Fletcher High School in 2018 and is currently studying Architecture at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust). He is the deputy social media manager of Helping Hands Rescue Trust, a non-profit making organisation.

Masapa recently received an Honorary Award that was presented by the Global African Authors Awards on July 31 in South Africa in honour of his book “Amplified Silence: Birthing Leaders.”

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