Chronicle EditorGlen Dhliwayo
LEADERSHIP is something that seems mysterious and very complicated to a lot of people. Some even wish, in their inner hearts of hearts to become affluent leaders. Most people think that they will never realise their dreams of becoming recognised and acknowledged leaders.
Well, what if we told you that this dream is possible and indeed it can be achieved by anyone who so wishes to do so?
Leadership is a very pragmatic principle. It is not as abstract as people carve it out to be.
The word “lead” from which leadership is derived from is a verb.
Many familiar with the lower levels of English classes in primary school are quite aware that all verbs are doing words.
They are used to refer to action. That last word in the preceding sentence is the key to leadership.
ACTION! Your actions establish your lead. In other words, your leadership is a function of your action.
Leadership has been misconstrued and made complicated so many times for so many reasons.
This is the very reason why most people hold the false belief that they are only meant to look for leaders elsewhere except from within themselves.
The truth though is that everyone can and should lead if the hope of functional organisations and communities must be entertained.
Should everyone lead? The reason why the majority would answer this question with a NO is because they think there is scarcity of leadership opportunity.
Whoever perpetuated that lie should be charged guilty of a heinous crime that cripples our community in many instances.
The reality is that, most problems we face in our individual lives, families, institutions, communities and the world at large are just a reflection of a deficiency of leadership.
Any unsolved problem at any level indicates a leadership that failed to show up.
Some leadership and management gurus will rubbish the notion that everyone can be a leader.
They will do so vehemently and give plenty reasons. This is because all along we have been looking at leadership from the wrong angle and probably with the wrong glasses.
What has passed as leadership in most situations is not in actual fact leadership.
Many people think that making everyone a leader will result in anarchy and chaos.
They think disorder and conflict will reign supreme if everyone in a place exercises leadership. The opposite is true.
The moment that everyone exhibits leadership qualities in their space and area, is the moment that optimum results are achieved.
While there are many leadership theories and books that any serious leader should look for and learn from, any leader should, however, strive to make action the hallmark of their leadership.
Many people are suicidal in that they try to make leadership very abstract. Most young people in schools view leadership as a chance to live as a monarch. Those that desire to be recognised as leaders do so because they want to enjoy the privilege that comes with being a leader.
So how do we simplify leadership so that everyone understands the concept? One cannot become a leader once they do not realise and appreciate that leadership is a lifestyle.
It is a way of life that you live by and with from birth till you depart from earth. You do not need to start leading once you put on a leadership “jacket”.
Leadership starts from a personal level. If you cannot lead your own life why would you aspire to lead other people?
“I mean you can’t think of leading a nation when you can’t even lead your own siblings for example, so let’s start being leaders at small things,” Don Hove, a first-year engineering student at University of Zimbabwe, said in response to whether Zimbabwe is ready for young leaders.
Don here was on point. What many people do not realise for starters is that they are leading a personal life and that alone needs serious leadership.
Leadership is not all about titles, labels and positions.
In fact, most of these positions and titles are vacuums because they are not occupied by genuine leaders.
Most people work all their life to earn a leadership title when in actual fact they are far from being leaders. This is the case of many CEOs and directors who have all the relevant qualifications but still run down companies because of their poor leadership.
Simple things like interpersonal communication could result in the death of company.
Many managers do not even know how to interact with their subordinates, let alone motivating them and that is why they do not get the best performance from them.
Stop fearing leadership, start exercising it. Do it now, because after all leading is an active process.
Till next week guys, God bless you all.
Ciao . . .
The writer is a motivational teacher. He can be contacted on [email protected]
Online Reporter