By Suleiman Mande
Leadership is an act of surrender, an act of sacrifice of ones health, wealth, time, energy and any other resources that one possibly possesses in order to add value, create meaning and purpose, build and enlarge the society to attain to its ideal goals, dreams and aspirations.
“Standing between Problem and solutions to those problems are critical entities called leaders” – William Ruto, Kenyan Vice President.
Standing between where we are and where we want to be is decisive, pragmatic and bold decisions that takes leaders to make.
When we say leaders in this respect, we are not only talking about political leaders, but a whole list of leaders in about every sphere of human life, because when it comes to leadership, a typical African belief is that only those who hold political positions are leaders, and that, only they have the power to make the decisive, pragmatic and bold decisions that will impact the society.
The leaders we are talking about here include but not limited to political leaders, business leaders, religious leaders, academic leaders and leaders from all other entities and institutions that decide how the society should be governed.
First and foremost, what all these groups of leaders must put into account is the “NEEDS” of the society and then seek to design programmes that will address those needs in the most effective and efficient manner.
As a leader in your own self, at home, in your groups and organizations and elsewhere, your most important responsibilty is to pay keen attention to what your environment is communicating to you. And when we say environment, we mean where you are and the people you deal with, as there is always signals and signs of need that is being communicated through so many ways and your responsibility as a leader is to listen carefully, pay attention and then device proper action plan and strategies that will address such needs.
Leaders must take “responsibility”, and it is interesting to point out the fact that the word “Responsibility” is a combination of two words: “response and ability”, which means that the ability to respond to people, things and events around us in a manner that solves and satisfies a growing need or problem.
Therefore, the ability to respond is the mark of a true leader. Unfortunately, the reason why we have so many problems with ourselves, in our homes with our families, in our communities and societies, in our local governments and states, in our countries, in out continent and indeed in the world at large, is because leaders almost always chose and decides to “React” rather than RESPOND to needs being communicated by their subjects.
As a leader in whichever calling of life, you are to effectively and efficiently respond to people, things, events and situations around you. You are to always seek for new adventures, new opportunities that will expose you to other people in need of what you can offer in order to make their lives easier and more convenient.
“The mark of a true leader is in his ability to respond and not to react” _ Anonymous.
Don’t forget to comment, share your thoughts, advise, suggestions, corrections and recommendations so that together we can build a better world by God’s leave.
Peace and God bless.
Mande writes in from Katsina.
