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Understanding leadership

By Sam O. Osunsanaya
27 November 2016   |   1:43 am
Just like my mentor will always say, ‘trapped within every human is a hidden leader.’ I believe the subject of leadership is crucial in all human endeavour.

leadership-leaders-concept

Just like my mentor will always say, ‘trapped within every human is a hidden leader.’ I believe the subject of leadership is crucial in all human endeavour. As a matter of fact, the current economic downturn countries across the globe are currently facing is a product of poor or ineffective leadership. This implies that nothing ever gets successful without leadership; no venture in life can survive without effective leadership.

However, I will like us to understand that leadership itself is not limited to political appointment or has it anything to do with some special kind of people. Leadership has no relationship with the position you occupy. True leadership is birthed by inspiration to influence positive change by serving others. No matter your colour, status, culture or creed; you have the potentials for leadership within you. The creator has planted something in you that has been crying for expression. I call it the leadership within.

Good leadership is not limited by titles or recognition, but by contribution. Have you not seen people with titles, but add no value to anyone? It’s so unfortunate that this present world has mistaken leadership for political appointment only; thinking that until you are appointed or elected to a political position, you are not yet a leader. This has grossly abused the purpose of leadership.

Leadership is not in what you have, but in what you add to service. It is not in significance, but in relevance. It is not in reputation, but in contribution. It is not in the titles, but in the value we bring to service. May I, therefore, define leadership as the ability to serve others? We need to come to the understanding that leadership is not in manipulation, but in inspiration; the principal essence of leadership is to serve others. It’s all about having the sense of values; looking for avenue to serve others. Only those who have the heart of service ever emerge as great leaders.

It’s also important for us to understand our leadership potential can never find expression without identifying our gifts. Leadership begins by first identifying our area of gifting before maximisation. Every one of us is born with the potential to lead, but we must first refine and explore the potentials within us. For instance, not everybody will be president, prime minister or governor, but everyone is designed to lead in an area of passion.

May I, therefore, say leadership is the natural instinct of every human, but taking responsibility, thereby looking for areas to serve humanities, is the key to actualising our leadership potential.

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