REDEFINING LEADERSHIP - by Blessed Elemikan

Perhaps one of the misconceptions about leadership which has shaped the way humans have long viewed it is that most people consider leadership, in its entirety, to be the assumption of a position of authority by an individual. While it is expected that anyone who assumes a position of authority leads, not everyone who wields power actually leads. From stories of politicians who launder money, to that of top public officials and civil servants who embezzle public funds, we see that being in position of power does not equate leading, because leadership is done by example. I visited an uncle a while ago, I was conversing with my uncle. My uncle, at a point during the conversation, decided to change the subject of discussion to leadership. He exposed exposed many things that most people do not seem to know about leadership - he made a statement that struck me: "A gateman could be a leader, a cleaner could be a leader too". I pondered over this statement and thought how possible. Sincerely, I could not fully grasp what he said until I checked the dictionary for the meaning of the word "lead" and it gave different definitions, such as: * To direct; to counsel; to instruct.* To guide or conduct with the hand, or by means of physical contact connection. However, a third definition caught my attention. It goes thus: To show the way especially by going with or going in advance of. We see here that leadership takes willingness; willingness to guide people, to go the extra mile to make things easier. Leaders these days need to understand that at the core of leadership is service. As exemplified by Jesus Christ, to lead is to serve. Though Jesus is a great leader, during his days on earth, he showed that leadership is done through service. He washed the feet of His disciples; something that leaders of that time, sacred or secular, wouldn't dare do. Contrary to what many believe today, leaders are positioned to serve those that they lead. We must also understand that service is not slavery neither is it a burden. It is the acts of service we render and how we render them that determine the reasonability and validity of our service, not how much we make or how popular and famous we become. I charge leaders of this age and emerging leaders to see leadership as an avenue to serve and not to exploit, a platform to give and not just to take.

Other insights from Blessed Elemikan

Referral Earning

Points-to-Coupons