Leadership comes with a burden which is, to conduct oneself as someone who can always set an example. I use the word burden deliberately because it is meant to convey the weight of responsibility and expectation that comes from being in a leadership position. So, if you have intentions of going into public service […]
If you want to earn the respect of the people you lead, an important lesson to learn regarding how you interact with them is this: BE A LEADER, NOT A FRIEND. This might seem strange, but the fact is when a leader seeks popularity by trying to be friends with the people he leads, […]
Failure is a subject no one likes to talk about. In the hyper-competitive world in which we live, failure is derided and those who fail find it difficult to hold their heads up. It takes courage and confidence to fail and still stand tall. Leaders are not immune from failure as they too can […]
This column was away for two weeks but is now back. Thank you for your support. Every leader wants to leave a legacy, but according to John Maxwell, “A legacy is created only when a person puts his organization into the position to do great things without him.” Ultimately, effective leadership is about how […]
I was on a radio programme last week and it was mentioned that it is not just our leaders who are bad, but also the followers. Which means that all of us who aren’t in a leadership position of any kind are bad. Is this true? There are indeed many things we see that […]
Sacrifice involves the notion of giving up something in pursuit of the achievement of an objective. When the purpose a leader seeks to achieve stretches him or her in every conceivable way, it will require great sacrifice for it to be fulfilled. Not every one of us will be required to make the sacrifice […]
Last week Nigeria turned 61. For anyone turning that age, it should probably be a time of thanksgiving, some moderate celebration but most of all reflection with questions like: “Have I done or am I doing all I should do?”; “Have I been a good steward of the years I’ve been given so far?” […]
Values guide us morally and provide the basis for our making choices and decisions. Our character is our values in action, and these values provide the parameters within which we apply our capabilities. Just as values guide and provide boundaries for individuals, so they also do for societies and communities, providing the boundaries and […]
A crisis is a time of severe difficulty or danger or an event that could have a serious negative outcome. In a crisis, decisions need to be made, which play a significant part in determining its outcome. Crisis can occur in the family, at work, or in a nation as we see in our […]
There are problems of all types and of all sizes in every sphere of life. Life itself can seem like an obstacle course in which we can succeed only by overcoming problems that face us along the way. In the words of Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft: “Constraints are real and will always be […]
Humility means being free from pride or arrogance. It can seem incompatible with a world in which flaunting one’s achievements and aggressively projecting one’s image are becoming the standard. Yet even in a world obsessed with self-image and status, humility evidenced by having a modest view of one’s importance and not having a sense […]
I have found that there are two fundamental requirements for effective leadership – and everything revolves around these two. In an earlier article, I wrote about leadership capacity being one of these fundamentals. The other is character. Anyone who wants to make a difference in their field of endeavour today first needs the capacity […]
Leadership is sustained by character but is principally built around capacity. Education contributes significantly to leadership capacity because it provides not only knowledge but also opportunities to develop ability. Education can come in many ways: formal, on-the-job, informal, vocational, personal development and more. All these prepare for leadership in various capacities.
The funeral this April of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, husband, and Consort of 73 years of the Queen of the United Kingdom is a lesson on how those who have privilege should act. Most of us are not royalty, but in every society, there are those who are privileged for one […]
Most people at the end of the day want to be significant in one way or another and not just go through life without making an impact. But how can you lead and make a difference? Where does one start? Conviction is very important. If you don’t have the conviction about something you cannot […]
Some of the things required of leaders can be hard. Yet it is often in these things that lie progress and what benefits the group. Some leaders avoid doing hard things for various reasons which can seem expedient in the short run, but eventually, everyone including them pays the price. What are some of […]
There are two fundamental requirements for effective leadership: capacity and character. Leaders must have both if they want anyone to willingly follow them. This week we examine what leadership capacity means and why it is so important for leaders. What exactly is Leadership Capacity? It is the sum of the qualities and capabilities required […]
This title is something I believe should be added to every leader’s job description. Leaders must be able to deal with criticism and opposition. Since they are expected to lead people with diverse opinions and backgrounds, often in difficult circumstances, they cannot expect everyone to always go along with them. All leaders will face […]
Today we live in a world in which a person’s exploits and even daily activities can be projected around the world. Social media has made this possible, and with it fuelling the desire to be famous and become a celebrity. Nicky Gumbel, author, lawyer and Reverend said a survey of millennials revealed that 50% […]
When you are in a leadership position exercising the power of the position, there are realities about power you need to be mindful of if you want to be an effective leader. Let us look at five of them: The first is that Power is given. If you have power, you were given that […]
Effective leaders have the capacity to do what is required to achieve a particular purpose. How do they do this? By inspiring those who follow them to buy into the purpose, influencing them to make the changes required to execute it, and empowering them to work towards its successful attainment. These three: Inspire, Influence […]
When it comes to leadership, the issue of age is often contentious, especially in Africa where younger people accuse the older generation of not yielding leadership opportunities to them, as they hold on to power at all costs. Uganda’s President Museveni for example was re-elected to a sixth term in office this year! In […]
Leadership is now front and centre in virtually every sphere of life – from the public sector to private organisations, non-profits and even in informal settings. People are increasingly appreciating the significance of leadership, and the role it plays in any endeavour or setting. But why really, does leadership matter? Let’s look at four […]
Welcome to “Lessons in Leadership”, a weekly leadership column in which I will be sharing knowledge and insight to help you lead wherever you are. I am sure you will agree with me that the need for leadership today is as great as it has ever been, if not greater. Look at our world: […]
