This Message is for you Leaders. Read on

1. Leadership is defined by Action.

I met a young man who said that if he had an elected position he would make a positive difference in his community. He is not alone. Many would be leaders are on the side-lines. This is what David Schwartz called mental vacationing in his book called the magic of thinking big.

Many people have gifts that can alter the lives of others but they are waiting for permission to act. Fear holds them back. If the late Nelson Mandela had waited we would not have a South Africa without racial prejudice. If Mother Teresa had waited she would not have become a world icon.

We all have the potential to make a difference in our communities but fear holds us back. Also selfishness is another bottleneck to leadership development. We want all the praised and we leave society with pressing needs.

How to become a leader of action?

• Have a clear purpose for your life. Without clarity a leader will become a jerk of all trades and a master of none. All productive leaders have a clear and a compelling purpose for their lives.
• Seek mentorship and coaching. Mentors and coaches unlock potential. They share with you insights that you would never gain on your own. Most successful people attribute their success to guidance from their mentors and coaches.
• Act on your goals. We all have potential but no one will ever know that potential if we don’t act on it. If John Maxwell had not written leadership books perhaps he would only influence few people. Today he is one of the greatest leadership experts in the world because he has shared his experiences in over 100 leadership books.

Question: What action are you taking today to become a better leader?

2. Even Presidents have Advisors.

I heard an adult say that for him he was old and I didn’t need any advice from any one. I reflected on the statement and its potential impact on his destiny. A close look at most presidents across the world is that they have experienced advisors when making decisions. This speaks volumes for leaders. It means that nobody has monopoly over knowledge.

Even medical doctors whom we know are intelligent by nature consult each other before making important decisions. Throughout history leaders who have neglected advice have fallen. Since every person is a leader we should prioritize seeking advice from wise and experienced sources. Where we seek advice also matters. If a person wants to invest their hard earned money and they consult a fraudster then they will be headed for disaster.

 How to seek advice?

• Have a clear purpose for your life. Without clarity one ends up seeking advice from vague sources.
• Invest in knowledge. The most successful people invest in seminars, workshops.
• Seek mentorship and coaching. The best leaders seek the best mentors and to guide them in areas of their lives. The speech made by the president of the United States of America is proof read by expert writers. This is because every statement he makes has consequences.

3. Make Positive or Negative Influence.

There is an elder who didn’t mind what he spoke. He said that it was all about him. This was his thinking. He didn’t know that his words were influencing someone. We always think that influence is for those leaders with prominent positions. This is wrong because actually we are most influenced by those who are close to us.

How come a child who has been so disciplined ends up a disgrace in society? It may be due to the influence of friends yet at home he or she was well groomed. Influence also affects adults. An employee may have a promising career but may end up distracted by lazy workmates. In the end he or she may give up on his or her career plans and will be terminated for the failure deliver targets.

The topic of influence is important to leaders because they shape society. Whether it is an individual or a leader with a position we should be intentional in becoming positive influencers. With a free world, young people have access to internet unlike before. Technology is influencing us whether in a positive or negative way is a topic for another day.

How to become a leader of positive influence?

• Lead people to God. The world is full of darkness. People need leaders who direct them to higher ways of God.
• Form master minds. We are shaped by what we think. Society is feeding on wrong information. It takes a leader to form master minds that can transform lives.
• Mentor young people. Many young people are waiting for a positive influence. You may become that person. Even if it is one youth that you choose to mentor in responsible living, it changes their world.

Question: In what ways are you positively influencing your world?

4. You are a formidable force.

I heard a person say who am I to change the world? A close examination of the question that he asked shows a victim mentality. There are very many people in the world that feel that their individual contributions do not matter. And indeed when they are criticized they quit. That is why the late Dr. Myles Munroe said that the wealthiest place on earth is the cemetery.

This is where unfinished books, organisations and projects rest. We are all victims. God has given us the gift of life but we have chosen to take the path of least resistance. We fear to make headlines. We have allowed being like the masses.

You matter a great deal. Imagine how the world would be without electricity, hospitals and banks. All these are inventions by man that have altered the course of history.

Question:   What projects or ideas are waiting for your actualisation?

Phillip Kiryowa

Values and Leadership Trainer

Email: kiryowaphillip@gmail.com

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