THE ALL-ROUND LEADER

THE ALL-ROUND LEADER
       By:- Opeyemi Oyetunji
during a Radio Interview section with Evangelist Ogunkilede Joshua on World Counsellors Clinic at Maranatha Radio, Ibadan, Nigeria. 

INTRODUCTION
       Leadership is an art, an innate phenomenon. Every creature has an inbuilt capacity to lead only that a few exhibit it. No one is a follower, everybody is a leader. The perceived followers are seen as such because of the context they are in. At other contexts, a follower here is the leader there and vice versa. Nobody is a leader everywhere. You may be leading in academics and be deficient in the spiritual context. Being the leader of a community, you are answerable to the commands and control of someone at a higher level. Every leadership position stands on the middle of the ladder, you have leaders below and leaders ahead of you.
        Councillors are leaders in their communities but are subjects to the chairman who also is a subject to the governor, a subject to the president too.

WHO IS A LEADER?
        A leader however is someone who is agreed to control and manage the affairs of a people and to promote the interest of the people. A leader is usually selected either by choice (election)  or imposition. Where he is selected through election,  even if glaring such won, his occupation of the position has to be agreed, by the majority.
And on the other way round, imposition threatens the interest of the community and is usually birthed out of selfish concerns. The administration of an imposed leader is always characterised by confusion, rebellion and insubordination of the highest level.
         That is the sole reason  the selection should be free and fair enough. The voice of the electorates has to be heard because they are to be led and they know what and what they want. The emphasis on the approval of the majority is as a result that not every member agrees to a cause no matter how profitable.  Whereas, in a case where the interest of the majority is polluted, a bad leader becomes the outcome.

THE PERSON OF A LEADER
As noted earlier, everybody is capable of leading. If the environment is friendly, showcasing leadership will flow naturally. The following among others are the expected features a leader or a potential leader should exhibit. He/she must;

a. Be a Motivator: 
         The members of a team, no matter how much they have attained or acquired have some internal battles that they wrestle with. As a result,  their actions and deeds may appear mitigating to the course of the group. Therefore, a leader must at the beginning of every meeting charge them with motivational speeches. That is capable of stemming the tide of anger in any one. He/she has to remind them of the objectives, the benefits of the team,  leaving out sanctions tentatively.

b. Be a Manager
         A team is a composition of people of diverse cultural backgrounds, religious affiliation, educational attainment, exposure and experience,  and where they share the same characteristics,  they would have different temperament, mindset and perception about the same subject. Therefore, it is a daunting task to manage differences. To want a subject to obey all command is unacceptable. Hence, it is ideal for a leader to be a able to read emotions, and actions before giving commands. The leader has to manage his followers.

c. Be a Team Builder
Whether people would come join the team or exit is determined by the leaders' leadership style, lifestyle or the general code of conduct the members of the team. It however largely hinges on the leader. Even at the face of revolutionary displays, the leaders still have to be subtle and approach with wisdom. The objective of the leader has to be, bringing people to the fold. He must've able to invest in his people and look outside for more. He/she must never be content with the number on aground. There is nothing bad I expansion as long the motive behind it for the benefit of all.

d. Be a Problem Solver
          The immediate host community, the country even her members have some challenges and are on the look out for a team or someone that would help solve. When matters are reported, he/she must be quick to listen but gentle to judge and very importantly be objective.

e.  Be Confidential
          The kite that seems to be going around is suicide as a result of depression. Depression is a product of unpalatable experiences, threat, unavailability of a confidant or the betrayal of the confidant. A leader is seen as one on whose shoulders the followers can lean on. He/she must be flexible, open and kind enough to people that they'd see him/her as someone that can be tested with secrets. I often say,  if you tell me a secret and hear from a third party, it is either the third party is a 'perceived' prayer partner. Every confidant gas a confidant. Your confidant confides in someone else. Hence,  if you hear the secret you told me from someone, I have not only betrayed you, I have been betrayed as well. That is, my confidant is not confidential. Atleast,  a leader must be like a father and always ready to attend.

f.  Be a Mentor
          Mentorship and motivation are phenomena which are intricately intertwined. While a mentor is one who coaches another who is less experienced, a motivator is one who inspires others to act. The leader of the organization must be versed in the nutty gritty of the fellowship and be competent enough to pass the ideas to other. A leaders does not keep ideas, he invests in his followers. A leader cannot be called a leader if his!/her successor can not carry on, even better when he/she leaves the position. As soon as he assumes office, a good leader starts breeding successors. He/she sees every member of the group as a successor and trains them like.

g. Be Responsible
          It is worthy of note that the leader is answerable to every event this done by any member of the group or the group itself. His/her vision mist be channelled toward collectivity and must have this watchword, "we did it". When a group takes responsibility for all actions burdens are lessened. Every achievement is by all. Also,  every breakdown should be shared by all.

h. Be A Visioner
          A leader looks beyond. It is not necessary you achieve much, make sure one that will fill the book of history is attained. Look into what would benefit the next generation. To be chastised while alive and immortalized after death is better than to be praise while alive and chastised after death. Try your best for this generation and perfect the rest for the generations to come.
Being visionary entails setting realisable goals. Be confident in your aim and it cannot be stopped.
Before throwing your ideas to your group,  do researches about it, examine it by asking yourself questions, look at the possible challenges,  solve them ahead and laugh it out. Thinkers are likely to raise the challenges, you solved them already, Just solve in reality and there you go!

i. Transformational
          Leaders have the capability to transform concepts. A bad leader transforms from positive to negative while a good leader does the other way round. A good leader is usually innovative and keen on bringing up new things are refining old things. He/she pursues resuscitation. If there's an idea that not realistic even if supported everybody, drop it and steer clear.

j. Be Excellence - Oriented
         Leaders are exceptional beings who target excellence. Be careful not to have abandoned projects. When too many things are pursued at a time, everything becomes half-done. Work within the time frame of your office,  and not overburdened yourself with projects. Be praised for one rather than getting condemned for many. Whichever project carried out, ensure perfection.

k. Be Bold
        The ability to confron anybody, or a group of people to defend a course or present at any time, any day and anywhere is one characteristic that is usually evident in all-round leaders. They are usually bold and can challenge any situation Most often, they are public speakers. If you are not one, your leadership is incomplete. I have never led a group where my secretary or any member spoke for me,except on rare occasions,maybe when not available. An available leader confronts his/her tasks him/herself.

L. Be Personally Developed and Versatile
          This exactly is where being an "all-round leader" sets in. An all-round leader is one who is a Jack of all trades and master one. You can not know all about all. Get at least, so knowledge about all. Be able to say something about Literature, Philosophy, Philology, Sociology, Politics, Science,  Religion,  Education, Psychology, Engineering, Nature,  Economics, Sports and what have you? Even if it just the definitions of the concepts. Speak the little you know. But in your area of specialization, be the god of it. That is what makes a leader, be versatile, dynamic and creative.

Conclusion
Leadership determines the quality of our future, and leadership develops from inside out.

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