THE PEOPLE
...in leadership
Leadership in Africa cannot hope to achieve anything without the participation of the people. Without the peoples support leadership is meaningless. Defining leadership as social responsibility for corporate success means that the people must be part of the process. Leadership will be realized by the resolution of a society to rise up and determine its corporate destiny.
Through this book we have evaluated the corporate and social role of leadership in Africa. However, the burden of (leadership) responsibility rests with the individual. Please allow me to depart from general discourse and speak with you directly as a key participant in the process.
As participants in leadership we must consistently exercise leadership in our roles and responsibilities in society. We must identify (choose) our role(s), take up responsibility and accept responsibility for the outcome of our participation and involvement. The principles of exercising leadership are the same for everyone only assignments vary in size and scope.
THE LEADERSHIP PROCESS
Exercising leadership is a personally empowering and a socially enriching function. If we do not exercise leadership, society will be impoverished. Neglecting leadership also results in loss of opportunity, poor use of resources, poor personal development, weak corporate performance and decay of ones environment. By disciplining ourselves to handle (increasing) responsibility successfully we make leadership development a process of social maturity. Leadership therefore ceases to be an external assignment practiced periodically for purposes of reward and becomes an internalized ability exercised naturally at every opportunity to realize personal growth and social enrichment.
THE LEADER BOX
At one time or other we find ourselves in the leader box. The leader box will require additional skill; will wisdom and dedication to handle effectively. Personal development to competently handle the role should never be underestimated.
But emphasis on ability need not be overrated either because a primary requirement of the leader box is continuous development. Handling the demands of the leader box if handled positively will grow the leader
THE LEADER PROCESS
EXERCISING LEADERSHIP
Exercising leadership will require courage, initiative, enterprise and concerted effort. It is our corporate participation in the leadership process that will translate to the social transformation, growth and development required to realize the hope of the people.
SOCIAL OUTCOMES
Effective leadership should generate positive social impact. Leadership influence and communication within an organization can create four possible outcomes.
Excessive influence causes social domination but little understanding or belief in corporate ideals. Low influence and little communication may only achieve weak association with corporate ideals. Good communication will merely clarify corporate direction. Ideally effective leadership influence and communication should generate ownership and participation in corporate affairs.
WHY EXERCISE LEADERSHIP
Leadership; sets a standards for the future (generations) to build on, establishes a platform of excellence, benchmarks progress by raising levels of acceptable performance, records history and writes the future, raises social and economic averages and encourages further participation, raise incomes and spread joy as well as makes available social benefits, realizes dreams and brings out the best in society, raises the hope of children and captures the imagination of a people, overcomes obstacles, develops individuals and add value to society, glorifies God and brings honor to a nation. If leadership does all this then your participation is not necessary. It is mandatory!