Casting your eyes around and carefully observing how things are going especially in this part of the world, there is no denying to the fact that we need a new generation of leaders who will make great impact.
Businesses, organizations, churches and societies have been engulfed in a sea of confusion and purposelessness, a clear indication of the failure of leadership. In the midst of all these, it is difficult, looking around, to even identify what great leadership is. Unfortunately we have been surrounded by leaders who are only experts at winning — elections, big titles, fat bonuses and ex gratia etc. Often times society tells us that these breed of leaders are the people we ought to look up to because it is the material and financial gains that a leader is able to amass that really matter.
However, you and I know that being a mere winner doesn’t make you a great leader. Great Leadership isn’t about the material and financial rewards you have, and how much of it you have— but Great Leadership is WHAT YOU DO and WHY YOU DO WHAT YOU DO; if you are determined to make a mark as a leader.
Great Leaders lead us not necessarily to a physical destination but rather to the better and improved versions of our true selves. Most of the leaders we see in our societies, businesses, organizations, churches etc want to be referred to as Great Leaders but they don’t qualify. They want all the benefits of leadership yet are not willing to pay the price. They want to enjoy the respect, dignity and the title of leadership, without leading people to becoming better and improved versions of their true selves.
Who then is the great leader? I say a great leader is the D. E. A. L
What I mean is, a great leader;
is Decisive
pursues Excellence
is an Achiever
Learns quickly
In this leadership series, I will look closely at these four essential traits that make a Great Leader. Next week, I will begin with the trait of being DECISIVE and why all Great Leaders need to be Decisive.
Author: John Affaidzi Appiah
Director, Corporate Communications and External Relations at Various
