Oye Arikanki
Who is a leader that makes a difference? A leader that makes a difference is someone who is a servant first. One who loves to serve his people. Robert K Greenleaf captures such a leader in his book, The Servant Leader Within. He said of servant leadership, “It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. The difference manifests itself in the care taken by the servant –first to make sure that other people’s highest priority needs are being served.”
The leader that makes a difference has an inner drive to always want to serve others. Such leader has a commitment to serving the needs of others. The leader in that realm has a mindset of increased service to others, a holistic approach to work and promote a sense of community.
A leader that makes a difference listens to others. He listens receptively to what his people are saying and what they don’t say. A leader that makes a difference learns how to use persuasive skills to convince his people to do something instead of bullying. He is not the authoritarian or narcissistic leader who uses his position to make decisions without considering the concern of his people.
A leader that makes a difference understands that in the world today one doesn’t motivate people by putting cane on their back, but by sharing with them a worthwhile vision. By setting attainable goals and helping them to realise them.
In Leadership challenge, the authors; James Kouzes and Barry Posner, stated that a leader that makes a difference must be able to challenge the status quo: seek out challenging opportunities to change, grow, innovate, improve, experiment and take risks. Inspired a shared vision: envisage an uplifting and ennobling future; enlist others to share the vision by appealing to their values, interests, hopes, and dreams. Empower others to act: foster collaboration by promoting co-operative goals and building trust; strengthening people by conceding power and providing choice, developing competence, assigning critical tasks, and offering visible support. Model the way: set an example by behaving in ways consistent with shared values, achieve small wins that promote consistent progress; build commitments. Encourage the heart; recognise individual contributions and celebrate team accomplishments regularly.
A leader that makes a difference always seeks to develop, practice and sharpen his leadership skills. If you are a junior worker in an organisation and you genuinely desire to make a difference, go to your boss (I don’t actually like this word) and ask him to give you a stretch assignment, ask for a task that can help you develop your potential. If you fail in the assignment, learn some good lessons and ask for more risky and tougher assignment. In no time, you will discover that doing this will enhance your promotion prospects and leadership development.
A leader that makes a difference always seeks to improve himself. He is always studying, learning and planning. He is a student at all times. A leader that makes a difference sets high standards for himself and has excellent work ethics. A leader that makes a difference is a man of impeccable integrity. If you are a man of integrity, your people will trust you. And that is pretty good for your organisation. Integrity builds trust. Your people will believe in you before they believe in your leadership. If your people sense a double standard, they quickly notice the difference between what you say and what you do. And this is dangerous.
In any organisation where the boss is always seeking to sleep with the female employees, this will undermined the productivity and efficiency of such organisation. There will be palpable mistrust in the company and things will not work as it should be. You see, a strong moral character is the core value of a leader that makes a difference. This reminds me of the story of a bank manager who has problem with his people. The morale was low and seemed nothing was working in the bank. A consultant was brought in to find out what was wrong.
He tried many managerial techniques but nothing worked. Then he heard that the manager, who was married and had three children, was sleeping with one of the cashiers and the act was known to other employees. The cashier was always rude to other employees and bank customers. As the consultant confronted the manager with his findings, he became crestfallen. He didn’t know that the act was not hidden. He admitted the sin and the consultant asked him to discuss the matter with his wife. He also advised him to stop further amorous affair with the lady. The manager did as he was advised. His wife forgave him.
The lady was dismissed from the bank alongside the manager. Miraculously, everything in the bank changed and employees became happy all over again. They started working with enthusiasm again.
As a leader that makes a difference, it is important to shun any acts that can demean you. It doesn’t matter how long you have been involved in them or the gains you are deriving from them. A leader that wants to make a difference must set for him or herself high moral standards.
Kouzes and Posner also stated, “Beyond the horizon of time is a changed world, very different from today’s world. Some people see beyond that horizon and into other future. They believe that dreams can become reality. They open our eyes and lift our spirits. They build trust and strengthen our relationships. They stand firm against the winds of resistance and give us the courage to continue the quest. We call these people leader.”
I want to salute you for your commitment to learn and to grow to become a leader that makes a difference. I desperately want you to be a leader with a difference. Make your life a masterpiece. I know that God will bless this great nation, Nigeria.
[Punch]
