I will be running through series some of the issues i have gone through and some of which i go through in my day to day work. The first post in my series will be on what it means to be a LEADER, and nothing beats LEADING, if you cant LEAD then you cant be a LEADER.
My first recollections on leading are when i was 9 (Grade 4) and we used to prepare Tea for the teachers Tea Break. Every week a set of 4 girls had a responsibility of preparing tea and would rotate until the end of the year, this meant one girl rushing to the shops (to buy fresh milk and bread), and the others remaining in the tea room arranging the chairs, making tea etc. At 9.30am if its your week of tea making you would be released from class and rush to the tea room. I remember one girl called Sihle came to me for instructions (on what had to be done) and another girl in our group was visibly not happy she said "why do you always, go to her, who chose her to be our leader". Sihle had no answer, i too had no answer on why people always came to me or why i ended up taking the lead.
As a Leader, (Appointed or self made) you have to lead. Thus taking action that will ensure that those whom you serve or look up to you get the direction on the next course of action. Leading should not be a conscious action that one takes but it should happen without even thinking and before you no it an action is done. Leadership can not be taught but maybe one can enhance their skills through mentoring and coaching. Leadership is the process of influencing others, but being a leader requires someone who has a vision, a drive and a commitment to achieve that vision, and the skills to make it happen. The main issue is that it has to matter enough to you for you to be a leader.
Going through years back the issue of leading, has occurred in so many instances but as I break it down to the points that make someone lead, the core issue that strikes a chord with me is the NEVER SAY NEVER spirit, turning impossibles into possibilities. The most memorable experience was in Vancouver (June 2006) at the World Urban Forum we had apparently taken a very wrong turn in down town Vancouver and found a Stadium. I was with 4 community leaders we had travelled with to the Forum, and I just said this is the way. You can imagine how it was trying to convince them that the underground route beneath the stadium will take us to the otherside of the block. The Relief on their faces once we got to the other side was amazing and still brings a smile. The responsibility that one carries on their shoulders is the ultimate for you as you carry the whole risk not just on your life but everyone with you. When leading, there is always a split second for you to make a decision, and you also have not much time to start calculating the risk as its always about the broader good.
Moving forward, I will try to go indepth with the various traits of a Leader and how I have struddled through them. The list is not exhaustive but i hope to touch on these issues: Honesty, Ability to inspire, Courage, Ambition, Fearlessness, Risk Taking, Optimism (Positive Attitude), Humility (& Respect), Patience, Commiting to Excellence rather than Perfection, Vision (& Focus), Tolerance, Commitment, Accountability, Gratitude, Intuition, Confidence, Decisive, Ability to delegate, Sense of Humor, Creativity, Passion, Persuasion abilities, Integrity, Compassion, Engagement, Empowering, Communicative, Genuine, Self Awareness, Supportive, Pro-active and many other traits. As I was writing down these points I realized that its going to be a very tough point of reflection for me as well since I want to walk through the paths walked over the past 11 years of Leading in one way or the other. I am also hoping this process also enhances my own capacities as I am still walking through the path of Leadership.
Have a blessed and fruitful week.
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