What is Leadership?
IT IS difficult to define a leader or leadership. There are probably as many definitions as there are leadership experts. Let us consider one definition by John Maxwell this morning.
Welcome to Leading Right. I am Abiodun Fijabi.
“Leadership is influence. No more no less.” With this definition, John Maxwell makes the development and the maintenance of influence central issues, in fact, the only issues in leadership. Whoever has a level of influence on others is a leader. If he cultivates this influence well and puts it to use for the benefit of all, he becomes a good leader. That no man can lead beyond the level of his influence makes it necessary for a leader to keep expanding his sphere of influence to increase his scope of leadership.
If we are to agree with Maxwell, then everyone is a leader for everyone has an influence over some others. It may be easy for us to admit that politicians, celebrated movie stars, high profile businessmen and famous pastors are people of influence. And indeed, they are. But so are you. We may have different levels of influence, but we all have influence. And we all can grow our influence to increase our scope of leadership. The issue of influence came powerfully to me one day as my wife and I were summoned to a meeting by our twelve year old daughter. She wanted to go to the boarding house and she thought she had a point. I was not so sure she did. Well, the meeting started and she reeled out point after point to persuade us to take the risk of letting her off our parental hook. I watched am my wife and I melted before the little girl. Her influence over us was more than we were willing to accept. If we were to be truthful, the little girl had her finger wrapped all around us. Off she went to the boarding us and my wife and I adjusted. Two years after, it was our turn to exert our influence on her. Her desire was to read Medicine or Pharmacy but commonsense suggested she would be better in the commercial subjects. She did not let go without a fight, but when she did, she did willingly, submitting not to our terror but to our subtle influence.
Great leaders are those with considerable influence. They do not rely on their position to lead. Your position of authority may elicit obedience – even fanatical obedience; but only your influence will make the people to follow you willingly and even go beyond the call of duty. A leader makes the people willingly do what they are not willing to do but are capable of doing.
Imagine if you stopped throwing your weight around like you do presently, insulting others and issuing orders like a tin god. And instead you settle down to the task of cultivating considerable influence, you will be on your way to becoming a great leader. Stop to think of people under your influence as human beings. They may have challenges that annoy you and behaviours that irritate you. But your job is to take them to where they are to where they should be. The leader leads a people to their full potentials through influence.
If you are still thinking how bad the men you have influence over are; think of the Lord Jesus. In our days, none of the twelve disciples would have qualified as good followers. Jesus, by the power of His exemplary life and vision, influenced these hapless men to become great leaders themselves. He challenges us to go and do likewise.
Welcome to Leading Right. I am Abiodun Fijabi.
“Leadership is influence. No more no less.” With this definition, John Maxwell makes the development and the maintenance of influence central issues, in fact, the only issues in leadership. Whoever has a level of influence on others is a leader. If he cultivates this influence well and puts it to use for the benefit of all, he becomes a good leader. That no man can lead beyond the level of his influence makes it necessary for a leader to keep expanding his sphere of influence to increase his scope of leadership.
If we are to agree with Maxwell, then everyone is a leader for everyone has an influence over some others. It may be easy for us to admit that politicians, celebrated movie stars, high profile businessmen and famous pastors are people of influence. And indeed, they are. But so are you. We may have different levels of influence, but we all have influence. And we all can grow our influence to increase our scope of leadership. The issue of influence came powerfully to me one day as my wife and I were summoned to a meeting by our twelve year old daughter. She wanted to go to the boarding house and she thought she had a point. I was not so sure she did. Well, the meeting started and she reeled out point after point to persuade us to take the risk of letting her off our parental hook. I watched am my wife and I melted before the little girl. Her influence over us was more than we were willing to accept. If we were to be truthful, the little girl had her finger wrapped all around us. Off she went to the boarding us and my wife and I adjusted. Two years after, it was our turn to exert our influence on her. Her desire was to read Medicine or Pharmacy but commonsense suggested she would be better in the commercial subjects. She did not let go without a fight, but when she did, she did willingly, submitting not to our terror but to our subtle influence.
Great leaders are those with considerable influence. They do not rely on their position to lead. Your position of authority may elicit obedience – even fanatical obedience; but only your influence will make the people to follow you willingly and even go beyond the call of duty. A leader makes the people willingly do what they are not willing to do but are capable of doing.
Imagine if you stopped throwing your weight around like you do presently, insulting others and issuing orders like a tin god. And instead you settle down to the task of cultivating considerable influence, you will be on your way to becoming a great leader. Stop to think of people under your influence as human beings. They may have challenges that annoy you and behaviours that irritate you. But your job is to take them to where they are to where they should be. The leader leads a people to their full potentials through influence.
If you are still thinking how bad the men you have influence over are; think of the Lord Jesus. In our days, none of the twelve disciples would have qualified as good followers. Jesus, by the power of His exemplary life and vision, influenced these hapless men to become great leaders themselves. He challenges us to go and do likewise.
posted by Abiodun Fijabi at 5:55 PM
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