Is Nigeria still the giant of Africa? Take out sometime to think about this. It is evident that Nigeria has not really lived up to the title of the ‘Giant of Africa’ and over time, countries like South Africa has begun to live up to the title and position. Overtime, corruption has spread around the country like a wild fire such that Nigeria has become infamous as one of the most corrupt countries in the world.
Nigerians especially her youths face unemployment and corruption as their greatest problems. This issues emanates from a root cause of “Ineffective Leadership”. The job gap puts millions of youths at risk of poverty, frustration, and criminal activities such as theft, drug trafficking, oil-bunkering, terrorism among others.
In order to bring practical and life-long solutions to the problem of ineffective leadership in the country, you and I ought to be community builders through effective leadership. It is obvious that leaders are in the best position to shape our nation, communities, and organizations. This is why we need good leaders like you to help restructure the narratives of the country, and make the essential large-scale decisions that will keep the country moving.
I’ll take you through the various qualities that will make an effective leader:
1. Vision
“Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.” – Jack Welch. To be a great leader, you need to have a clear, exciting idea of where you are going and what you are trying to accomplish.
2. Communication
You need to be able to communicate in a variety of ways, from transmitting information to coaching people. And you must be able to listen to, and communicate with, a wide range of people across roles, social identities, and more.
3. Empathy
You serve better by striving to understand other people’s intentions and perspectives. You can be more empathetic by putting aside your viewpoint temporarily, valuing others’ perspectives, and approaching situations with an open mind.
4. Stewardship
Stewardship is about taking responsibility for the actions and performance of your team, and being accountable for the role team members play in your organization.
5. Community Building
It has to do with building a sense of community within your organization. Servant leaders encourage people to take responsibility for their work, and remind them how what they do contributes to the success and overall objectives of the organization.
You don’t have to wait to begin developing these characteristics and qualities of a good leader within yourself — you can start today!
HAPPY DEMOCRACY DAY NIGERIA !!!
Savior Effiong writes for ZeroToOne Foundation
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