DARE TO BE A PURPOSEFUL LEADER

PURPOSEFUL LEADERSHIP – THE MISSING LINK

“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.”

~ Warren Bennis

Africa and Nigeria in Particular is Blessed with Abundant Natural and Human Resources. What is missing as everyone agrees is Leadership, not just leadership as we have that in their millions in the continent but Purposeful Leadership.

What is Purposeful Leadership? We need to separate the two words to get a better understanding. What is Purposeful or Purpose? “Purpose is why we do something or why something exists” “It is the reason for which something is done or created………..” “A person’s sense of resolve or determination is Purpose” we shall discuss purpose as it relates to our Destiny in a broader discuss in another paper. What is purposeful? It’s “Having or manifesting Purpose; Determination, Resolve, Resolute, Firm, Steadfast, Single-minded, Having a useful Purpose”

Leadership on the other hand is “The action of leading a group of people or organization, or ability to do this.”

A Purposeful Leader therefore is “A leader who has the ability to show that he knows what he wants to do and is doing it.” “The very essence of leadership is purpose. And the Purpose of leadership is to accomplish a task. That is what leadership does – and what it does is more important than what is or it works” ~ Colonel Dandridge M. Malon

Why Purposeful Leadership? In a Continent filled with men and women who are working outside of their purpose, it’s no surprise that the continent has not been blessed with many Leaders that are Purpose Driven. “When Purpose is not Known, abuse is inevitable” ~ Myles Munroe. Many of us do not know why we are here; we live by the day with no clear direction as to what’s our purpose for being.  Alice in Wonderland’s conversation with the Cat paints an apt picture of many of our existence;

Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?

The Cat: That depends a good deal on where you want to get to

Alice: I don't much care where.

The Cat: Then it doesn't much matter which way you go.

Alice: …so long as I get somewhere.

The Cat: Oh, you're sure to do that, if only you walk long enough.

A wise man once said “If you don’t know where you are going, every place might look like it”

Until you know who you are, what you do is a mere formality. It’s who you are that largely determines what you become, not what you have. Any individual who has discovered purpose is free to live, devoid of fear, intimidation and anxiety. We all know success in life is not measured by material acquisition or titles or position. It’s the same Dr. Munroe who said “the wealthiest places of the earth is not the Goldmines or Diamond fields or the Oil wells, the wealthiest place on the earth is the cemetery; for buried in the cemetery are the greatest treasure of untapped potentials. There is a treasure within you that must come out, don’t go to the grave with your treasure intact.” How do we lead purposefully, when we don’t know who we are?

Many are of the opinion that our Country was not ready for Independence as at the time the British granted our beloved Nation as we know it today as Nigeria autonomy. The nationalist were united in their resolve to see the British leave but they did not know what to do with our hard earned Independence and where Purpose is not known, abuse is inevitable. The Politicians unpreparedness for self rule showed its ugly head soon after independence on January 15^th 1966, the first republic was sacked via a coup d’état, barely six years after Independence and the counter coup of 29^th July 1966 only set the pace for the civil war that followed. When Gen. Yakubu Gowon – Go On With One Nigeria addressed the Nation 1^st August 1966, his original broadcast, we have been told contained the words “the basis of our unity is no longer there” we are still grabbling with that unity even as the missing link – Purposeful Leadership still eludes us.

Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany on January 30, 1933 it was at a time of massive unemployment and economic paralysis of the great depression “the misery of our people is horrible to behold” said Hitler in his inaugural address. As Hitler promised unemployment was banished from Germany that by 1937 – 38 there was a national labour shortage. In four years Hitler turned Germany’s crippling economy around, rebuilt its infrastructure and the Army. For the great mass of Germans wages and working conditions improved steadily at the same time Rents remain stable and prices actually declined for some consumer goods. Hitler’s ability to turn around the economy and life of Germans was so dramatic many considered him a miracle worker and many churches actually had pictures of Hitler in their altars. Germans adored him. But for his unbridled desire for World dominance and his unquenchable hatred for the Jews that he murdered in millions in concentration camps, he would have been one of the most celebrated leaders in human history

What was Hitler’s secret? Purpose, Hitler knew what he wanted and went about getting it done in the shortest possible time. He was a Purposeful Leader – The Missing Link

“The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly.” – Jim Rohn

Many in power and the corridors of power today has no business been there. Dr. David Oyedepo once said “Nothing frustrates in life than when your ambition run contrary to your makeup.” Can you imagine Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti simply known as Fela Anikulapo Kuti as a medical doctor? He probably would have been a frustrated Doctor but that was exactly what he was sent to London to study in 1958 but he decided to study music instead. That which you are doing today as a Profession, Occupation, Job, Vocation etc, is that what you really deep down want to with your Life? Are you fulfilled in that which you are doing? Many are lured into politics because it an easy way to make money, we have Councilors who cannot define the functions of a councilor, we have Chairmen whose only criteria for the office is they know someone, who had never had any kind of experience in administration, and the list goes on and on at all levels. It’s no surprise we have the missing link – Purposeful Leadership

“Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy.”- Norman Schwarzkopf

We must do everything to correct the abnormalities of the past and create a better tomorrow for our children and our children’s children, we must consciously enthrone credibility in our electoral systems, set up structures and ensure that the rule of law prevails. We must put round pegs in round holes