Twentieth Century Leadership Approach to Change Versus the Twenty-first Century Approach
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The Facade of Virtue
In today's society, it's not uncommon to encounter individuals who present themselves as paragons of virtue, justice, and equity. However, beneath the surface, their actions and behaviors often reveal a different story.The consequences of hypocrisy, eye-service, and pretense can be far-reaching and damaging. Anyone who engages in these behaviors risks losing the trust and respect of others, which in turn damages their reputation and compromises their integrity. Moreover, these behaviors can also lead to feelings of guilt, shame, and anxiety, which can negatively impact mental and emotional well-being.
Re-imagining the Leadership Framework of African Society
Everyone, since Nkrumah, has emphasized Africa's great potential, but the question remains: Is potential all there is? Five decades later, Nkrumah’s optimism hasn’t been fulfilled! Successive leaders of the continent, plagued primarily by selfishness and greed after the colonial rule, have failed to create a compelling vision that captured Africans' imagination and transformed that vast potential into reality. I have often asked myself what type of leadership is most suitable for African society. This is a difficult question to ponder! It took me nearly three decades to process this. Another question of interest is what went wrong with the Monarchical style of leadership in Africa? Some observers have come down very hard on the Monarchical style of leadership. They argue that absolute power should not be concentrated in the hands of a single ruler. But when you look at Monarchy in its purest form, especially as depicted in my own tribal legends or myths, you can see that it is a type of leadership in which responsibility is shared through consultation and inclusive participation. The question often arises whether democracy is working in Africa. Democracy is an imported style of governance that was not properly adapted to suit African political philosophy and worldviews. Democracy is fragile and has its own weaknesses, as recently witnessed among some of the most sophisticated societies. For these reasons, I presupposed that the servant leadership approach should be researched and embraced within the African context. Since the post-colonial era, little progress has been made in the various political leadership structures, whether military or democratic. I am therefore postulating that servant leadership, with its plausibility of consultation and inclusive participation, will make a difference!
The Two Inseparable Sides of a Transformational Leader
If there is a subject I have been passionate about in recent years, it must be transformational leadership. Transformational leadership is a reintroduced concept that is beginning to gain recognition among leading experts because of its role in effecting a cultural change in a society or organization. Although it has been around for a long time, many people do not know what it is and how to identify it in practice. Transformational leadership was first popularized in the 1970s by James MacGregor Burns when he tried to contrast its significance with transactional leadership.Burns argues that transactional leadership doesn't care as much about cultural change as the organization's bottom line. On the other hand, transformational leaders don't just move people toward a worthy cause by mere influence. They cause an actual change in how things have been in society or the organization over a set period. So, they are not just influencers, as you would naturally think of a leader. They are agents of change that cause a significant shift in how organizations or societies operate. A transformational leader's ultimate goal is to significantly alter people's behavior, resulting in societal or organizational development.
Ten Commandments for Possibility Thinkers
Potential is a fascinating subject, but it's worth nothing if you don't put it to work. To perfectly utilize your God-given potential, you have to believe in yourself. You must practice a possibility thinker's ten commandments to believe in yourself.
Robert Schuller, the author of the famous book "Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do", outlined those commandments we must obey if we desire to flourish in life. As an undergraduate, I posted those commandments on the back of the door of my room, and I always read them before I went out for the day. Schuller, as a kid growing up, dreamed of pastoring and building a church that would be all glass and crystal clear for anyone worshipping to see through the sky. He imagined a situation where, when he prayed to God, there wouldn't be any barrier between him and his visual accessibility to God. The Crystal Cathedral was built and dedicated in 1980 for $18 million, the equivalent of about $51 million today, despite being raised in an impoverished background.
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