Twentieth Century Leadership Approach to Change Versus the Twenty-first Century Approach
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Why Transformational Leaders Are the Real Nation Builders
To build any viable nation, you need a different species of leaders called transformational leaders. We have had lots of these enigmatic leaders throughout the history of human civilization. Still, society has a shortage of them in Africa and around the Globe in the twenty-first century. Most transformational leaders don’t need political power to change human society; they need their conviction, roadmap, and strategy more than anything else. Don’t let anyone deceive you into thinking that you can’t make a change until you become a politician. The American Society, envied by all, was principally built into a flourishing state by entrepreneurs. The role of the government was to provide policies to curb their excesses.
Overcoming Despair by Living with a Purpose
There are probably many eventful days in a man’s life. Some days are just like every other day. Nothing spectacular, just ordinary everyday happenings. However, certain significant days linger forever in our memory; they are so crucial that they define the whole perimeter of our life. Mark Twain captured it so well when he wrote: “The two most important days in your life are the day you were born, and the day you found out why.”
A life purpose is the most original and authentic reason for your existence. It is the assignment the creator of the universe has given you to fulfill in this world. It is what you have been specifically called to do, distinct from other work. It is your calling, or, if you like, your life vocation. It is a work uniquely yours, which no one else can do as well. It is what you will never need to write an application letter for. It is 100 percent innate to you. You will not need to lobby anyone to fully express your purpose because “A man who walks with purpose doesn't need the crowd to cheer. He already knows where he’s going.” - Anonymous
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.
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!
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