Leadership Philosophies
posted by Osax at 07:11:41 31.10.2013 Everything you observe in human behaviour usually has a governing principle or philosophy. Many of the human actions we see may have been a product of necessity or borne out of a desire to be something or achieve something. The moment it becomes a repeated activity, be sure some thoughts have been generated to justify its existence in the sphere of human behaviour. To change the external behaviours without dealing with the internal operating principle is an attempt in futility.
Habit is that which we do repeatedly and it afterward takes over our faculties and we seem not to be able to change it. What we started suddenly becomes our master! It is the horse that we ride into our future. We chose the horse in the first place, now we seem to be at the mercy of this horse taking us where it wants to go.
Let us go beneath the surface to see where the thoughts came from, why we have allowed them and what effects they are having in our lives. Generally we become blindsided as these thoughts generate feelings and emotions and we justify anything when the feelings are high!
Relationships are generally judged by the benefits that accrue to the people in the relationship. Whereas it is good to know that relationships add value to us and we do derive benefits from healthy ones, when the motive, focus and expectations are all centred around "what is in it for me", then we are no longer dealing with a healthy relationship. We tend to 'use' not build relationships. The same picture appears in leadership. There is leadership, headship, submission and influence all involved in leadership as a subject but when we all look to use our leadership or follower-ship as a means of personal benefit alone, we tend to miss the purpose of the relationship . Manipulation is when I get you to do things purely for my benefit. Motivation is when I get you to do things for your benefit or the overall benefit of the group.
"Leadership is influence" so says John Maxwell, a leadership expert. Leadership is a relationship established to accomplish certain objectives that are beneficial to all parties involved. These objectives will include, amongst other things, things that will make for progress, solve problems, fulfil purpose and serve to bring about incremental pleasure in the accomplishment of worthwhile goals. The leader influences followers to bring out the best in them.
When selfishness gets in the way, leadership privileges are abused. The word 'abuse' is from the words "abnormal use". The ability to lead is the ability to mislead, and the ability to mislead is the ability to destroy.
The best known leadership philosophy is servant-leadership. The leader is there to serve the followers. This raises a problem in the mind. The role of a servant in comparison to the role of a leader is diametrically opposite, how can you be a servant as well as a leader?
In the Christian faith the leader serves the purposes of God in the lives of the followers. The submission of the followers enable the leader to carry out his role in their lives which is to serve them!
Leadership is about influence in the other people's lives to bring out the best in them! To achieve greatness in life, we need others' involvement with us! Greatness is not a singular thing to accomplish.
In many cultures, the prevailing philosophies have affected people's minds and leadership is either abused or completely non-existent. What is needed is to have a deliberate understanding and participation in the right philosophy that governs leadership. 'Headship' is not designed to dominate but initiate things that generate positive influence in the lives of others.
We need to develop in our leadership capacities so our ability to influence others is established. We do not need to be the head of an organisation to be a leader. As we develop our leadership skills we tend to achieve more with our lives because our capacity for success and achievement is directly related to our ability to influence others. Someone described success as REAL - Relationship, Equipping, Attitude, Leadership. Real success demands that we build relationships right, be equipped, develop the right attitudes as well as our leadership skills. Do these and be the success God has ordained for you to be!
Rev. Kola Ewuosho.
Habit is that which we do repeatedly and it afterward takes over our faculties and we seem not to be able to change it. What we started suddenly becomes our master! It is the horse that we ride into our future. We chose the horse in the first place, now we seem to be at the mercy of this horse taking us where it wants to go.
Let us go beneath the surface to see where the thoughts came from, why we have allowed them and what effects they are having in our lives. Generally we become blindsided as these thoughts generate feelings and emotions and we justify anything when the feelings are high!
Relationships are generally judged by the benefits that accrue to the people in the relationship. Whereas it is good to know that relationships add value to us and we do derive benefits from healthy ones, when the motive, focus and expectations are all centred around "what is in it for me", then we are no longer dealing with a healthy relationship. We tend to 'use' not build relationships. The same picture appears in leadership. There is leadership, headship, submission and influence all involved in leadership as a subject but when we all look to use our leadership or follower-ship as a means of personal benefit alone, we tend to miss the purpose of the relationship . Manipulation is when I get you to do things purely for my benefit. Motivation is when I get you to do things for your benefit or the overall benefit of the group.
"Leadership is influence" so says John Maxwell, a leadership expert. Leadership is a relationship established to accomplish certain objectives that are beneficial to all parties involved. These objectives will include, amongst other things, things that will make for progress, solve problems, fulfil purpose and serve to bring about incremental pleasure in the accomplishment of worthwhile goals. The leader influences followers to bring out the best in them.
When selfishness gets in the way, leadership privileges are abused. The word 'abuse' is from the words "abnormal use". The ability to lead is the ability to mislead, and the ability to mislead is the ability to destroy.
The best known leadership philosophy is servant-leadership. The leader is there to serve the followers. This raises a problem in the mind. The role of a servant in comparison to the role of a leader is diametrically opposite, how can you be a servant as well as a leader?
In the Christian faith the leader serves the purposes of God in the lives of the followers. The submission of the followers enable the leader to carry out his role in their lives which is to serve them!
Leadership is about influence in the other people's lives to bring out the best in them! To achieve greatness in life, we need others' involvement with us! Greatness is not a singular thing to accomplish.
In many cultures, the prevailing philosophies have affected people's minds and leadership is either abused or completely non-existent. What is needed is to have a deliberate understanding and participation in the right philosophy that governs leadership. 'Headship' is not designed to dominate but initiate things that generate positive influence in the lives of others.
We need to develop in our leadership capacities so our ability to influence others is established. We do not need to be the head of an organisation to be a leader. As we develop our leadership skills we tend to achieve more with our lives because our capacity for success and achievement is directly related to our ability to influence others. Someone described success as REAL - Relationship, Equipping, Attitude, Leadership. Real success demands that we build relationships right, be equipped, develop the right attitudes as well as our leadership skills. Do these and be the success God has ordained for you to be!
Rev. Kola Ewuosho.
