What Leadership is

My major interest for this blog is the word leader and leadership. A leader is described as "A person who rules, guides and inspires others". Let's take a look at each action words one after the other. Thus, what does it mean to rule? To rule simply means to 'exercise authority over; as of nations'. We're still going to look into this definition later. The next action word is the word 'guide'., which means to be a guiding or motivating force or drive. Lastly, let's define the word 'inspires". Out of the numerous definitions of the word, I will focus on one.  It says to serve as the inciting cause of. We will revisit these definitions later as we proceed.

Now let's take a look at the word leadership. It is easy to say that leadership is the art of leading but I'm, looking for a deeper meaning of the word. I will be discussing leadership as the ability to lead here and equally discuss leadership as the activity of leading- hmm that is looking at leadership beyond the status of a leader and actually see it as a state of doing the 'leading'. Now let me pop the questions: is leadership an innate ability? Is it learned or imparted? Or is it consciously developed? We will consider these questions one after the other as we proceed. It is important to note that leadership is not defined by status or title but by function. We need to make that clear. We will discuss this further I a while.

We discussed earlier that a leader that a leader carries out a three-fold functions thus, he rules, guides and inspires note this word 'others' meaning people. i believe it is safe to say that until a man carries out this three fold functions, he is a leader by status and not by function.  We need to get this word right. to rule means to distinguish oneself. I think I can get your attention now. Please note that I defined the word 'rule' only in this context. the kind of leadership that works is the kind that leads by what I called 'controlled actions'. it is so called because it is carried out with an intention. such actions is intended for a particular result. i believe  leadership is such that the actions of the leader alone speaks louder than the voice. We need to get to a place where we act or do what we want to see in the other person. and I don't mean all this rote learning-kind of leadership where the led is expected to do as the leader- it is short-sighted, short-lived and counter productive. I'm a believer in 'contagious leadership'.

I need to be clearer on some points I made earlier. Doing what I want to see in the other person has to first of all be part of my life as a person otherwise it is a mere manipulation and bewitchment at its core. I'm not acting this way or that way to get in shape but I act this way or that way because it is my way if life. it has  become that part of me that can not taken away from me. Does it now mean I only permit who can comply to my own way of life around me? Certainly not as that will be a grave leadership error. The goal here is not to make people conform to your way of life. gosh you can't take away their will power and individuality. this brings us to the next leadership function.

Why do I need to distinguish myself? That is why do I need to rule myself?  I do that so I can inspire others. then how do I inspire others and not manipulate them? I will discuss this question in my next blog. Hm, I'm interested in this definition. It say to serve as the inciting cause of..... you can fill in  the blanks yourself. This means the other person chooses to be inspired by you. Not that you put a label on your chest saying 'want some inspiration? give me a call' no not at all. It means people choose to come around because your way of life attracts or endears them to you. It means they consciously walk up to you and say hey! I've got some inspiration. My next blog will discuss the last function of a leader and treat the question I asked. Shalom