Recently, I was interviewed by Don Miller of the Don Miller Show (660 WORL Radio, Florida), and during the interview, we began a discussion on leadership development amongst our people. I have regularly commented that we dont need another “leader”. The nostalgic days of mass movements led by a single charismatic individual have come to an end. As well they should. When these leaders are removed (by means of assassination or deportation), their organizations and their mass movements fall apart. So while an individual may be responsible for initiating mass movements, those same individuals can become a liability to the longevity of their movement when their followers become more committed to the leader than they do to the mission. Any organization that prides itself more on the personality of its leader than its accomplishments in the service of the people is an organization that is doomed to fail. A true leader understands that his or purpose is threefold: 1. To serve the people that he or she leads. 2. To ensure that his or her followers are as committed to achieving specific results as their leader is. 3. To develop more leaders. Servant Leadership cult A Nation of Leaders When most people imagine themselves as leaders, they see themselves screaming at their subordinates, sitting on a throne, or holding absolute authority over a submissive group of individuals…maybe even som scantily clad servants feeding you grapes. Nothing is further from the truth. In reality, leaders are the servants of those whom they would seek to lead. One of my sayings to illustrate this point is that “you must feed the people if you want to lead the people”. This epitomizes servant leadership. It should also be known that leaders are given permission to lead by their followers. This permission must be earned and honored by the leader. A leader may come to power temporarily through violence and brutality, but such leaders usually leave power the way they came to power – violently. The egotistical, self-centered leader will focus on consolidating his or her own power, showing off in front of cameras, and will spend more time on the radio or giving speeches than they will ensuring their organization lives on beyond them. These are the worst, and the most dangerous types of leaders since the organizations that they lead often become cults or dictatorships. Mission First As a servant leader, the mission of the organization that he or she leads must come before all else. This is non-negotiable. The mission must come before the weekend, before comfort, before safety, and before the acceptance of ones peers. There is no time off, no compromise, and no room for misinterpretation. With that being said, the mission must be very clearly defined and articulated by each and every member of the organization. Each and every member of United Black America receives intense scrutiny by his or her peers before receiving their certification, and the most important part of the interview process is the ability for the new member to recite the mission verbatim and without hesitation. Without a mission, there is no need for a leader. If you lead a household, then understanding the “mission” of your family guides your every decision. Do you attend your daughter’s awards ceremony, or do you watch football? Do you wake up early to prepare healthy meals for your family, or do you let them “fend for themselves”? Do you discipline your children harshly and without explanation, or are you fair, firm and just. These are simple illustrations, but in large, complicated organizations that face constantly changing circumstances and comprised of men and women from diverse backgrounds, its the knowledge of the mission that will determine whether a leader is effective and the organization is successful. When deciding what to do next, or whether a course of action should be taken, it is the knowledge of the mission that will guide your decision-making process. And most importantly, you can compare the mission of the organization to the behavior of the leader to decide whether or not you are dealing with a true leader or with a potential fraud. AND BY THE WAY: A leader is not an entertainer. A LEADER IS NOT AN ENTERTAINER! In the Black community, we tend to be most attracted to the pastor or community organizer or television personality who can give a good sermon or put on the best events. The ability to entertain does not a good leader make. Charisma is important, particularly when it comes to recruiting new members, but charisma does not hold an organization together. Desiring to lead and desiring to be loved are like oil and water. If you are in any position of leadership or authority, be it clergy, fraternity or sorority, corporate, parental, or as an educator, if your desire to be loved by those you lead overrides your desire to teach, to lead by example, or to make the hard decisions and ask the hard questions, then you have failed as a leader. Leadership Development 1leader A Nation of Leaders One of the most important aspects of leadership is the development of new leaders. This requires a great amount of unselfishness and trust on the part of leaders. In American politics, the first order of business of any President-Elect becomes the selection of a Vice President who could ultimately become his successor. In our community, developing “successors” is important to transmit positive values to the next generation of leaders. Leadership development requires patience above all else. To teach an individual the elements that comprise effective leadership (including good judgement, initiative, decisiveness, enthusiasm courage, knowledge, and devotion to ones people), takes time, endurance, and energy. But all things that are of great worth require great investment, and the same is true of developing the leaders that will come after you have gone. The true measure of a great leader is not in his or her ability to become another Malcolm X, King, or Garvey, but in his or her ability to develop other men and women of that caliber. I talk at length about leadership development on United Black America Radio, so be sure to subscribe over there. The leadership that we need now must be unselfish, honest, knowledgeable, committed, and fair. P.S. This concept is not limited to organizations. Leadership can and must be taught and demonstrated at the “street” level.
Posted on: Thu, 22 Aug 2013 23:31:19 +0000