WHEN LEADERSHIP BECOMES A FAG

In the different leadership series I have written so far, I have always taken time to stress the significance of having a great leader and most especially, I highlighted their high points. Thus, in this writing I will be highlighting some of their nadir of frustration and those times when leadership fails to make any sense to both the leader and his followers. Below are such cases.

WHEN HIS TEAM FAILS

People are quick to accuse the leader of a team every time his team has a crack or when results produced are garbage whether or not he (the leader) is the cause. At times like this, critics will jump at the leader calling him all sorts of names; mocking and ridiculing him at the slightest opportunity. During these times, who likes to bag the blames? Who likes to be called the leader? No, not one! Though Hip Hop star Akon realizing the unjust criticism he was attracting after an ill-fated incident did a song titled ‘Sorry, blame it on me’, I still believe it wasn’t his earnest desire because even Jamie Foxx another popular Hip Hop doyen requested you rather ‘blame it on the alcohol’. Come to think of it, Arsene Wenger has never been pardoned for Arsenal’s loss, Goodluck Jonathan has never been distanced from Nigeria’s misfortunes and Muammar Gaddafi has never being ignored for Libya’s problems so you see, leaders are scapegoats for team failure. 

WHEN HIS TEAM IS TO BE PUNISHED

Let’s imagine a scenario where a team or company is to be punished by law. You would realize every member of that team would ‘evaporate’ into thin air. Who would want to say that I am a part of the team or who would come out to say ‘hey hold me because I am responsible for the wrong and not the leader’? Who would even mildly say let’s face the repercussions together? Who? Trust me no one would and so, the leader doesn’t have any choice but to stand in the gap and take responsibility for the offence. In such cases, the law would seize him and if they were in debts, the debtors would cling unto him like a drowning man clinging unto a rescuer. We read of Peter who denied his Master during trials in ancient Jerusalem centuries ago and I often ask, who would have done any different today? These days, people would tell you ‘all man for himself and God for all’ meaning you’ve got to carry the cross as the leader so, please do. You’ll see the leader pleading guilty for wrongs he never committed rather his team or company did.  It’s Saddening!

WHEN STORMING PERSISTS FOR TOO LONG

So many broken rules, chairs, jaws, and even reputations will arise after the formation stage of team dynamics. When on earth would this team mature and move to the norming and performing stages respectively? The leader keeps lamenting as he watches his team moving in endless cycles of hopelessness and despair. Who wants to lead a dysfunctional team? Who wants to spend all day in a board meeting settling disputes when he should be planning, tracking and driving growths? No, not one! In worst case scenarios, the leader reaches his human limit due to accumulated stress and then breaks down mentally thereby resigning with a deflated esteem.

 

WHEN HIS CAUSE IS NOT ENTICING

Many times in life leaders pick certain causes to live, fight or even die for just like Mandela did for Apartheid, Luther for Racism and Slessor for twins. So many times, people are too myopic to see a cause as been worthwhile and so, these people would park a lorry of impossibility in front of the leader and criticize him with reckless abandon and so what does he do? He reconsiders his pursuit if it’s indeed worth the trauma. And so, because he knows he is on the right path, he’ll persevere and his family and friends would bid him farewell in agony. As a leader, he will try to evaluate his cause and family in other to decide which he should succumb to but not having any answer, he keeps wishing it was an ideal world; sadly it has never been.

But, whoever told us that life doesn’t have its twists and turns or ups and downs? Ecclesiastes says ‘to everything under the earth there’s time and season, a time to sow and a time to reap’. So if you ever thought you could have it easier as a leader, then you erred.  Though gold never derives pleasure going through the lapidary yet, it comes out refined and with increased worth. As leaders, that is how we are. Challenges are our lapidary and they help to mould and configure us for greater heights. Stick to the fight when you are hardest hit because just when you feel like quitting, then you would realize success is only a step away.

EE