Leadership is influence...

Olaa…

Im always psyched to write but when I’m on my 10” laptop I go blank completely… I wonder if it’s the screen size that’s causing this or just that I’m not born a writer… oh well let’s see how this goes!!!   

I recall, after my KSPE results were out I was among the few lucky ones selected in a government school… As for most would be proud of it, I wasn’t!!! Well at first!! Tell you why, I was in a private primary school where despite all the canes and punishment it was a good school secondly my brother was taken to a private school so I dint see why I should go to a government one…. I had no choice ; what I had was a very strict mother who I can count the number of times she smiled at me during my school life…. I remember very well when I joined form one, I was first the only brown guy in class (where my sense of attention began) secondly I was the only one who had dressed in full uniform and had all my books covered (even rough book)… again attention!!!! I was honestly scared and had fear of being monolized (bullied) but surprisingly the coast side in me got people in my class to like me – they were amazed with a brown guy speaking fluent Kiswahili... By mid-2^nd term I was made class monitor and this is where I found out the leadership skills in me!!! * (I have never believed myself as a leader but I do get people who trust my decisions and trust me in leading a team to its goal…. ) I was disliked in class after being made the class monitor and was hated the most when I was elected school prefect in form 2!!! The mistake I did, which I honestly do not regret – was to turn down the offer all in the name of pleasing people and being the guy they wanted me to be….

*“I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure: which is: Try to please everybody”. Herbert B. Swope

Well that was one of the things I should have learnt… but I do not regret in fact I appreciate that I got to learn it the hard way!!!

Point to always remember is leadership skills and techniques can be learned. You don't have to be a natural leader. The other thing to always keep in mind is YOU ARE LEADING A TEAM… without that team you are leading nothing!! Appreciate your team, meet them, talk to them, inspire them, identify their strengths, help them on their weak points, give them credit for what they deserve, tap them on their shoulders for a well done job in public, correct them in private!!! The team’s success and failure is a leader’s responsibility. Always respect your teams’ individual dreams - help them and they will forever respect you. You also should accept criticism. Criticism is hard to take, particularly from a relative, a friend, an acquaintance or a stranger - but it's a powerful tool of learning. Above all, assess criticism on merit, without regard to its originator…. Finally most importantly a good leader is confident. In order to lead and set direction a leader needs to appear confident as a person and in the leadership role. Such a person inspires confidence in others and draws out the trust and best efforts of the team to complete the task well…

I read the below that was compiled by some University students:

• Honest — Display sincerity, integrity, and candor in all your actions. Deceptive behavior will not inspire trust.
• Competent — Base your actions on reason and moral principles. Do not make decisions based on childlike emotional desires or feelings.
• Forward-looking — Set goals and have a vision of the future. The vision must be owned throughout the organization. Effective leaders envision what they want and how to get it. They habitually pick priorities stemming from their basic values.
• Inspiring — Display confidence in all that you do. By showing endurance in mental, physical, and spiritual stamina, you will inspire others to reach for new heights. Take charge when necessary.
• Intelligent — Read, study, and seek challenging assignments.
• Fair-minded — Show fair treatment to all people. Prejudice is the enemy of justice. Display empathy by being sensitive to the feelings, values, interests, and well-being of others.
• Broad-minded — Seek out diversity.
• Courageous — Have the perseverance to accomplish a goal, regardless of the seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Display a confident calmness when under stress.
• Straightforward — Use sound judgment to make a good decisions at the right time.
• Imaginative — Make timely and appropriate changes in your thinking, plans, and methods. Show creativity by thinking of new and better goals, ideas, and solutions to problems. Be innovative!

I was at Safaricom shop in Westlands today and I asked the lady there how the new boss (Bob Collymore) coming in has affected them…. And her response was “He is sooooo cool… the guy has stepped in with the right foot” Now that is being a good leader – notice Safaricom on social platforms – they were literally abused online called all names but today – people are appreciating them slowly. I personally have complained a million times, I hate standing in their queue and hate being put on hold – but think about it – what more can they do? This is a company that is making the most profits in East Africa yet they still have the courtesy to say sorry, thank you, please… Try running that size of organization and then tell me!!! The other thing we ought to be proud of is Safaricom is a KENYAN BRAND!!! The company has taken a whole new twist in promoting our country as much as we got criticism on the new ad, the choir being alittle too much – they are not just selling the network services but they are also selling Kenya!!!

Il leave you with this quote as you go to my todays “Positive, Negative, Sensitive”

*“Don't tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.” George S. Patton

+ / - SENSITIVE

Yesterday’s post had various responses to which I agree with almost everything posted!! It all depends on the situation I guess…

Well today I ask

“Would you quit your well-paying job to start up a venture you are not sure of succeeding???”