Why Nigerian Leaders Need To Learn From The Best

By

D. Akinsanya Juliuson Iom

djuliuson@usa.com

 

 

 

WHY ARE MANY NIGERIAN OFFICIALS LIGHT YEARS AWAY FROM THE TOP LEVEL LEADERS?

People like working for those who are secure in themselves and have nothing to prove – the kind of people who get results through others and give them the credit for it. But please forgive me for being honest by saying such leaders are in the minority. More than half of Nigeria’s government officials, be it governors or ministers fail to demonstrate trust, show respect for their teams or even produce results. It’s sad that we have or are blessed with a president that’s God sent. A president that makes you feel proud of being Nigerian, but unfortunately some people as usual don’t see this as I do. I’m not criticizing, all I’m doing is telling it as it is. Officials are light years away from the top level leaders. I believe leaders build enduring greatness through a paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will. And as for what you do with a surfeit of ego once you’ve reached the top, the answer is simple, great leaders channel their ego needs away from themselves and into the larger goal of building a great government, state, nation and or continent. We have many examples of tried and tested leaders of our time. Overt display of  personal success do little to motivate the people who are key to the long term health of any government, institution or organisation.  Power and money are of course important, but only insofar as they apply to the state as a whole not the individuals running the affairs of it.

 

WHAT KIND OF LEADERSHIP DO PEOPLE RESPOND TO?

Wearing one’s prestige on ones sleeve is deemed slightly vulgar. Officials need ambition, confidence, energy and drive to fuel their progression to the top. But once they’ve got there, what do they do with their attributes? They can’t burn them off, like rocket fuel, so where do they channel them? And just how big can an ego get before it derails its owner and the institution, organisation, state or department as a whole? What seems abundantly clear is that the characteristics that help someone get to the top don’t necessarily equip them for a team or leadership role. For example, ambition is normally a good thing, but many apparently ambitious people are not so much ambitious as competitive, and competitiveness can drive someone to win at any cost. For example, many foreign ambassadors outside Nigeria, believe that naturally, Lagos should be the commercial capital of Africa. The City of London for example is the financial capital of the world and the square mile (City of London) contributes billions of pounds every year. That has got nothing to do with the Prime Minister or The Queen. Now, Is it the responsibility of this or any other president to make Lagos what the international community think it should be? More local governments, or more foreign and local investors? Does it mean Commercial Diplomacy has a role to play here? Even if it does, does the captain of the ship realise this or does it really matter to him?

 

WHY DO THEY NEED TO LEARN HOW TO TAP THE INHERENT WORTH OF TASK?

We are blessed with a president who believes in possibilities. A president that believes in the potential of Nigerians to out-perform themselves consistently. Like I had said several times before, people don’t want to be managed, they want to be led, they want to be inspired to higher levels of excellence and they surely need a leader who is prepared to develop their potential. People respond to a leader that believes that, it is his job to help individuals especially people like you and I develop this believe within ourselves. A leader that can motivate …..Even though our President do believe that an inspired and motivated workforce is essential for any government or business that wants to outperform the competition. It is of paramount importance that our ambassadors and ministers learn how to be positive agents of change. They need to learn how to share their strategy and vision. They need to learn how to tap the inherent worth of task. They need to understand that when a team member operates in a climate that encourages winning, he or she tends to become a high performer himself or herself. They must learn to be inspirational leaders that breaths life, confidence and “can-do” into the government and unlock discretionary effort. Ambassadors work for a nation, the people and a leader. They do their best for a leader. Nigerian ambassadors must appreciate the fact that, earning this extra effort is their leadership challenge.  Leadership is not about the theory of leadership. While government have to get smarter at spotting “power-paths”, individuals themselves need greater self awareness in order to manage their darker impulses, and ensure that what started off as an asset doesn’t become a liability. Sometimes pride, ego and sturborness doesn’t manifest itself until you get to the top, reinforced either by success, insecurity or….well, the rest is for you and I to find out.

 

WHY GOVERNMENT MUST SET OUT SOME SPECIFIC GOALS THAT ARE REACHABLE?

When people talk about “reality” they usually precede the word with adjective “harsh”. We tend to assume that a reality is something awkward which must be faced with a frown or swallowed through gritted teeth. Some realities are a little like this, but others are wonderful. In Nigeria, we are hiding now from a reality which is far better and brighter than the fantasy we’ve been clinging to. A cavalcade of chaos now seems to be descending on us. Everything is topsy turvy; upside down, back to front or inside out. The cart is trying to pull the horse. The tail is trying to wag the dog. Some fundamental factor in our country needs to be repositioned or given a different order of priority. As soon as we see what’s wrong and start putting it right, the perplexing chain of inexplicable events will cease and satisfactory way forward will be found. Obstacles to progress are being removed. Difficulties are being dissolved. Everything is in a state of flux and many of the people around us are feeling restless. A process of preparation is taking place right now. Soon it will be followed by a significant change in the life of our nation. We might feel apprehensive, but we have no need to worry or feel afraid. If we truly want to see a permanent improvement in our country, we must honour our greatest need. We must refuse to compromise it. I’m talking here to people who are now being an incorrigible martyrs, poor Nigerians. We are spending far too much time putting other people (and their needs) first and then wondering why we feel so lost or ripped off. If we have friends who are good and true, trust me we have wealth beyond measure. Conversely, we can be rich beyond our wildest dreams. Yet, if our psychological relationships are empty and superficial, we will yet be poverty-striken.  We must know one thing in life and that is, money can never have power over a true friendship. But a true friendship can have power over money. In this country of ours today, I believe that, together with love and trust we can triumph over the most adverse economic situation. However, there’s an old saying;  Blessed are they who have no expectations, for they shall not be disappointed. This must remind us of all the trouble we can get into when our hopes grow out of sync with reality. Some people, though, turn this advice into a philosophy. They become so nervous about feeling let down that they never look forward to any other thing. We shouldn’t give up on our great desire, but we must at the same time not imagine it will be fulfilled in exactly the way we want it to be. Sometimes, when we reach out to help others, we do it more for our own benefit than theirs. Sometimes, too, when we keep ourselves to ourselves and act in a seemingly selfish way, we’re actually doing the best thing for someone else. If appearance can be deceptive, motives can be doubly so. That said, right now, the grass root level people need our help. You and I are in the position to offer it. If we do, it will turn out well for not them but you and I. No matter what, I am so very sure of one thing and that is a better tomorrow. Nigeria will God willing rise again and become a nation no longer deserted, quote me.

 

WHY WE  MUSTN’T FEEL SO FRUSTRATED IN NIGERIA?

We can get whatever we want. It doesn’t necessarily follow though, that we will want what we get. Our world is full of people running round the clock to reach goals and meet targets. Even those of us with more sensible aspirations, get swept away by the tide. We forget that life is for living, and begin to assume that we have come to this world for one purpose only. To shop (That really depends on what). On the other hand though is a strong suggestion that we will do far better if we reach for what we really want, not what we think we ought to go after. Life is not really easy we all know that, but we must also realize that, that’s why it lasts so long. We can rarely travel in a simple straight line because we have such a convoluted course to follow. We have to wrestle with the difference between dreams and realities, intentions and actualities. With the desire to preserve and the desire to destroy. We have to choose between sanity and madness. But first, we have to decide which is which. Not just on the battleground of our inner-selves but through our interaction with every other person we encounter on this planet. It all takes time. But progress still takes place. We shouldn’t feel frustrated in this country. We should feel proud of what we are slowly but surely achieving with the help of God Almighty and the worthy President of this country. Sometimes, life is like riding a bike on which the chain has slipped. You pedal as hard as you can but the possibilities just won’t come to anything. We don’t even bother trying to put that chain back in place. We just put the bike away and walk. That’s just the way it is. We all have times like this. We get over them. We move on. If we wallow in our disappointment and then assume that every effort we make from now on is similarly destined to finish in failure, we can become permanently embittered. This chance that we have now in this country is real. Let’s trust it and seize it in the name of our country and our generation.

 

WHY NO RELATIONSHIP WILL SURVIVE IF THE PARTNERS CAN’T COMMUNICATE?.

For example, our President finds himself wrestling with difficult decisions and feeling as if he’s being put through some kind of trial. He’s keenly aware of certain other people and their propensity to pronounce judgement. He feels the need, either to justify himself or to prove very dramatically, that he’s doing the right thing. The scenery might change, the situation may differ, but the basic storyline is usually much the same. There he is feeling exposed, challenged and more than a little vulnerable. Ah, but there is the big question; Does the president win or does he lose? He wins, of course......But forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us…’so goes the old prayer. Yet it’s debatable how many of us really are so generous towards others. We don’t need to swing to the other extreme and be constantly beating ourselves up about some mistake we have made. But we all ought to remember that none of is perfect. Let’s not waste our present regretting the past or resenting the present. In life we must understand the fact that, no agreement will last if the signatories don’t respect one another. No relationship will survive if the partners can’t communicate. Anyone can get along with anyone else in this world, as long as they are willing to keep talking about their points in common – and tread delicately around the areas where they differ. We all feel a little better when it seems as if we are in control. We all feel uncomfortable when something or someone seems to be in control of us. Control is a funny thing. Sometimes we do have it, but it’d probably be better if we didn’t. Especially when we are not sure that our plan is the best. If we are sure, there’s nothing wrong in pursuing it and we will surely succeed. If there’s doubt, what harm can it do to let things unfold at their own pace and in their own way? Somewhere in our country, a boundary may have been crossed. A rule may have been transgressed. A sense of mistrust may have developed. As far as I am concerned, the solution is, either we patch it properly now, or its fabric will unravel before our eyes.

 

WHY ATIKU NEED TO LEARN FROM THE BEST?

People are not always very nice to each other. They make harsh judgements and sharp criticisms. They say one thing in public and another in private. They play tricks and set each other traps. They…well, I needn’t go on. The wise men in our country know what I’m talking about. But do we also know, how wonderful some people can be? And how kind, how unselfish, how giving and, how loving? Once upon a time, we couldn’t walk. We couldn’t read. We couldn’t write. We couldn’t add up, talk and or even tie our shoelaces. Very early in our lives we overcame a series of enormous challenges. We human beings have truly Impressive achievements under our belts. Now er…what precisely is it that we feel we couldn’t do or couldn’t possibly learn to do? One thing that puzzles me is why Nigerians are not always nice to each other. Even the ones who seem polite and friendly can turn out to be secretly nurturing grudges or harboring resentments. The folk who will not criticize you to your face, but will happily do so behind your back are possibly the worst. There are though, a few genuinely nice, kind, honest and nonjudgemental people in this world. The Vice President of Nigeria is lucky enough to know some, he needs to seek their company and he needs to remember that his friends are not necessarily the people who agree with him most. Always remember “Don’t be afraid of the opponents or  enemies that attack you, but be extremely careful of friends who flatter you”…. With cheap praise.

 

D.AKINSANYA JULIUSON IOM, HonDBA

Cultural & Public Diplomacy Practitioner, Specialist Investigator and Honorary Representative