This is an age-old question that I will attempt to answer in this post. I\u2019ve been reflecting on the conversation earlier this week in our cohort group regarding the volatile situation in the world characterized by the shrinking space for candid and factual dialogue, the impact of information overload and addictiveness on social media and the consequent online aggression. I\u2019ve been asking myself; do we have a role in shaping \u201cthe now\u201d and the future? Who is a leader? Are our leadership capabilities and competencies aligned to what the world needs?<\/p>\n
Tracing leadership roots<\/strong><\/p>\n In the book, \u201cClear Thinking, turning ordinary moments into extraordinary results,\u201d the author points out that we are naturally wired to organize the world into hierarchy[1]<\/a>. This helps us make sense of the world, affirm our beliefs and make our spheres habitable. Even the idea of leadership has hierarchy depending on roles, responsibilities, sphere or sector, local or global, organizational or administrative and the list goes on. Conceivably, this idea of \u201chierarchy\u201d is more than just biological. In the bible, we see so many instances of hierarchy dating back to the creation story in Genesis 1. \u00a0The bible accounts that God created the heavens and the earth and all the living things and creatures, He created man, in His image and likeness, \u201cso that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.\u201d[2]<\/a> \u00a0God then put Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and they took care of it and lived out their leadership mandate. In the biblical stories that follow, the human populations grew and as that happened, we see leaders emerging with different assignments and stories: Noah, Melchizedek, Abraham, Joseph, David, Esther, Deborah, the Prophets, Jesus Christ, Peter, Paul and so on (not an exhaustive list). Each of them appeared like they were built for a certain time and season. But beyond the leaders we saw and read about and others who we didn\u2019t\u2019 learn much about but were equally leaders and arguably shaped their societies at the time.<\/p>\n Making of leaders<\/strong><\/p>\n Poole (in reference to C-Suite roles) suggests that leadership is not just an inherent trait but a skill that can honed and crafted and hence the idea of leadersmithing<\/em>[3]<\/a>. In a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous (VUCA) world, Poole\u2019s research found that simulation and building leadership \u201cmuscle memory\u201d on 17 Critical Incidents is key. She asserts that these Critical Incidents \u201cfunction as foundational competencies and so are less susceptible to fashion.\u201d<\/p>\n I do agree with her views and the following are what I think are leadership qualities that transcend organizational boundaries: –<\/p>\n Given the state of the world, and the outlook, I think there are a few other key competencies outlined in Micah 6:8 that leaders can cultivate, emulate and transfer to those under their care. One is to act justly, and secondly, to love mercy and thirdly, walk humbly with God.<\/p>\n He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And so, are leaders born or made? I\u2019d say both. Everyone has the seed in them to lead in various forms and spheres and we can all cultivate leadership competencies to be relevant in a dynamic world.<\/p>\n [1]<\/a> Parrish, Shane. Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results<\/em>. NY; Penguin Press, 2023<\/p>\n [2]<\/a> Genesis 1:26<\/p>\n [3]<\/a> Poole, Eve. Leadersmithing: Revealing the Trade Secrets of Leadership<\/em>. London\u202f; New York, NY: Bloomsbury Business, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing, 2017.<\/p>\n\n
\nAnd what does the\u00a0Lord\u00a0require of you?
\nTo act justly\u00a0and to love mercy
\nand to walk humbly\u00a0with your God.[5]<\/a><\/p>\n