CREDIBLE LEADERSHIP

We have so many leaders but little leadership. This is from a survey done in the coastal region. The people were to name one of the most effective leaders in their region and they could not name even one.

They had a whole list of leaders but none of them stood as a distinct leader who everybody said that that is a leader. If this survey was to be done in the whole country, who will stand up as leaders? The survey was about what makes a leader; what makes a person to be a credible leader; a person that we would want to follow as our role model.

Leadership is not about anointing but is an issue of passion. One may be given a position of leadership but it does not necessarily mean that he is a leader. The position just found the person there because he had the qualification that the position wanted but when he lacks that passion he has no leadership in him. From the study done in finding out what followers look for in leadership, four questions were asked;

DEFINE LEADERSHIP

The way we define leadership determines how we lead and what we look for in leadership. The answers fell in four categories from the survey.

• Leadership is supervising:

They expect a leader to supervise them.

• Leadership is guiding:

They expect a leader to guide them.

• Leadership is influence:

They expect a leader to be influencing.

• Leadership is aspiring:

They see a leader as a person who will motivate them towards achieving something.

From the four definitions we can say that followers expect leaders to supervise, guide, influence and motivate them. If a leader is not doing any of the four then the followers feel that he is not a good leader. The definition of a leader depends on a follower. From the study there is no definition of leadership in terms of position.

WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD LEADER?

The following were answers given and they fell into four categories;

• A person who communicates to his followers:

This is all about listening and being listened to.

• A person who is able to learn from his followers:

This is to the contrary to what leaders think. Leaders think that they are the ones to tell, show direction while followers have nothing to offer.

• A person who has focus on his followers not on other things
• A person who is a role model: A person who does things which can be seen as examples not by saying.

QUALITIES OF AN ADMIRED LEADER

From the answers given, they fell into four distinctions;

• Integrity
• Focus on his followers

WHAT PEOPLE LIKES FROM A GOOD LEADER

The values fell into three distinctions;

• Produces effective results
• Have courage and is decisive
• Have fear of God

When the results are compared to literature books about leadership values, the fear of supreme being is common.

HOW TO BECOME A CREDIBLE LEADER

To become a credible leader one needs to follow and have all the values and characteristics listed above. This will make the leader gain love and be liked by his followers.