The debate around whether one is born with all the qualities of leadership or not needs to be resolved. Leadership, for me, is teachable and a training process, it demands commitment, dedication to duty and discipline. However, the question still remains: Who responsible to enforce leadership? The answer to this question is not far-fetched, it is the state’s responsibility. The state has a mandatory duty to lead the citizenry from all walks of life and various educational backgrounds (and obviously the education in leadership is not the exception). But why should the state invest all its resources to get its citizens to do the greatest things. This write-up addresses this issue.
First, because leadership empowers the leader himself and his followers. When one decides to be a leader, one chooses a particular way of life and must change constantly to suit his leadership role. This change is an imperishable one and change is always difficult for humans but it is one of noblest attitudes we need to cultivate. One who seeks to be a lead must develop many qualities such as hard work, discipline, vision, ethics, and other skills to become a better person. This personal growth gives him the opportunity to positively influence and change a lot of people towards the desired goal. The leader focusing on his best qualities can help him present an excellent image before his teammates and then transform their lives for the better.
Second, because new leaders strengthen institutions. The pivot around which Democracy revolves is leadership, without leaders, there is no Democracy. In the darkest hours of history, it is the leader who safeguards the core tenets of the institution or the state and ensure that there is freedom, peace, justice and guarantee that the future of the nation is safe hands. By so doing, the leaders strengthen the already established institutions in a Democratic state. In that way, we guarantee the future of democracy when the state train and educated steadily a new generation of leaders.
Third, because all professions need leaders. All societies need leaders at all levels, in all areas, in all positions. Society thrives on good leadership, thus leaders are needed to man all sectors of a nation to improve the living standards of the people, increase the level of literacy and make society engage in healthy competitions. Leadership, it is said, is more than a profession; it is an art that all professions require. Indeed, a profession that has great leaders becomes organizationally effective, in this way, leadership and effectiveness are synonyms.
Fourth, because national interest or national goals need a leader to drive them. Leaders help to achieve the national goals in various sectors of the state and make these goals realistic; according to Collin Powell, “Leadership is the art of accomplishing more than the science of management says is possible.” Implicit in this quote there is one element of planning, in other words, planning is the instrument of change and development in every society and it takes good leaders to be good planners. Through their planning and making these plans a reality, leaders also preserve the common national interest of the state. Besides plans need a great leader to drive them.
Fifth, because development is not exclusively economic. Often times, people think that a country’s economic development is indicative of its level of leadership. Leadership, in my view, should go beyond the economy and also be reflected in the social, political, educational and even the cultural wellbeing of the people. Leaders need to educate their followers, Ronald Regan reminds us that: “The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one who gets people to do the greatest things.” Education always will be development!!!
To sum up, these five issues explained the reasons why the state has to invest its efforts in promoting new leadership. It is said that the future will be the product of the choices we make in our present life, the future of our states depends on the kinds of leaders we choose today and the choices they make in their tenure. Let us always remember good leadership depends on the leader and that leadership is the core element for development.
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