In several nations of the world, especially in most developing and underdeveloped ones, poor infrastructure is the order of the day and poverty is pervalent. Hence, unemployment, insecurity and other social vices abound.Across the globe, corporate fatalities are also countless, as recent focus on corporate governance has revealed. Social institutions and churches, and even family institutions also have their own share of tales of woes, all arising largely from the inability of those in the fold of the above listed classifications to provide good leadership.Indeed, individual failure in life, according to experts, is also traceable largely to the fact that many are not only ignorant of leadership principles, but are also not aware that they have leadership potentials that could propel them to success. Understandably therefore, leadership conferences and seminars are enjoying increasing prominence, with the focus on the impartation of leadership qualities to participants.The simple explanation for this is that individuals make up political and public institutions, corporate organisation, social and religious institutions, and of course families. So, all of the aforementioned could attain peak performance if the individuals involved understand what leadership entails. This was excellently communicated recently in Lagos by renowned author and globally acknowledged authority on leadership. Mr John Maxwell, at a one-day leadership and management conference organised by Atrium consultants.The 63-year-old father of two and grandfather of five, who started writing since 1979,set an appropriate tone for the conference as he declared with infectious excitement and optimism: Today, I am going to give you my very best. I am going to teach you leadership principles that will change your lives. This is because, I am glad for this great opportunity. I am delighted to be here. Nigeria is beautiful. It is the people that make her beautiful. This great turnout is enough inspiration for me. I am going to teach you lifechanging leadership principles. Indeed, Nigeria needs more leaders, better leaders. And because those of you who chose to be here at this time, rather than being anywhere else, have demonstrated a thirst for leadership excellence, I promise you my very best.Before he commenced his speech, the Managing Partner of Atrium Consultants, Barrister Christopher Omolade justified the event. According to him, the imperative of leadership qualities at all levels of life could not be overemphasised. Nigeria stands to gain a lot from Maxwells visit, he stressed. According to him, with events like this, we are playing our own role in the countrys quest for right leadership to drive our economic development for the good of all.Speaking on a similar note, his co-partner, Mr Yomi William, said that the firm remained committed to the effective implementation, administration and operation of educational management programmes, aimed at enhancing leadership/management techniques. Our goal is to provide Nigerians capacity building opportunities, that would lead to optimal decisions, effective deployment or resources and efficient processes.While delivering his lecture, Maxwell stressed that leadership is everything, whatever the issues are in a country, corporate organisations and clubs or even in the family, it could always be traced to the lack of or the possession of leadership qualities, he said. In other words, he explained, that a country suffers or prospers, depending on who the leader is, just as an organisation excels or stagnates according to the quality of its management. Also, a clubs achievement of set objectives depends on who steers the ship, just as a familys happiness or otherwise rests on the decision and indecision of the head. The sooner people understand what leadership entails, the better for them, the author emphasised.As he took the hundreds of participants at the forum through his captivating delivery on leadership qualities, Maxwell made it clear that each individual has the potentialities to be a great leader provided there is the willingness and readiness to pay the price.He stressed that the country is hungry for leadership, for one person who understands that leadership can have a great influence on everything and everyone. I seek someone here that is saying I listen! Beyond having a vision, giving direction and having ability, the most important quality of a leader is ability to listen. Leaders listen, learn, lead, and do so continuously, because it is lonely at the top.Speaking on leadership production, Maxwell stated that, lead by example, they follow, because in leadership, they see what you do. Example is huge in leadership, because people do what they see. Unfortunately, too many leaders are like travelling agents they send people where they have never been themselves. So, they lack credibility, because they have never done it.On peoples development, Maxwell emphasised that leaders must delight in developing subordinates. People follow because of what you have done for them. He started to develop people, urging leaders to recruit the best people by having a clear picture of whom they need. After recruiting them, he urged that they should be well equipped and positioned to excel. And for those who are reluctant to develop people because of fear of their early exit from the organisation, Maxwell said, it is better that you train them and they leave, than not to train them and they stay.On personhood, he said that personal achievement is what counts here. Now, you have achieved so well and earned respect, and people follow because of who you are and what you represent. Indeed, you have done so well for people, that you become bigger than life and your platform is beyond one company. But, you have to be careful at this stage, because you may become sloppy here and begin to have a sense of entitlement and begin to fall.Maxwell also taught other leadership principles, like the law of lid and of process, among others. He stated inter alia: How well I live will determine how successful I am. Everything rises and falls on leadership. A government cant be better than its leaders. And whether in sport, education, business, church, etc, an organisation can only rise to the level of its leadership, because of the law of the lid. So, you grow an organisation by growing its leadership.He added, living well is a life-long process, and living well is important, because how effective you live determines your leadership influesce and effectiveness.Significantly, the reputable author gave participants the secrets to his success, especially his ability to publish so many books.Odidi sent in this piece from Port Harcourt.
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