The concept of leadership is not just an academic study, It is the critical need of our time. It is the fist step to redefining the future of our communities, our nation and the world system as we know it. As John Maxwell so rightly puts it, "Everything rises and falls on leadership."
One does not have to be a great visionary to see ahead to the valueless destination the ANC and the DA led coalition of morally corrupt parties wish to take to. And if our future rises on falls on leaders, then we have to ask ourselves - what is it we should really be looking for?
When we can with honesty define leadership, with integrity challenge those who are supposed to be our leaders but fail the measure, we will begin to set a new path and a new direction for ourselves.
In this era of relative values and political correctness it has been quietly ignored and yet it is probably the most critical study of our time. We continuously elect people at random because we have no standard from which to measure.
And leadership CAN be measured. As much as we would define a car as having 4 wheels, and engine etc. In the same way a leader has certain characteristics. If we remove one wheel from a car - it is no longer a car - it is a tricycle. Everyone knows this. You can perhaps remove the roof and have a convertible. But once you remove the essentials or too many defining factors it is no longer a car. Remove another wheel and you have a motorbike. Remove the engine and you have a bicycle.
And we need to recognise when there are too many character traits lacking in a person - when they are no longer a leader - and have the courage to tell them - "I will no longer follow you.
But what are the defining points of leadership - real leadership
A Broad definition
Leadership is the combination of Character, Skills and Knowledge that makes you a person others want to follow in confidence and common purpose, in doing the right thing at the right time, for the right reasons.
Leadership is not position but a way of life
A true leader, does not only hold a position in the workplace, politics etc, but acts as a leader in every sphere of his or her life, including family, community and church. A true leader will always impact on every situation, but position holders can only impact their own hierarchical protected environment.
Position does not imply you are a leader, but a leader will almost always get a position
Leaders are made not born
There is no character trait, leadership skill, nor knowledge required, that cannot be developed or learnt by anyone. Leadership by birth rather implies position by birth such as our own tribal system or that of monarchies such as England. Prince Charles no doubt holds a position, as does King Mswati of Swaziland but any serious scholar must soberly assess whether these individuals are indeed leaders.
Their lifestyles, decisions made and contribution to society and a nation as a whole clearly appraises them as individuals who, without protected privilege or rights by descendancy would be considered an average failure.
Leadership vs Management
In asking the key questions of management, Leadership focuses more on why, what and when whereas management focuses on how and who
Leaders do the right thing – Managers do things right
Leaders initiate and managers manage the process that has been initiated. The one undoubtedly needs the other, but in essence, managers would have nothing to manage if leaders had not set a path before them.
Leadership is not about measured by results, but by what the results are.
Hitler, Stalin and Mugabe are but a few of histories recorded despots who achieved results but mankind has paid the price for what their results were. Verwoerd successfully brought about apartheid, and Karl Marx successfully eroded common societal structural values. History clearly judges the damage they have brought about and we have to therefore
Knowledge is a tool of a leader, not the mark of one
Dr Wouter Basson, was a man of position as well as great knowledge, By common definition, he was a leader. If we are to remain true to the real leaders of our time and history, we have to however separate men such as he from true leadership. He used his knowledge to uphold the apartheid system and earned himself the nickname Dr Death.
Skills and knowledge can bring you to leadership but character will keep you there.
The headlines confirm this fact. Famous evangelist caught with a prostitute, ex mayor of East London involved in shady deals, top officials or councilors drunken driving and even our own (hopefully not) future president embroiled in corruption allegations and sordid kanga, sex and showers affairs.
Character and integrity will ensure that power and position do not corrupt you, sway you from your path, and protect you from destroying yourself and therefore the trust of those around you.
No integrity, no character – no leader
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
DA - Dictators Anonymous?
World history reflects an alarming trend of the once benevolent, becoming the brutes of oppression. And Africa is no different. Our neighbour Mugabe being one such clear and stark example.
Considering the impact of one's philosophy on ultimate actions taken, it does not come as a surprise in many nations, when you consider the communist root to the freedom movement itself. The purpose of emancipation is no more than the establishment of a fresh dictatorship.
The oft forgotten and not so easily recognisable dictators in hiding however, lurk in the ranks of the liberals. Those that criticise the most. Shout the word freedom the loudest. Those monsters of oppression that hide behind a new form of oppression - the removal of all conflicting rights and voices.
In the supposed bastion of good government, Cape Town, under the DA, the self proclaimed guardians of freedom, we witnessed the tip of a dictatorship iceberg last year.
The DA controlled council, banned amongst others, a proposed ANC Youth League march ,the 'Naked Bike Ride'and the organisation Animal Activist Network News, which wanted to protest Japan’s whaling activities in the Cape. They were also, through the city permit officer looking for a moratorium on all such gatherings and marches despite the fact that such a moratorium would of been totally illegal!
They had previously declared Cape Town the Homosexual Tourism Capital of South Africa despite massive majority outcry in the city.
Of course, the banning of the marches was totally unconstitutional and against the law and amounts to no more than mass censorship.Even the Freedom of Expression institute wrote to Zille firmly requesting that she cease from allowing citizens in Cape Town their basic rights as provided for in the Regulation of Gatherings Act.
And all of this just in a city. The question must be asked - what would they do if they actually controlled the nation? Could the power hungry Zille and her compatriots be trusted with the freedoms we have fought for?
The evidence shows otherwise. The time they have had to show that their actions match their words has proven they are no more than another groups of Dictators Anonymous. Those supposed liberals who proclaim to have all truth and therefore every other voice must be silenced.
And while these liberal dictators in hiding might not always be so evident as their socialist/communist counterparts, they are as lethal, as dangerous to society. They have their roots in the bloody French Revolution and are ruthless but extremely deceptive in their bid for power.
For them, the cry "Liberty above all" means only liberty from the existing ruling party and above all means above individual rights, above freedom of religion, above every freedom we hold dear.
Those who cherish their freedoms would be well advised to watch for those moments when the sheep's clothing shifts a crack to reveal what truly lies underneath.
Considering the impact of one's philosophy on ultimate actions taken, it does not come as a surprise in many nations, when you consider the communist root to the freedom movement itself. The purpose of emancipation is no more than the establishment of a fresh dictatorship.
The oft forgotten and not so easily recognisable dictators in hiding however, lurk in the ranks of the liberals. Those that criticise the most. Shout the word freedom the loudest. Those monsters of oppression that hide behind a new form of oppression - the removal of all conflicting rights and voices.
In the supposed bastion of good government, Cape Town, under the DA, the self proclaimed guardians of freedom, we witnessed the tip of a dictatorship iceberg last year.
The DA controlled council, banned amongst others, a proposed ANC Youth League march ,the 'Naked Bike Ride'and the organisation Animal Activist Network News, which wanted to protest Japan’s whaling activities in the Cape. They were also, through the city permit officer looking for a moratorium on all such gatherings and marches despite the fact that such a moratorium would of been totally illegal!
They had previously declared Cape Town the Homosexual Tourism Capital of South Africa despite massive majority outcry in the city.
Of course, the banning of the marches was totally unconstitutional and against the law and amounts to no more than mass censorship.Even the Freedom of Expression institute wrote to Zille firmly requesting that she cease from allowing citizens in Cape Town their basic rights as provided for in the Regulation of Gatherings Act.
And all of this just in a city. The question must be asked - what would they do if they actually controlled the nation? Could the power hungry Zille and her compatriots be trusted with the freedoms we have fought for?
The evidence shows otherwise. The time they have had to show that their actions match their words has proven they are no more than another groups of Dictators Anonymous. Those supposed liberals who proclaim to have all truth and therefore every other voice must be silenced.
And while these liberal dictators in hiding might not always be so evident as their socialist/communist counterparts, they are as lethal, as dangerous to society. They have their roots in the bloody French Revolution and are ruthless but extremely deceptive in their bid for power.
For them, the cry "Liberty above all" means only liberty from the existing ruling party and above all means above individual rights, above freedom of religion, above every freedom we hold dear.
Those who cherish their freedoms would be well advised to watch for those moments when the sheep's clothing shifts a crack to reveal what truly lies underneath.
Friday, January 16, 2009
I have a T-Shirt that boldly proclaims "AFRICA - Not for Sissies". In truth, that is the one thing that separates us Africans from Westerners. Africa is a continent of vast contrasts. Of overwhelming beauty. And extreme harshness. And she is a jealous woman. She will tolerate no other in your life.
It is why the many westerners who came here left again. They failed to embrace her totally.Failed to allow themselves to become part of her heartbeat. You see, being an African is not a spectator sport. It is a way of life.
And being part of Africa changes you. It develops a depth of character that separates us from the "Sissies".It does not always make us popular but we do get respect. We witnessed this in our last Cricket test against Australia.
The early hours saw one previously unpopular South African; walking down the stairs of the Sydney Cricket Ground, to a standing ovation and bringing even the hardest SA fan close to tears of pride. That's us isn't it? That's you and me, or at least visions of how we'd like to see ourselves, battered and bruised but defiant in the face of improbability.
We may not have an Obama to give us a speech that invokes in us strength to keep believing in the impossible, but we do have every day men and women that rise to the occasion. Everyone, even non sport lovers, sat transfixed that morning as a picture of a man, injured and defying logic, striding down 20 steps said, without uttering a single word, to the rest of the world "try tell me that I can't."
Later in the same day headlines are made by another ex-South African who quits his role as England cricket captain after just 5 months at the helm. The odds were too tough to make it happen in South Africa, the greener grass of foreign pastures too alluring to resist. Without realising it KP, you represent so many others like you. You are not alone, there are many like you who figure the odds are stacked too high to make it happen here in South Africa and look for the easier option.
But you forget one thing; you forget that dealing with adversity in life breeds strength and character. Having the chips stacked against you, only to believe in something enough to defy the odds to come through these things again, and again, and again. that's something another coloured passport can not offer you.
Thank you Graeme Smith, you gave us the Obama moment that reminded us why we love being South African this much. We are in for one tough year in 2009, with no promise of what the end result might be. The rest of the world keeps telling us that we are just another part of the crippled body of Africa with no hope and a one way ticket to failure. We face elections to determine the direction our country will take for the next five years.
We could lay down and die. We could allow the negativity and fear tactics of the DA to overwhelm us. We could look at the ANC and it's illegitimate child, Cope and wonder if it's worth voting at all.
Or we can be South Africans - a place not made for sissies - make sure we are registered - take a decision for real change and a return to the values we believe in - and vote CDA.
It is why the many westerners who came here left again. They failed to embrace her totally.Failed to allow themselves to become part of her heartbeat. You see, being an African is not a spectator sport. It is a way of life.
And being part of Africa changes you. It develops a depth of character that separates us from the "Sissies".It does not always make us popular but we do get respect. We witnessed this in our last Cricket test against Australia.
The early hours saw one previously unpopular South African; walking down the stairs of the Sydney Cricket Ground, to a standing ovation and bringing even the hardest SA fan close to tears of pride. That's us isn't it? That's you and me, or at least visions of how we'd like to see ourselves, battered and bruised but defiant in the face of improbability.
We may not have an Obama to give us a speech that invokes in us strength to keep believing in the impossible, but we do have every day men and women that rise to the occasion. Everyone, even non sport lovers, sat transfixed that morning as a picture of a man, injured and defying logic, striding down 20 steps said, without uttering a single word, to the rest of the world "try tell me that I can't."
Later in the same day headlines are made by another ex-South African who quits his role as England cricket captain after just 5 months at the helm. The odds were too tough to make it happen in South Africa, the greener grass of foreign pastures too alluring to resist. Without realising it KP, you represent so many others like you. You are not alone, there are many like you who figure the odds are stacked too high to make it happen here in South Africa and look for the easier option.
But you forget one thing; you forget that dealing with adversity in life breeds strength and character. Having the chips stacked against you, only to believe in something enough to defy the odds to come through these things again, and again, and again. that's something another coloured passport can not offer you.
Thank you Graeme Smith, you gave us the Obama moment that reminded us why we love being South African this much. We are in for one tough year in 2009, with no promise of what the end result might be. The rest of the world keeps telling us that we are just another part of the crippled body of Africa with no hope and a one way ticket to failure. We face elections to determine the direction our country will take for the next five years.
We could lay down and die. We could allow the negativity and fear tactics of the DA to overwhelm us. We could look at the ANC and it's illegitimate child, Cope and wonder if it's worth voting at all.
Or we can be South Africans - a place not made for sissies - make sure we are registered - take a decision for real change and a return to the values we believe in - and vote CDA.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Christians and Cope
There has been a lot of hype and activity with Christians joining up with Cope. There justification is that the leaders have committed to morals and values and wow, have even started a forum to interact with the religious sector!
No offense to any of these brothers and sisters but can we really be so naive? Is this any different to Zuma having himself ordained as a minister. Or the establishment of the Moral Regeneration Movement, which was nothing more than an attempt to discredit Christianity? (Those wanting info on this feel free to contact me.)
These core leaders were once decision makers in the ANC and to a lesser degree the DA and other parties. Where was their commitment to these values then? Why did they not stand up for what they now so suddenly believe in?
It is these very people that legislated pornography, abortion etc. It is they that corrupted our schooling system and removed all credibility from our police force and justice system. Now they have a change of heart :-)
There are two alternatives these Cope leaders must address honestly and publicly. They either do not believe in these values they now profess, or they value towing the party line more than their personal convictions. Either way what's going to change?
I believe that in order to show their serious intent to actually put action to their promises we need in writing, a commitment from Cope or even from individual leaders that they will vote in favour of these Christian values. That they will publicly take a stand against abortion.
Until then the evidence says they are grandstanding - simply gathering votes. And targeting the Christian vote.
And every Christian that takes part in the establishment of this new anti Christian values party, will have to be held accountable for the part they played.
No offense to any of these brothers and sisters but can we really be so naive? Is this any different to Zuma having himself ordained as a minister. Or the establishment of the Moral Regeneration Movement, which was nothing more than an attempt to discredit Christianity? (Those wanting info on this feel free to contact me.)
These core leaders were once decision makers in the ANC and to a lesser degree the DA and other parties. Where was their commitment to these values then? Why did they not stand up for what they now so suddenly believe in?
It is these very people that legislated pornography, abortion etc. It is they that corrupted our schooling system and removed all credibility from our police force and justice system. Now they have a change of heart :-)
There are two alternatives these Cope leaders must address honestly and publicly. They either do not believe in these values they now profess, or they value towing the party line more than their personal convictions. Either way what's going to change?
I believe that in order to show their serious intent to actually put action to their promises we need in writing, a commitment from Cope or even from individual leaders that they will vote in favour of these Christian values. That they will publicly take a stand against abortion.
Until then the evidence says they are grandstanding - simply gathering votes. And targeting the Christian vote.
And every Christian that takes part in the establishment of this new anti Christian values party, will have to be held accountable for the part they played.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Political Manifestos and Hope
We could only watch in amazement at the crowd reaction the the ANC manifesto launch in East London this last weekend. They cheered. They shouted. Some even cried with joy. And all they did was promise to do what they have been promising for 15 years - and failed.
Yet there is a grasping at hope within us all that makes us latch onto empty promises, even when we know deep within us that the words we hear are probably untrue - even a blatant lie. How many spouses tell of knowing for years of an affair but holding on to false words that this is indeed not so - until eventually our souls can take it no more and we have no choice but to face up the the reality.
And heaven knows South Africa is such a place of being adulterated by those put in places of trust. Where those entrusted with our welfare and our future have had affairs with corruption, flirted with utter promiscuity and others been blatant of their love for incompetence and greed.
Our desperation for hope burns like a roaring flame within us. Telling us that maybe this time we can believe them. This time they are telling the truth.
And we look away from the evidence. Deny ourselves the truth. We turn a blind eye to what every report tells us. And hope. And maybe so because of the passionate courtship we have had with democracy. It did not come easy. It was fought for. And so we refuse to believe that it has let us down.
And how much more evident than in the romantic disillusionment with the newly established Cope. Compatriots in our previous failures. Masters of the destructive governance that has been a dismal 15 years of democracy. The very people who brought us abortion, pornography, a failed education system and a almost non existent policing and justice arm of government.
And now they leave the ANC, form a new party and suddenly are heroes. To any thinking man this must seem like madness. There is no logic in thinking that people who have failed us will now free us just because they have changed T-Shirts.
But we are not thinking people. We are not applying logic. We are grasping at hope. And sadly we will get hurt again. For this kind of blind hope glosses over the issues. Makes excuses for the wrongdoer. And therefore never raises the issue of accountability.
As for me. I will use my thinking capacity. I will apply logic. It is my right to use the intelligence given to me by God and to not form part of mass hysteria. I will reject those who have been given an opportunity and abused it.
I will vote for something fresh. A new start. A return to old values. I will vote CDA.
Yet there is a grasping at hope within us all that makes us latch onto empty promises, even when we know deep within us that the words we hear are probably untrue - even a blatant lie. How many spouses tell of knowing for years of an affair but holding on to false words that this is indeed not so - until eventually our souls can take it no more and we have no choice but to face up the the reality.
And heaven knows South Africa is such a place of being adulterated by those put in places of trust. Where those entrusted with our welfare and our future have had affairs with corruption, flirted with utter promiscuity and others been blatant of their love for incompetence and greed.
Our desperation for hope burns like a roaring flame within us. Telling us that maybe this time we can believe them. This time they are telling the truth.
And we look away from the evidence. Deny ourselves the truth. We turn a blind eye to what every report tells us. And hope. And maybe so because of the passionate courtship we have had with democracy. It did not come easy. It was fought for. And so we refuse to believe that it has let us down.
And how much more evident than in the romantic disillusionment with the newly established Cope. Compatriots in our previous failures. Masters of the destructive governance that has been a dismal 15 years of democracy. The very people who brought us abortion, pornography, a failed education system and a almost non existent policing and justice arm of government.
And now they leave the ANC, form a new party and suddenly are heroes. To any thinking man this must seem like madness. There is no logic in thinking that people who have failed us will now free us just because they have changed T-Shirts.
But we are not thinking people. We are not applying logic. We are grasping at hope. And sadly we will get hurt again. For this kind of blind hope glosses over the issues. Makes excuses for the wrongdoer. And therefore never raises the issue of accountability.
As for me. I will use my thinking capacity. I will apply logic. It is my right to use the intelligence given to me by God and to not form part of mass hysteria. I will reject those who have been given an opportunity and abused it.
I will vote for something fresh. A new start. A return to old values. I will vote CDA.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
The words of this song just blew me away! So many times we become seperated from those are supposed to reach as well from God, purely because of arrogance and a touch of self righteousness. This song just puts things into perspective a bit. And if we ever intend to govern - and govern well - theses words are well worth remembering.
GOD OF THE MOON AND STARS
God of the meek and mild,
God of the reckless and the wild
God of the unreconciled, I come to you
God of our life and death
God of our secrets unconfessed
God of our every breath, I come to you
God of the rich and poor
God of the princess and the whore
God of the ever open door, I come to you
God of the unborn child
God of the pure and undefiled
God of the pimp and paedophile, I come to you
God of the war and peace
God of the junkie and the priest
God of the greatest and the least, I come to you
God of the refugee
God of the prisoner and the free
God of our doubt and certainty, I come to you
God of our joy and grieve
God of the lawyer and the thief
God of our faith and unbelief, I come to you
God of the wounds we bear
God of the deepest dreams we share
God of our unspoken prayer, I come to you
God of a world that´s lost
God of the lonely cross
God who has come to us, I come to you
GOD OF THE MOON AND STARS
God of the meek and mild,
God of the reckless and the wild
God of the unreconciled, I come to you
God of our life and death
God of our secrets unconfessed
God of our every breath, I come to you
God of the rich and poor
God of the princess and the whore
God of the ever open door, I come to you
God of the unborn child
God of the pure and undefiled
God of the pimp and paedophile, I come to you
God of the war and peace
God of the junkie and the priest
God of the greatest and the least, I come to you
God of the refugee
God of the prisoner and the free
God of our doubt and certainty, I come to you
God of our joy and grieve
God of the lawyer and the thief
God of our faith and unbelief, I come to you
God of the wounds we bear
God of the deepest dreams we share
God of our unspoken prayer, I come to you
God of a world that´s lost
God of the lonely cross
God who has come to us, I come to you
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