BUILD YOUR PEOPLE TO BUILD THE ORGANIZATION!

In recent times I have seen myself talking so much about leadership. Obviously, the lack of it is what has kept our nation at the level it currently is.

However, true to every act of learning, only those with capacity for change can learn. I want to take you through a simple class on leadership that can change your perception of leadership, particularly for leaders of organizations and business people.

Every individual, every group, every business cries for good leadership. Everyone either feels the effect of poor leadership or enjoys the result of good leadership.

As a leader, you hold a delicate key to the hearts of their lives, because every process a man goes through is a build-up to the dream height and the time you are with them is a PROCESS – if badly utilized will either make your followers good leaders or make them bad leaders.

When leaders are good communicators, encouragers and motivators, their members will not only enjoy the work and produce more, they will be loyal to the leadership.

Good leadership is not just important, it is indispensable. The better the leaders, the better the group.

If as a leader, all you think is how to get the ORGANIZATION better, without getting the PEOPLE better, the people you are looking away from will soon destroy the organization you are trying to build.

Your people must be your priority – your greatest legacy is the people. Beautify a life and the life will beautify the organization..... the greatest investment of life is the investment in lives.

You cannot be neutral: you either building the people or depleting them. Treat people well, that you lead them does not mean you created them. They still have choices, learn to respect their choices but give them direction so they can make informed decisions.

Your leadership ability is a compass to the growth of your staff/team members. They have dreams and aspirations buried on the inside of them. Every team member seems to has a secret cry: “how well you lead me is what determines how well I will function in that area….”

As a leader, you are either killing their dreams or building their hopes.

To be an exemplary leader, you need these 3 qualities:
1. A good heart
2. A good mouth
3. A good eye.

A good heart: You must love your members. Joseph was the only son that Jacob loved so dearly, and scripture records that he was also the only one able to dream. Think about this! It isn't a coincidence! Love release dreams and hopes. Show me you love me and I will put in my best into life and your work. Love awakens the confidence to believe in yourself. If you can make your people believe in themselves, they will produce terrific results. 1st John 4:18: “perfect love cast out fear…” Love your people. Don’t let them see or think of you and hate being a leaders.

Be interested in their development. Hear the cry of all your team members: If you can make me feel good, I will make you proud! Proverbs 27:23: “know the state of your flocks and put your heart into caring for them…” Swallow your pride - but for them, you won’t be a leader! The mental and emotional state of the people you lead is what gives colour to your leadershipstatus. It is better to be a leader of warriors than a leader of slaves. The difference is in how you've trained them.

A good Mouth: Your words matter. Words are powerful. Proverbs 18:21: “death and life are in the power of the tongue….”
Never ever curse or abuse your people out of anger. Don’t be tempted to do it and believe an apology may be all that will make your people pacified. As the saying goes, prevention is better and cheaper than cure. Else, your team members who always misbehave and decide to apologize later. This won't be healthy for your organization.

There is a force in our words that can transform or deform a life. The world is looking for leaders who know how to talk, leaders who understand the power and magic of words. People should hear you talk and pray for your kind of spirit and ability.

When they do well, appreciate them. Do not be known as one who rebukes people only, but never appreciates. People are desperate for love. They are desperate to feel valued. They long to be appreciated. Nobody is your dustbin, mind what you say.

When you conceal your love, you starve them of what they need most. Just imagine that everybody in your organization has a slate on his neck that reads: “PLEASE, HELP ME FEEL IMPORTANT TODAY…”
They come from different places, they have faced rejection, they feel pains, they have talked down on – they should find comfort in your organization.

A good Eye: people change. That they can’t currently talk sophisticatedly or convincingly to clients, dress stylishly or they sound uncultured doesn’t mean they will be like that forever. Every man has a great future, God never created a useless being. See your people like the stars their created them to be. Work to polish them, be part of their success story. Respect them. Do everything to see them succeed, be a part of their testimonies, not regrets.

There is a hidden paradise in everybody. The potentials in them can only be seen by uncommon eyes.
They have been around many people who never saw it - look deep! Be prepared to do all you can to prepare them for their future. Ask them questions to know what they intend to be and do. You must be interested in them!

You must happen!

EXPECT WHAT YOU PROJECT!

A great man once said we don't see the world as it is but we see the world as we are. Have you noticed that no matter how poor a village is, there is always at least one very rich person! Guess you may see in the city of the blind........ The point here is this, while every city boasts of some rich and comfortable individuals, there are also folks who live in abject poverty and squalor! Fact is, success has never been about a place, it is about the individual. My pastor would always say: "Any place can produce for a man..."

One important ingredient that success requires is a positive outlook to life. The holy book says a cheerful countenance works magic like medicine.

I tell you a simple story that sheds more lght on this.........

Long ago in a small, far away village, there was place known as the House of 1000 Mirrors. A small, happy little dog learned of this place and decided to visit. When he arrived, he bounced happily up the stairs to the doorway of the house. He looked through the doorway with his ears lifted high and his tail wagging as fast as it could. To his great surprise, he found himself staring at 1000 other happy little dogs with their tails wagging just as fast as his. He smiled a great smile, and was answered with 1000 great smiles just as warm and friendly. As he left the House, he thought to himself, "This is a wonderful place. I will come back and visit it often."

In this same village, another little dog, who was not quite as happy as the first one, decided to visit the house. He slowly climbed the stairs and hung his head low as he looked into the door. When he saw the 1000 unfriendly looking dogs staring back at him, he growled at them and was horrified to see 1000 little dogs growling back at him. As he left, he thought to himself, "That is a horrible place, and I will never go back there again."

Dear friend, all the faces in the world are mirrors. We would always attract the personalities we project. Be positive about life and you will attract positive people. If only you will change the way you look at things, the things you look at will change.

Keep happening!

The RIVER or the POND mentality...

What is life without impact? What is the essence of being alive if you can’t positively affect the lives of those around you?

To my mind, the whole essence of life is to positively affect other people and make their life better. Let’s reflect on these timeless words.... “Let your light so brightly shine such that men will see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven....” This simply means that your impact in the lives of people should make them thank God that somebody like you exists...

“You are the salt of the earth...” Salt is designed to add flavour to meals.... As ‘salt of the earth’, you have been created to add value to the lives of people... A life that doesn’t contribute VALUE is a waste of time. When people think of you, what solution comes to mind? If you should leave this planet tomorrow afternoon, what are we going to miss?

Until you have people in mind, nobody will have you in mind. Jesus fed 5,000 men, this was after he had taken the pains of tendering to their spiritual needs.... Spiritual food and physical food... We understand that they ate until they were full, it was beyond some form of 'Holy Communion.' The bible also had this about him: “He went about doing good...”

We must drop our pond mentality and accept the river mentality. A river flows, but a pond retains anything that gets to it.
Dear friend, when you close your hand from giving things to people, don’t forget it is also closed from receiving....A man that waters will inevitably be watered... Nothing invested in the life of a fellow man is a waste. Your reward mustn’t necessarily come from those you invested in, but your harvest is guaranteed!!!
Most times, some of us refuse to invest in certain individuals because we can’t imagine ever needing things from such people anywhere in the future...... In case you have never noticed: our future is not written on our foreheads. Besides, NEVER EVER CONCLUDE ON A MAN THAT'S STILL BREATHING!!!

Have you noticed that every pond has a foul adour? But, a river doesn’t stink! You must learn to be a channel, things should pass through you! If you choose to be a ‘withholder’, people will hate being around you. I believe this is one of the little secrets of politicians.... We must learn how to spread the little we have, however we can to better the lives of others. A wise man once said: "those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot hide it come from coming to them..."

Folks, I believe there is at least something you have that you currently don’t make use of and somebody somewhere is dying to have it. Reach out your hand in love! If you must affect your world, you must realize there is a need...reach out! There are problems everywhere, don't pretend you don't know about it!

When the Bible says “the memory of the just is blessed...”, what it actually meant was that every time people think about a just man and whenever his name is mentioned, the people are happy... This is because of his contributions to their lives... A just man notices there is a need in the lives of people, and he moves ahead to meet it. You may not be able to meet everything, but there is always something every one of us can contribute.

People need mentors. They know that without a mentor, they will will melt-up. People need direction. They know that without direction, they will be slow in motion. People need instructors... People need teachers... People need role models; they need people to pattern their lives after.... A man without a role model will soon become an old model....

There are problems everywhere.... if you refuse to solve the problems you see around, you are already part of the problem.......

Be rest assured: if you decide to look out for yourself alone, nobody will see you... Start looking out for people and everybody will notice you.

This is the key to relevance and happiness: adding colour and beauty to the lives of others.