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!

HOW TO ATTRACT THE BEST OF 2009!

I have always held as true the belief that life is spiritual. Expectedly, a few persons with superficial view to life would play down this obvious reality. This, I believe, is one of the core reasons many amongst us end up as playthings in destiny – the wrong approach and outlook to life!

Of a truth, 2008 was a great year. Frankly too, it has entered into the dustbin of history. But for the grace of the God Almighty, many of us could have ended up in the history books of 2008. That you are reading this piece is a solid proof that you ‘came, saw and conquered...’ At least, I know I don’t yet write for ‘spirits’...lol

2009 is here! Perhaps, some folks lived in 2008 like it was never going to end, while some others prayed and hoped it ended quicker than normal. For the former, instead of being joyous 2008 was coming to an end, they could greet the end of the year with mixed feelings, with fears and doubts of what the future holds. Too bad there is nothing anybody can do about it! 2009 is here to stay.

So, how do you start off, manage and make the best of the New Year?

Every wise man appreciates the concept of strategy. He knows it is the surest way to conclude a thing even before starting it.
God Almighty is our Master Strategist. The Bible says about Him: “He plans the end from the beginning...” We need to live our lives like this.
Everyone who operates life with the strategy-mentality will always end up a voice and a force to reckon with in destiny. However, success in life demands a little more than regular strategy; you must have a God-strategy! The Holy book clearly reveals the import of this when it says: “For with God (and His strategy), nothing shall be impossible...”

So, how do we go about developing a God-strategy for 2009? Let me tell you what I did and how!
Personally, I took the last 4days off to a private location; away from family, friends and admirers. My phones were switched off for the entire 4days I was there. I took a few inspirational literatures along, a notepad and of course, my manual - The Holy Bible.

The entire 4days was one of deep soul searching; x-raying where I believe I succeeded, failed and performed below average in the year 2008. I took out quality time to thank God for all the victories of 2008; for the gift of life and the privilege of knowing and having Him as my Pilot in destiny. Thereafter, I declared all that I wanted to see in 2009; telling God I desire to see only the things that align with His will for my life; I don't want any record of 2008 to repeat itself in 2009. I also spent some time addressing other personal issues before Him.

After the prayer sessions, I took out time to plan some major parts of my 2009, wrote down a few thoughts for some of my scheduled speaking engagements in 2009. Also, studied portions of the Holy Bible and the literatures I took along.

Indeed, it was a period of deep spiritual strategizing for me and a generous opportunity to ‘FIX’ my 2009. No doubt, I am not going to be shocked at the amazing things I will experience in 2009; I already settled that out with God, and I made sure I didn’t leave His Presence until He gave me guarantees. Indeed, 2009 is going to be year of RAPID SUCCESS!. Like He has declared: “It’s a year of MANIFESTATION AND DOUBLE RESTORATION”.

In my customary manner, I told most of my protégés to do same. That is, taking out quality time towards the end part of the 2008 to ‘FIX’ the New Year - 2009. I can still remember one of them asking me: “Sir, are you saying I should spend 4days praying... what will I be saying the entire days?” I had to explain my strategy to him; you are to PRAY and THINK!
No doubt, these ones are going to soar above their peers in 2009. This is an unbreakable law of success: When you do [correctly] what others don’t do, you will get what they don’t get.

I have seen many folks step into their future and are surprised to see it empty! Why the shock? You cannot make withdrawals from an account you never made deposits... When others were praying, they were playing. When others were planning, they were sound asleep. When others were groaning, they were grooving. You can’t plant corn and reap pineapple! It is your ‘investing’ that sets the pace for your ‘harvesting’.

For those who couldn’t take out time towards the end part of 2008, you can do so now as 2009 has just begun! You could take 2, 3, 4 or more days off, depending on how much you can sacrifice at the moment. I bet you, it will pay off!

Don’t forget: LIFE IS SPIRITUAL, don't leave it to chance. Only those with this understanding will make major headlines in 2009! For God said, “In 2009, if you don’t hear me, men will not hear you”. The easiest way to become a FOCUS in your world is to make God your FOCUS - when you see God, men will see you. Logic and human reasoning cannot take you all-the-way! If you maintain a sound relationship with the Creator of the universe in 2009, it will be totally impossible for you to lack anything in the universe.

You deserve the best, go for it!