Leadership
Critical Disconnect In Effective Leadership
By Dr . Wale Akinyemi
Imagine a high-speed train , its powerful engine dragging 50 coaches along as it takes off from the station like a bullet . Now , picture this : upon reaching its destination , it becomes clear that only the engine made the trip ; the coaches somehow disconnected and never left the station . This stark image perfectly captures the current state of leadership dynamics across the African continent . We have leaders suddenly realizing that no one is following them , highlighting a critical disconnect in effective leadership . This article is penned to stir up thoughts about this great debacle that affects us all .
Goodwill Squandered
In a prosperous desert kingdom , there lived a wealthy and wise merchant named Ahmed . He had risen from humble beginnings , once a simple camel herder who , through determination and hard work , built a flourishing business empire . Ahmed ' s wealth allowed him to provide his family with a life of luxury . His children , especially his eldest son Omar , grew up in a world of comfort , driving expensive cars and living in opulence .
Ahmed often told his children about his early struggles , emphasizing the value of hard work and the dangers of complacency . " My son ," he would say , " I started with nothing but camels and built everything we have through sweat and perseverance . If we do not cherish these values , our future generations might find themselves back on camels ."
Omar listened but was often dismissive . " Times have changed , Father . We have enough wealth to last many lifetimes . Why worry so much ?"
Years passed , and Ahmed passed away , leaving his fortune to Omar . Confident in the wealth he inherited , Omar lived extravagantly , neglecting his father ' s warnings . He invested in lavish but unsustainable ventures , spent recklessly , and ignored the importance of hard work and prudence .
Omar ' s children , accustomed to their father ' s indulgence , never learned the value of money or hard work . They squandered the family wealth on frivolous pursuits , believing it would never run out .
The business empire Ahmed built began to crumble due to mismanagement and lack of foresight .
Within a generation , the family ' s fortunes had reversed . The opulent cars were sold off , the grand palace fell into disrepair , and the luxurious lifestyle became a distant memory . Omar ' s grandchildren found themselves in a position he never thought possible - they were tending camels in the desert , just as their great-grandfather had done .
One evening , as the sun set over the nowfading grandeur of their ancestral home , Omar ' s grandson sat by the fire with his father . " How did we come to this ?" he asked .
His father , with a heavy heart , replied , " We forgot the lessons of our ancestors . Wealth can be fleeting if not held with care and wisdom . Hard times create strong men , strong men create good times , good times create weak men , and weak men create hard times . We must rebuild with the strength and perseverance of our forebears ."
The measure of a person ' s intelligence is not in how well they speak but in how well they listen . In listening , we learn , we achieve , and we grow . Listening does not take anything from you as a leader . Instead , it actually elevates you to the status of great leadership .
Determined to honour Ahmed ' s legacy , Omar ' s grandson resolved to start anew , embracing the values of hard work and resilience . He knew it would be a long and arduous journey , but with the wisdom of the past , he hoped to restore his family ' s fortune and ensure that future generations would remember the lessons learned .
Experience has been touted for years as being the best teacher . However , you will agree with me that it is the most painful teacher and the best teacher only when it is someone else ’ s experience . When we do not learn from the experiences of others then we will make our own useless mistakes which we did not need to make
14 MAL61 / 24 ISSUE