So, leadership. Big word, right? But seriously, whether you’re the boss of your own pure-water stand or the president of the world (dream big), leadership is important. It is like being the captain of a soccer team: if you mess up, everyone notices, and suddenly the game becomes a disaster. But if you get it right, you could win the trophy and become a hero.
Here’s the thing about being a leader: it’s not just about making big, fancy rules or having cool speeches (though, yes, a good speech helps). It’s also about how you look, how you act, and how you talk to people. Imagine you’re a king or queen, and your crown is a little crooked. People might start thinking you’re not serious. The tiniest detail matter; like making sure your shoes are polished or you don’t get caught wearing a t-shirt with a hole in it while giving a big speech.
Muammar Gaddafi, for instance wasn’t just a leader; he was an entire marketing campaign. From the moment he showed up in his famous, oversized sunglasses, it was clear he wasn’t just about running Libya — he was about running Africa. Gaddafi wanted to unite the continent under his vision of a “United States of Africa.” At one point, he even made the bold claim that “Africa should become a superpower,” which, depending on how you interpret it, either made him a visionary or a man who truly believes in a Pan-African Revolution, and that a good gold costume might help seal the deal.
His speeches were legendary for their length. He could hold the UN hostage for hours with a rant that somehow always circled back to a call for Pan-African Unity. One time, his speech was so long that when he finally stopped, everyone was just grateful it wasn’t another hour-long lecture on how he wanted to “transform the African soul.”
Now, leadership is a tough gig. You can’t just make one mistake and disappear. No, these days, if you say the wrong thing, it can be all over social media in seconds, and bam, you’re a meme. So, leaders need to be extra careful—like walking on a tightrope. One wrong step, and everyone’s pointing and laughing.
When things go wrong, people want to hear a story. Who’s the hero? Who’s the villain? They don’t want a boring list of facts—they want drama! So, it’s up to the leader to not just make smart choices, but also tell the story in a way that makes sense and calms everyone down. It’s about keeping your cool while still making the right decisions, even when people are throwing tomatoes (not literally, hopefully).
A leader’s job is like juggling. You’ve got to do the big stuff like making laws and rules, but you also need to handle the small stuff, like listening to people, understanding their problems, and giving them hope. Being a leader means caring about what others feel and finding ways to help them, not just sitting in a fancy office making decisions.
Some leaders get too full of themselves. They think they’re the star of the show and forget to tell the story everyone wants to hear. That’s when they mess up. The best leaders know how to talk to people, make them feel understood, and get them excited about the future. They make sure their message is real and doesn’t sound like a robot wrote it.
Here’s the secret: leadership isn’t all about being a superhero. It’s also about the little wins—like being kind, paying attention to the details, and sticking to what’s right, even when things get tough. Everyone makes mistake (yup, even leaders), but if you keep learning from them, you’ll get better at it.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure for instance was marked by a characteristic calmness — but not always the kind of calm you would expect from a leader navigating a tumultuous political landscape. Jonathan was known for his low-key demeanor and his tendency to frame complex issues in the most unhurried terms. He wasn’t one to raise his voice or engage in grand gestures. Instead, he preferred a quiet and reflective approach, often offering solutions with a calmness that belied the storm around him.
Yet, one could argue that Jonathan’s greatest political move was his ability to laugh at himself. Whether it was his infamous “I am not a magician” quote or his candid statements in interviews, he brought an endearing sense of humility and humor to the presidency. When he couldn’t fix a problem immediately, he didn’t shy away from saying, “Let’s discuss it,” making him the sort of leader you could imagine inviting to your family gathering — where everyone’s sure to have a laugh, but still know he’s in charge.
I’ve worked in all kinds of places—big companies, global organizations, you name it—and I’ve learned that leadership is hard work. You have to think about lots of stuff, be super smart, and not freak out when things go wrong. But here’s the thing: you can’t just “be a leader” once and done. It’s a journey. You’ve got to keep growing, keep learning, and be humble about it.
So, if you want to lead, remember this: It’s not about being the boss or getting all the attention. It’s about helping others, sharing the power, and making sure people grow. A leader’s job is to help everyone win, not just themselves.
~ Amofin Beulah Adeoye
December 13, 2024
