Leadership is a journey fraught with risks

Leadership has always been a risky business and that is why it has never been for the weak spirited. It is the reserve of those with resolve to act, even when all the odds seem to be against them. It is for those who are willing to stand alone in the crowd — those who know the joy and the pain of holding on to an ideal. PHOTO | FILE 

In Summary

• The dynamics of management may differ from time to time, based on many factors, like technology, finances, time and all that. However,  the very basics of leadership remain more or less the same.
• The critics are good listeners and good minds, generally speaking. They will listen to every word by the leader. They will watch every action and they will be very keen on everything the leader does. But all this will be for the sole purpose of making criticism.
• Then there is the crowd. These are fellows who are there only to watch and see things happen. They have no opinion of their own. They depend on opinion shapers.

By JUSTIN MUTURI
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Attending an Easter celebration service I was reminded about how leadership challenges have always been more or less the same, since time immemorial.

Leadership has always been a risky business and that is why it has never been for the weak spirited.

It is the reserve of those with resolve to act, even when all the odds seem to be against them. It is for those who are willing to stand alone in the crowd — those who know the joy and the pain of holding on to an ideal.

From the beginning of life, every leader has had to contend with four categories of followers. These are the critics, the crowd, the committed and the called.

The critics are good listeners and good minds, generally speaking. They will listen to every word by the leader.

They will watch every action and they will be very keen on everything the leader does.

But all this will be for the sole purpose of making criticism. They will have very strong arguments against every action taken and every word spoken.

Are they bad people? Absolutely not. They may not say very pleasant things to the leader, but they are very important and helpful to the leadership. This does not make them the best of allies.

WORST CASE SCENARIO

They are, however,  excellent sounding boards for the worst that could happen as a result of taking some action. As they like being on the extreme opposite of where the leader is, theirs will always be the worst case scenarios.

They can accordingly you to help prepare for the worst case scenario.

Then there is the crowd. These are fellows who are there only to watch and see things happen. They have no opinion of their own. They depend on opinion shapers.

They will be quick to applaud or boo, depending on the opinion shapers. They wait to be told about what is happening and the implications, even when things might appear quite obvious. They are easily swayed and have no long term loyalties.

They will shout this view now and in a few short moments shout the reverse. They will hail the leadership today and demonise the same tomorrow. This is the group that will form the majorities in almost all circumstances. This will require some firmness in most cases for things to move.

The committed will believe in what needs to be done, but require constant guidance. They will see the general direction. They are not easily swayed like the crowd, but they must be keyed  in line constantly.

They are keen to make a mark in their commitment but with constant reenergising.

Then there are the called. They  are called to the cause. They are commitment is absolute. The cause is their  everything. They share in the vision — they are bought into it and they can visualise the anticipated results. They are ready to sacrifice everything for the vision. 

The dynamics of management may differ from time to time, based on many factors, like technology, finances, time and all that. However,  the very basics of leadership remain more or less the same. Courage and vision will always lead the pack of the many things that a leader may need to do.

The risk of leadership never diminishes. Every little action is prone to many risks and it can never be that every action will work and give the desired results. It can never be.