Saturday 10 December 2011
LIFE REFLECTION 9
I woke up this morning reflecting on God, life, love and family. The many mercies, the beautiful blessings and amazing grace of God upon our lives. As i considered these deep thoughts, a number of revelations crystalized in my mind: one, that much of what we invest so much time, energy and resources on are vain pursuits that lack eternal value; two, when all is said and done we all come to the knowledge and understanding that the only certain things of value that we have is God and our family. When the chips are down, it dawns on us that the money in the bank, the cars in the garage, the exciting career, the beautiful houses, the powerful contacts and in fact, the fawning friends that abound, all amount to nothing. These things give a false sense of security and accomplishment. But as sure as there is life and death, they have always and will always fail those who put their trust, hope and faith in them. In the end, the reality, the fact and the abiding truth is that life has no meaning without family (the ones we love) and God (the one who loves us unconditionally).
Saturday 22 October 2011
LEADERSHIP POWER-POINT 15
THE ABC's OF LEADERSHIP (DEF)
Delegation and Delivery. Delegation can be described as the assignment of a specific project or tasks to team members. Delegation does not imply that the leader assigns their undesirable tasks to the staff. It can include the assignment of tasks that may challenge staff, and possibly move the staff out of their comfort zone. Employees should be aware that delegation is not simply management pushing tasks top-down, rather, it can be an opportunity for staff to broaden their skill sets and scope of responsibilities.
Delivery refers to how a leader delivers messages. This includes everything from success stories to discipline of direct reports. The leader's delivery method and style leaves an impression on the staff. Staff members desire leaders with solid decision making and the ability to maintain their composure regardless of the situation. For example, if a leader has to terminate someone due to layoffs, the staff may create a mental note of the leader's behavior as this unfortunate situation unfolds. Regardless of the outcome, staff will recall how the leader delivered the news. This in turn impacts the staff's impression of the leader.
Exemplify excellence. Leaders have the opportunity to represent themselves in a positive light. Just as clinicians rely upon contemporary medical practices, leaders should strive to use modern leadership and management techniques, such as best practices, consensus building, and benchmarking. The ability of a leader to exemplify excellence can have a trickle-down effect. When staff observe leaders being innovative, meticulous, and in constant pursuit of optimal performance, staff may become motivated to pursue their own level of excellence.
Lead by example: Effective leaders not only have the ability to speak about the level of performance that they desire, their behavior endorses their philosophy. Presenting ideas and concepts to a team is great; however, following up on these theories and assisting with their development is even a greater contribution. This can also be viewed as the time when the "rubber meets the road." In essence, the leader presents the ideas and then supports the vision with action. This creates a positive energy for the leader and staff alike.
Focus. Leaders must develop a clear vision, mission and goals and frequently remind their followers of what these are. As leaders we are charged with helping others to clearly see the goal of our collective efforts.
Delegation and Delivery. Delegation can be described as the assignment of a specific project or tasks to team members. Delegation does not imply that the leader assigns their undesirable tasks to the staff. It can include the assignment of tasks that may challenge staff, and possibly move the staff out of their comfort zone. Employees should be aware that delegation is not simply management pushing tasks top-down, rather, it can be an opportunity for staff to broaden their skill sets and scope of responsibilities.
Delivery refers to how a leader delivers messages. This includes everything from success stories to discipline of direct reports. The leader's delivery method and style leaves an impression on the staff. Staff members desire leaders with solid decision making and the ability to maintain their composure regardless of the situation. For example, if a leader has to terminate someone due to layoffs, the staff may create a mental note of the leader's behavior as this unfortunate situation unfolds. Regardless of the outcome, staff will recall how the leader delivered the news. This in turn impacts the staff's impression of the leader.
Exemplify excellence. Leaders have the opportunity to represent themselves in a positive light. Just as clinicians rely upon contemporary medical practices, leaders should strive to use modern leadership and management techniques, such as best practices, consensus building, and benchmarking. The ability of a leader to exemplify excellence can have a trickle-down effect. When staff observe leaders being innovative, meticulous, and in constant pursuit of optimal performance, staff may become motivated to pursue their own level of excellence.
Lead by example: Effective leaders not only have the ability to speak about the level of performance that they desire, their behavior endorses their philosophy. Presenting ideas and concepts to a team is great; however, following up on these theories and assisting with their development is even a greater contribution. This can also be viewed as the time when the "rubber meets the road." In essence, the leader presents the ideas and then supports the vision with action. This creates a positive energy for the leader and staff alike.
Focus. Leaders must develop a clear vision, mission and goals and frequently remind their followers of what these are. As leaders we are charged with helping others to clearly see the goal of our collective efforts.
Thursday 20 October 2011
LEADERSHIP POWER-POINT 14
THE ABC's OF LEADERSHIP
For the next few weeks, i will try to articulate a comprehensive concept of leadership in alphabetical order. For this purpose, i have titled this piece "THE ABC's OF LEADERSHIP? I hope to serialize and present three of the alphabeth acronyms for leadership every day until we get to 'Z'. The leadership ideas presented are eclectically developed and i believe that you will find them thought provoking and useful. Happy reading
Attitude & accountability. Attitude is an important leadership characteristic. This does not mean that the leader needs a "holier than thou attitude", but rather that the leader posses the character, vision, and drive to be an effective leader. This is more along the lines of the "can do" attitude and the ability to successfully manage change. For example, if a project is terminated due to financial constraints, leaders will not take this personally. Nor will they "act out" as a result. Rather, leaders will recognize that not all projects will be completed and that a variety of factors, both within and outside of their control, may influence the project's success or demise.
Accountability. Leaders accept responsibility for their behaviors. They are also accountable for the outcomes of their teams. When there are successes, leaders share the success with the team. When things do not proceed as planned, leaders still support their teams as the group looks for solutions. Leaders are also integral players when exploring what can be done to make changes occur so that similar unsuccessful events do not repeat. Leaders recognize that errors will occur. How the leader reacts to the error can influence the team's next steps, as well as the team's perception of the leader.
Behavior & Best practice. Leaders display behaviors that instill confidence in their teams. This includes confident decision-making and the ability to accept or at least share responsibility for success and failures. For example, as a leader, it is crucial to be on time for meetings, to respect other's opinions, and to be able to maintain objectivity. A leader's ability to "act" as a leader does impact team members. Apathetic and non-committing leaders will not instill confidence in teams. How a leader reacts and responds to challenges often sets the precedence for team members. If they perceive that the leader is overwhelmed, stressed, or otherwise loosing effectiveness, team members may in turn become distracted.
Best practices. Leaders should constantly strive for the optimal performance. This includes the performance of themselves, the company's teams, and all staff. Best practices is frequently involved with this. While the details of best practices exceed the scope of this discussion, they can be summarized as applying practices that are external to your own organization. Depending on the organization, it may also include best practices from different departments located within your organization.
Collaboration. The ability of a leader to collaborate with internal and external colleagues is critical. This can also be referred to as the "politics" of healthcare. From an internal perspective, collaboration assists with creating and maintaining relationships within the organization. This is important on a variety of levels, including consensus-building, mentoring opportunities, and obtaining resources for projects. Externally the same principles apply: the ability to collaborate with external resources reflects on one's ability to work with a variety of individuals in a variety of scenarios.
For the next few weeks, i will try to articulate a comprehensive concept of leadership in alphabetical order. For this purpose, i have titled this piece "THE ABC's OF LEADERSHIP? I hope to serialize and present three of the alphabeth acronyms for leadership every day until we get to 'Z'. The leadership ideas presented are eclectically developed and i believe that you will find them thought provoking and useful. Happy reading
Attitude & accountability. Attitude is an important leadership characteristic. This does not mean that the leader needs a "holier than thou attitude", but rather that the leader posses the character, vision, and drive to be an effective leader. This is more along the lines of the "can do" attitude and the ability to successfully manage change. For example, if a project is terminated due to financial constraints, leaders will not take this personally. Nor will they "act out" as a result. Rather, leaders will recognize that not all projects will be completed and that a variety of factors, both within and outside of their control, may influence the project's success or demise.
Accountability. Leaders accept responsibility for their behaviors. They are also accountable for the outcomes of their teams. When there are successes, leaders share the success with the team. When things do not proceed as planned, leaders still support their teams as the group looks for solutions. Leaders are also integral players when exploring what can be done to make changes occur so that similar unsuccessful events do not repeat. Leaders recognize that errors will occur. How the leader reacts to the error can influence the team's next steps, as well as the team's perception of the leader.
Behavior & Best practice. Leaders display behaviors that instill confidence in their teams. This includes confident decision-making and the ability to accept or at least share responsibility for success and failures. For example, as a leader, it is crucial to be on time for meetings, to respect other's opinions, and to be able to maintain objectivity. A leader's ability to "act" as a leader does impact team members. Apathetic and non-committing leaders will not instill confidence in teams. How a leader reacts and responds to challenges often sets the precedence for team members. If they perceive that the leader is overwhelmed, stressed, or otherwise loosing effectiveness, team members may in turn become distracted.
Best practices. Leaders should constantly strive for the optimal performance. This includes the performance of themselves, the company's teams, and all staff. Best practices is frequently involved with this. While the details of best practices exceed the scope of this discussion, they can be summarized as applying practices that are external to your own organization. Depending on the organization, it may also include best practices from different departments located within your organization.
Collaboration. The ability of a leader to collaborate with internal and external colleagues is critical. This can also be referred to as the "politics" of healthcare. From an internal perspective, collaboration assists with creating and maintaining relationships within the organization. This is important on a variety of levels, including consensus-building, mentoring opportunities, and obtaining resources for projects. Externally the same principles apply: the ability to collaborate with external resources reflects on one's ability to work with a variety of individuals in a variety of scenarios.
Tuesday 4 October 2011
LIFE REFLECTION 8
THE BOOK OF LIFE:
Life is a book. Your past is a book that has been written, assessed and archived. Your present is a work in progress. It can be edited, reviewed, discarded and restarted afresh. Your future is unwritten. It as yet has no title. The pages are empty. The ink is full. The possibilities are endless as they are infinite. Your actions and inactions today will not only define your present they will more importantly determine your future - what fills the blank pages. Sorrow or success?
It is the foundations that you lay today that your future is built upon. A man who works hard today. Studies well today. Tills the soil and sows good seeds today. That man, without a doubt, has signed an irrevocable memorandum of understanding to appropriate a future replete with success, peace and happiness. Your commissions and omissions today are the currency with which you purchase the future you order.
What you pay for today will with absolute certainty be delivered to you tomorrow. Therefore, a man who flirts indiscriminately with laziness and procrastination today is unwittingly paying for the poverty virus which will virulently plague him tomorrow. In like manner, the man who prays, plans and plants today is simply making deposits in anticipation of a bountiful harvest which, as certain as there is life and death, will be delivered to his storeroom tomorrow.
So make a commitment to write a beautiful script for your life today. One good life script written today guarantess a box office life drama tomorrow. What to do? Quit the crippling character of excuses, complaints and self pity. Embrace life with hope, love, laughter, enthusiasm and optimism. Get off the paralyzing coach of complacency. Define and visualize what you want to be in the future. Then get up and take that proverbial first step towards actualizing your goal. The pen is in your hand. The blank pages lie before you. The choice is yours to fill it with life, success and joy or death, failure and sorrow. Remember, the world will always give right of passage to the man who knows where he is going and is determined to get there.
One good life script at a time and together we can secure a better world tomorrow. So, get up. Pick up your pen. Turn a new page. And begin to write your life story with such beautiful similes, powerful metaphors, positive symbols, colorful alliterations and inspirational chapters that add significant value to humanity and posterity.
Life is a book. Your past is a book that has been written, assessed and archived. Your present is a work in progress. It can be edited, reviewed, discarded and restarted afresh. Your future is unwritten. It as yet has no title. The pages are empty. The ink is full. The possibilities are endless as they are infinite. Your actions and inactions today will not only define your present they will more importantly determine your future - what fills the blank pages. Sorrow or success?
It is the foundations that you lay today that your future is built upon. A man who works hard today. Studies well today. Tills the soil and sows good seeds today. That man, without a doubt, has signed an irrevocable memorandum of understanding to appropriate a future replete with success, peace and happiness. Your commissions and omissions today are the currency with which you purchase the future you order.
What you pay for today will with absolute certainty be delivered to you tomorrow. Therefore, a man who flirts indiscriminately with laziness and procrastination today is unwittingly paying for the poverty virus which will virulently plague him tomorrow. In like manner, the man who prays, plans and plants today is simply making deposits in anticipation of a bountiful harvest which, as certain as there is life and death, will be delivered to his storeroom tomorrow.
So make a commitment to write a beautiful script for your life today. One good life script written today guarantess a box office life drama tomorrow. What to do? Quit the crippling character of excuses, complaints and self pity. Embrace life with hope, love, laughter, enthusiasm and optimism. Get off the paralyzing coach of complacency. Define and visualize what you want to be in the future. Then get up and take that proverbial first step towards actualizing your goal. The pen is in your hand. The blank pages lie before you. The choice is yours to fill it with life, success and joy or death, failure and sorrow. Remember, the world will always give right of passage to the man who knows where he is going and is determined to get there.
One good life script at a time and together we can secure a better world tomorrow. So, get up. Pick up your pen. Turn a new page. And begin to write your life story with such beautiful similes, powerful metaphors, positive symbols, colorful alliterations and inspirational chapters that add significant value to humanity and posterity.
LEADERSHIP POWER-POINT 13
THE POWER OF SILENCE
Ever condidered the beauty and therapeutic power of Silence. Serenity! A peaceful state of oneness with our thoughts, meditations and God. Alas! In this information over-loaded super-highway replete with internet-surfing, social networking, 24 hour satellite TV, mobile telephony and computer-gaming, we have lost the regenerative art of doing nothing, of shutting out the background noise and distractions, of slowing down and simply being alone with our thoughts, locked in a deep embrace with silence. Throughout the ages, great leaders have drank deeply from the fountains of silence. At various moments of silence in history poets have penned memorable stanzas that etched their names in the pages of time; singers have sang evergreen notes; scientists have received inspiration for one life-saving drug or treatment; inventors have appropriated ethereal ideas that engendered sublime inventions; men have been visited with profound visions that changed their life. Silence! A heightened spiritual state that empowers us to listen and hear what God is saying to us; to reflect deeply; to refresh our minds and restart anew. All truly great leaders have learnt the sublime secrets of silence, of being alone with nothing, with no one but themselves. Some of the greatest inspirations and ideas that will profoundly change your life will come to you in times of absolute silence and aloness. So learn today to slow down, to pause, every now and then and spend a little quality time alone with God in silence.
Ever condidered the beauty and therapeutic power of Silence. Serenity! A peaceful state of oneness with our thoughts, meditations and God. Alas! In this information over-loaded super-highway replete with internet-surfing, social networking, 24 hour satellite TV, mobile telephony and computer-gaming, we have lost the regenerative art of doing nothing, of shutting out the background noise and distractions, of slowing down and simply being alone with our thoughts, locked in a deep embrace with silence. Throughout the ages, great leaders have drank deeply from the fountains of silence. At various moments of silence in history poets have penned memorable stanzas that etched their names in the pages of time; singers have sang evergreen notes; scientists have received inspiration for one life-saving drug or treatment; inventors have appropriated ethereal ideas that engendered sublime inventions; men have been visited with profound visions that changed their life. Silence! A heightened spiritual state that empowers us to listen and hear what God is saying to us; to reflect deeply; to refresh our minds and restart anew. All truly great leaders have learnt the sublime secrets of silence, of being alone with nothing, with no one but themselves. Some of the greatest inspirations and ideas that will profoundly change your life will come to you in times of absolute silence and aloness. So learn today to slow down, to pause, every now and then and spend a little quality time alone with God in silence.
Friday 30 September 2011
LEADERSHIP POWER-POINT 12
You can blame people who knock things over in the dark, or you can begin to light candles to resolve the challenge posed by darkness. You're only at fault if you know about the problem and choose to do nothing. The hallmark of leadership is not criticism but correction and empowerment.
LIFE REFLECTION 7
There is a difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit and not a vegetable. Wisdom is knowing not to include it in a fruit salad.
Thursday 29 September 2011
LEADERSHIP POWER-POINT 11
A vital factor in effective leadership develooment is mentorship. Each of us needs a mentor figure, a role model in our life. No matter how brilliant we may be, no matter how successful we have become and no matter how much we have accomplished, there comes a time when we lose steam, become unsure and plagued with doubt, become weak and ladden with uncertainty, become diffident and filled with unanswered questions, a time when we falter and confront the fear of failure. These are times when the reassuring and experienced words of a mentor figure is needed to rekindle our faltering flame. In their low moments, leaders turn to their mentors for advice (this by no means takes away the place of our eternal mentor, Jesus Christ). A mentor is someone you hold in high esteem. Someone trustworthy and credible. Someone who exemplifies the ideals and values that you embrace. Someone who has in deeds accomplished what he preaches and therefore has the moral authority to instil confidence in you. Now, that's a mentor we all need. But the question for us to answer is: how many of such mentors and role models exist today for our youths to embrace?
Tuesday 27 September 2011
LEADERSHIP POWER-POINT 9
Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself. This is a vital attribute of great leaders.
LIFE REFLECTION 5:
Has it ever occurred to you that, to the world you might be just one person, but to one person you might be the world - one person that you have touched with uncommon kindness and in so doing changed their world and ultimately their life. Think about it.
Monday 26 September 2011
LEADERSHIP REFLECTION OF THE WEEK
Enthusiastic people are the ones who actually get things done in this world. Enthusiasm is what turns any idea into reality. And enthusiasm is linked closely with happiness. Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back. Enthusiasm is a positive by product of three vital values - faith, hope and love. A man with these values is naturally enthusiastic about the work of his hands and his calling in life. While procrastnation is the cornerstone of every failure, enthusiasm is the iron that sharpens every success. No leader succeeds who has no enthusiasm flowing from his soul. Therefore, whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it now. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now!
LIFE REFLECTIONS 4
The one important thing that I have learned over the years is the difference between taking one's work seriously and taking one's self seriously. The first is imperative and the second is disastrous. The former stems from humility that anchors success and the latter issues from narcissism that opens the gates of failure.
LEADERSHIP POWER-POINT 8
Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do, than by the ones you did. So get rid of the doubts. Retreat from the safe harbor. Sail away with the winds of faith. Remember, while procrastnation is the cornerstone of every failure, enthusiasm is the iron that sharpens every success. No leader succeeds who has no enthusiasm, commitment and optimism flowing from his soul. So get up. Explore. Dream. Discover.
Saturday 24 September 2011
LIFE REFLECTIONS 3
Life is a journey. As we travel along, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let us down, probably will. You'll have your heart broken and you'll break others' hearts. You'll fight with your best friend or maybe even fall in love with them. You will be hurt and you will hurt others. You will encounter satisfaction and disappointments in your journey through life. So always find time to capture beautiful moments in pictures and videos. Laugh and smile a lot, forgive freely, and love like you've never been hurt. Tell someone what they mean to you, hold someone's hand, comfort a friend, give selflessly, love and keep your family and friends extremely close. Find a hobby that makes you happy and embrace it with passion. Remember, no matter what you do in life, some will complain, others will commend, so don't be afraid to take chances, be focused on your goals, turn your back on the crowd and direct your attention on the orchestra. Live in the moment because every second you spend angry or upset is a second of happiness you can never get back. In the end, the story of our lives is what we make of it - the totality of the choices we made and refused to make. So make one right life choice today - love God with all your heart, serve Him with all your being, fear Him with all your senses. -
DR. ANTHONY UBANI,
Life Coach & Leadership Development Consulant
Leadership in Action
A sincere attitude of giving; a caring concern for others and a consciouness to look beyond our ourselves to make a difference in someone else's life..... That's the hallmark of transformative leadership. It is a Christ-like quality. The absence of which is indicative of the conflicts and insecurity that bedevils Nigeria today. Make a commitment today that not a week will pass without your making a selfless investment of your time, money, energy or talent into making some else's life better. One person at a time, with love and kindness, that's how we make the world a better place. There is no greater gospel than this. Giving is the ultimate act of leadership!
Wednesday 21 September 2011
LEADERSHIP ADVANTAGE: Time To Give Back!
Leadership Advantage is a privately owned Non Governmental Organisation run by a crop of professionals speacializing in Stategic Leadership Studies; Leadership Training and Development; Leadership Coaching and Counselling; Motivational Speaking on Leadership Issues.
Our mission is to help build and evolve a better Nigeria through the development of sound leadership values, principles, ethics, skills and competences in young Nigerians. We be believe that the greatest act of leadership is to empower others. Our leadership goal, therefore, is to freely give back to society by putting our collective talents, resources and knowledge at the service of young Nigerians, particularly disadvantaged youths, who cannot afford the luxury of expensive capacity building programs.
We plan to launch our free leadership seminars, workshops, coaching and counselling sessions in the third quarter of 2011. This will be followed by the commencement of our Leadership Advantage Recruitment Program which is uniquely designed to empower deserving youths with rewarding employment. And finally, our premier Youth Leadership Developnent Library will open in Abuja in the fourth quarter of 2012.
At Leadership Advantage, we are dreaming big dreams to help shape a better future and ensure that our youths are truly empowered to become leaders of tomorrow. Join us.
DR. ANTHONY UBANI
Managing Partner
Leadership Advantage
Our mission is to help build and evolve a better Nigeria through the development of sound leadership values, principles, ethics, skills and competences in young Nigerians. We be believe that the greatest act of leadership is to empower others. Our leadership goal, therefore, is to freely give back to society by putting our collective talents, resources and knowledge at the service of young Nigerians, particularly disadvantaged youths, who cannot afford the luxury of expensive capacity building programs.
We plan to launch our free leadership seminars, workshops, coaching and counselling sessions in the third quarter of 2011. This will be followed by the commencement of our Leadership Advantage Recruitment Program which is uniquely designed to empower deserving youths with rewarding employment. And finally, our premier Youth Leadership Developnent Library will open in Abuja in the fourth quarter of 2012.
At Leadership Advantage, we are dreaming big dreams to help shape a better future and ensure that our youths are truly empowered to become leaders of tomorrow. Join us.
DR. ANTHONY UBANI
Managing Partner
Leadership Advantage
Sunday 18 September 2011
The OBJ Peace Initiative & Maters Arising
I have always been a huge fan of professor Wole Soyinka but frankly i dont know what to make of his recent tirade against former President Obasanjo's personal initiative to try to resolve the boko haram violent face off with the Nigerian government.. Yes, one can understand the symbolical issues raised in the respected professors's press release, but methinks that Nigerians, the international community and indeed the family of those killed in the UN bomb blast and other such terrorist acts will be very happy and gratified if in the end, peace and order is restored through the Obasanjo initiative - that is in spite of the poor timimg as professor Soyinka suggests. I think that this is not the time for grandstanding and moralisations on timimg and symbol. This is the time for all people of goodwill to rise and provide courageous and purposeful leadership that can help resolve this boko haram saga that has claimed hundreds of innocent lives. To the best of my understanding, what Obasanjo has done is to provide leadership when it was most needed and for his modest efforts, no matter how flawed it may be perceived, he deserves our support, encouragement and prayers - certainly not criticisms.
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