16/01/2020
THE REPRODUCIBILITY CAHRACTER OF A LEADER.
I have come to understand the common saying that “people cannot give to others what they themselves do not have.” This truth is well suited and expressed in leadership teachings. Over the years, I’ve been able to assess a lot of claimed leaders, who at a loser look or a mere interacting with them, you will be shocked to your marrow that they are simply office holders not leaders. One of the most outstanding features of a good leader is his ability to reproduce his kind. The big question is and will always be; how can you reproduce what you are not.
I don’t know about others, but I determine a good leader not by the number of followers he parades rather by his ability to replicate himself in his followers. John Maxwell in one of his books said; “it takes a leader to raise up a leader.” I have seen so many who were in a position of leadership and after they are gone, there was no one fit enough to step into their shoes. Every good leader plans and prepare for the day he will no longer be there. Back in my university days as an undergraduate student, I belonged to a campus fellowship and I had a president who was a leader. All this man was doing was to train and raise other members of the fellowship in different areas. I never knew what he was doing until now. A leader who is not interested in harnessing the potentials in others is not a good leader. Bad leaders keep what they know to themselves. Most of them think that sharing what they know with their followers will make them redundant and irrelevant.
It doesn’t matter what position you are; as a leader, it is the same thing everywhere. The same principle holds; whether in politics, church, industries, education – name it. People will soon forget you as a leader after you leave the stage, if you fail to reproduce yourself. The fact remains that the person or persons you have reproduce cannot forget you even when you are no more, your name will still be mentioned by your successors.
If a couple lived and die without a child, I tell you their names will not go far because the law of reproduction was not obeyed. I tell teachers in schools as you plans to retire after putting so much years in service, how many of yourself have you reproduce in the children you’ve taught while in service?
If you are a pastor, look back, has there been any who you can confidently say – I raise this one? If the answer is no, then you are not yet a leader. In some scenarios, the claimed leaders become very intimidated by performance of their subordinates. In Luke 6:40b; every well trained follower can be like his master. Jesus while on earth, reproduced himself in his disciples and even told them; greater works will ye do – John 14:12. It worthy of note that it is inhumane to lead and not reproduce.
Looking closely at the account of David in the battle field where he went to deliver food to his brothers: 1Samuel 17. As at this time, Saul was the king. He was a mighty king but Saul lacked this quality of reproducibility may be because he wasn’t one himself – it takes a giant killer to produce other giant killers. If King Saul was a giant killer even at his old age he would have produced other giant killers who he would have ordered to bring down Goliath. In your place of leadership, if you fail to reproduce yourself, the future generation will suffer the consequence. The whole of Israeli army were running from the Philistine.
Contrast to King Saul, when David became the king, he raised mighty warriors something King Saul couldn’t do. Read 2Samuel23:8 down. It takes a person who had done himself to show others how to do it. The only way you will be able to develop other leaders is to become a better leader yourself.
Steps to take in replicating yourself in your followers;
Be an open leader; don’t hide anything they should know from them.
Be ready to attend to your followers need to learn at any time.
Engage them in constant rehearsals that will build confidence in them.
Correct them with love, so they won’t run away from you
From time to time show them how to to it not just telling them to do it themselves.
You will be surprised in the turnover of leaders you will make at the end of this year.