By M Sovi
Leadership, neither for the visionless nor for the power control
You’ll rarely encounter the words good leadership and power control used together in complementary fashion. A good leader often operates at their best no matter how big the nation or company, when they understand their ability to influence and delegate are much more fruitful than their ability to control (power control). Here’s the thing – the purpose of leadership is not to shine the spotlight on yourself, but to unlock the potential of others so they can in turn shine the spotlight on countless more and soon catch the whole nation with result oriented approaches. Control is about power – not leadership. Delegating allows a leader to sacrifice their best and focus on adding value to those whom they serve.
Delegate, Delegate – Not control freaks need apply
If you’re still not convinced the art of leadership is learning that the focus point should be on delegating and mentoring not control, consider this:
Control restricts potential, limits initiative, and inhibits talent. Delegating fosters collaboration, encourages innovation and enables possibility.
Controlling leaders (power control) create bottlenecks rather than increase creativity and output. They signal a lack of trust and confidence, often come across as insensitive if not arrogant. When you experience weak teams, micro-management, frequent turf wars, high stress, operational strain, and a culture of fear, authoritarianism you are experiencing what control has to offer – not very attractive is it?
[pullquote]the purpose of leadership is not to shine the spotlight on yourself, but to unlock the potential of others so they can in turn shine the spotlight on countless more and soon catch the whole nation with result oriented approaches.[/pullquote]
Delegating and mentoring allows the savvy leader to serve where control demands the ego-centric leader be served. Delegating allows leadership to scale and a culture of leadership to be established. Leaders who understand delegating think community, ecosystem, and culture – not power control. Delegating is the art through which UNIP thrived when Kaunda was imprisoned, it’s the art through which ANC triumphed to liberation when Mandela was imprisoned, it’s the art that strengthen Martin Luther King Jr’s civil movement in the USA to victory.
Delegating is what not only allows the dots to be connected, but it’s what allows dots to be multiplied. Controlling leaders operate in a world of addition and subtraction; everything starts and ends with them, while the calculus of a leader who understands delegation is built on exponential multiplication and reigns for years long after he/she is gone.
Those who embrace control are simply attempting to consolidate power, while those who practice delegating are facilitating the distribution of authority. When what you seek is to build into others more than glorifying self, you have developed a level of leadership maturity that values delegating and mentoring over control.
Delegating is the mindset which creates the desire for leaders to give credit and feedback rather than take it, to prefer hearing over being heard, to dialogue instead of monologue, to have an open mind rather than a closed mind, to value collective geniuses than self wisdom and intellect. Mindful, that there is no known one genius who can develop a nation but a collection.
Control messages selfishness, while delegation conveys selflessness – which is more important to you? Others delegate in the positive realization that they are not the centre of the universe – they delegate for something beyond themselves in order to accomplish more for others. Bottom line – what you do or don’t delegate will define good leadership. Assuming you delegate for the right things, it’s not a sign of leadership weakness, but is perhaps the ultimate sign of leadership confidence. William Booth once said: “The greatness of a man’s power is the measure of his surrender and delegating ability.”
In no way can authoritarianism be dismissed completely but should be used only in selective instances especially where the leader is the most knowledgeable and experienced member of a group.An authoritarian style might be most appropriate but not applicable at national social -economic development level. In instances where group members are much more skilled experts, delegated ability would be most cost effective, most efficient and reliable.
[pullquote]control restricts potential, limits initiative, and inhibits talent. Delegating fosters collaboration, encourages innovation and enables possibility.[/pullquote]
Good leadership achieves true collective greatness–those who have become good leaders, leaders who changed the world, nations, cities, and lives did master the power and art of delegating. In addition, Leaders who make an impact and difference all take these four steps and HE Sata must take a retreat too to reflect and envision Zambia’s social-economic development reforms- A vision beyond 2050 can be consolidated in his 5years term.
These four steps are Key;
- Find a place of solitude.Every great leader needs a place where they can think intensively. Somewhere away from the constant clatter of incoming information, somewhere quiet, somewhere contemplative. A blessed few leaders have the mental strength to achieve this state of abstraction anywhere–in a crowded office, or anytime during the hurly-burly of a busy day but not in the Zambian political set up surrounded by poverty slums. Solitude is the time to think consciously and extensively on the solutions to Zambia’s challenges both in the medium and long term, renew one’s strength, summon intuition, the inner power and vision for the country…Where’s your place of solitude as a leader?
- Discover your contemplation trigger.Solitude is a worthwhile state; it’s a vehicle–a means to think clearly and deeply about matters of importance. But with all the manifold possibilities, with the myriad of issues that press in on us every day, what major and important tasks should we spend time intensely thinking about in more detail?”Contemplation trigger”: focuses on the long term majors and revolutionary transformations of a nation; for instance a focus on 5years with an inbuilt 8 major achievements can be realised with what strategies? –the case of: (1. Judicial system reforms, 2) University education and employment, 3) Link Zambia road infrastructure and city ring roads, 4) Planned housing, drainage and sewerage (no shanties ,no slums), 4) Health ,disease control and sanitation, 5) Constitutionalism, governance system and governance structure overhaul reforms, 6) Land utilization, agricultural ,Rural development and telecommunication configuration in all districts,7) Electricity or power and water development up to the village level, 8) realign and consolidate all social-economic interconnectors, systems, institutions and legal frameworks for economic emancipation), and broken them down in yearly measurable indicators…”What is the single greatest challenge we face as a country today that will profoundly affect the success of our country and policies in the next years and beyond ?” The one-year horizon works to feed into the 5 years-50 years plan in built with all 8 developments and planning dimensions. At least once a year, the nation can set aside a week’s “contemplation trigger-or call for an evaluation indaba prior to govt’s yearly retreat” to brainstorm successes and failures…..Then feed into the 5-year horizon of the vision2050 developments and planning. (Your mileage may vary but the concept remains.)
- Get beyond instant gratification.We live in a time of instant gratification. Leadership, especially leadership in the long term, requires us to forgo instant gratification, because reflection and contemplation are the compost of great ideas and the genesis of deep commitment. Time is the most precious resource you can give to your leadership. The sacrifice of time–choosing to pause, to invest in reflection and intensive thinking –is the price we pay to build the depth of leadership that leaves behind a concrete legacy, and not just a fast-vanishing footprint. I like the “rule of 90”: give the gift of 90 days for truly game-changing ideas to take root. Does this mean abandoning your intuition and forgoing on-the-spot improvisation? Not, but like any great sports team, your no-huddle offense will deliver long-term success only with the discipline and solid foundation of well-planned, well-rehearsed, well-executed delegated team players.
- Model more than you share.Remember, the purpose of leadership is not to shine the spotlight on yourself, but to unlock the potential of others so they can in turn shine the spotlight on countless more .A leader purely operates at their best, when they understand their ability to influence and delegate, are much more fruitful than their ability to control .Leadership comes through delegating and leading, not by controlling. Seeing it isn’t doing it. Sharing it isn’t doing it. Only doing it is doing it. Try this: Next time you see a leadership need in this country–whether it’s about how people should be treated (citizens, visitors, employees); how you communicate your long-term mission, vision or values–try modelling the change you want to see by delegating. Be the change you desire. Don’t have time to model change and delegate? Think, “Great idea, but it’s easier and quicker to send an authority.”? That’s fine. But remember, as a leader, the depth of good leadership leaves behind a concrete legacy for generations and not just a fast-vanishing footprint on a beach, when you could be changing nation, cities and lives. HE Sata can do well, but for the best he must go on retreat for a better 2013 and beyond well refined development vision and agenda that can change Zambian lives for the better. Chasing the lizard instead of building the house isn’t good enough, HE Sata needs solitude far away NOT in Luangwa but Kabompo or Shangombo…..
book worm kind of thinking. politics is all about proactivity.
Our politics has always been about self aggrandisement and the idea of collective wisdom, say the use of Task Forces to tackle pressing national issues, is alien. There is an entrenched belief that the “Party Manifeso” has it all and if it is not there then the supreme leader will certainly have the answer ( hence the common phrase “under the wise leadership of HE !). Development is a collective effort, you cannot reach the summit of Mount Everest on your own, you need a team.
Ba Sovi you are talking to a grade 7. All you have written is music to his ears. In over one year have you heard him say anything sensible?
Grade 7 education does not empower someone to analyse issues at the level you are presenting to UKWA.
Bikeni bola mu market he will understand you
And why is your father not the President of Zambia since he educated you, you must have been a learned and well educated person. Next time you talk about a Grade 7, ask yourself why you are not a president of Zambia with all the qualifications that you sleep on. Or ask yourself why you are still living in Diaspora without even having a Permanent Resident or Citizenship coz the time you are going to go out of that Country, you will never go back to that Country. A Grade 7 is the PRESIDENT of Zambia and you will never be in your life time.
Well said Sadakah. Why do such imbeciles keep calling the president grade 7 when he has a BA in political science. Imwe ba senior engineer, compare your father’s education to that of the president and see how your father fairs. You keep blaspheming the man because you have nothing constructive to offer. Too much jealous kills.
You are spot on The Engineer (Australia). This ***** who was put in office by kaponyas for kaponyas cannot understand what Ba Sovi has written. I am wondering why the other fools are trying to be hard on you when it is a known fact. UKWA is not the one who did that BA from AIU, that was done by Hon Dr John Phiri, the education minister and that is public knowledge. In fact UKWA, CNP is not even a grade seven. I wonder if he even went up standard one in those days. That man is a disgrace and you are always ashamed to introduce yourself as a Zambian each time you are outside the Country because people wonder how you could allow such a dunderhead to lead the country.
Surely how do you expect SATA to understand all these theories.Remember he is just a grade 7 drop out.Try simpler things like sending Jere to arrest HH & Nevers. Just one sentence.”Jere,Go or kabiye and arrest ka HH and Chi Nevers.” See,very simple.
STOP TEACHING CIVICS. LET THE PRESIDENT WORK.
Well intended article but im sorry my brother this is beyond Ukwas level of comprehension. CNP at its best
Ngaba ba ngwele bonse aba balefumakwi? Bambi niba autralia engineer, bambi nabo ni ba sovi,etc…
Nice article even though I think it is directed at the wrong person. The best way to understand his style of leadership is to study the way he ran his party before he became President. There was no challenge to his leadership and chaos was the order of the day when they held something that looked like a party convention. Guy Scott summed it up when he was asked about MCS by saying that you cannot teach an old dog new tricks. His objective was to be president whether he was the right person for the job or not.
Good article though a westernised type of leadership which has lamentabbly failled in Africa and Asia especially in China. The author should do more research on Africa and Asian type of Leadership style. With the type of poor working culture we have in Zambia, the above borrowed westernised type of leadership will not take us anywhere – Zambia needs the likes of Andeleke to push, force and coerce parties like mmd to pay up – Sata though not educated may be the right person we need now.
Any suggestions of countries where such dictatorial tendencies have worked well?
China and Singapore are good examples
well thought out
Well he went to India to confer with mediums in solitude. What else to u want?
The opposite is true for Ukwa; he is always in SOLITUDE, we dont know where he is for weeks before he suddenly pops up.
What he actually needs is to be in public more often and for once do a press conference and answer questions from the press.
Does he think because his decisions should not be questioned so there is no need for a press conference?
Dat can only work in a country u ave a constitution da suits dat omost utopia picture.Not in Africa nd zed in particular.Wat leadership r dose in de opo exibiting? Zedians nid 1 2 control dem as at now.lazy nd corrupt pipo who r ready 2 sale de ctry.
WTF?
You are the only one who is not better than mushota!
Eh, retreats like the one MMD had? Hell no! they dont work in politics nor in business maybe in churches. When was the last time David Cameron for example ever retreated in solitude? People need to stop insulting voters’ intelligence, they knew what they were signing up for when they voted for His Excellence, they knew he’s not Mandela nor Luther King, they knew he does not have 10 degrees like Mr HH and they knew he’s as abrasive as they come and that one of his weaknesses is of lack delegating skill.
Leave the President alone. Why do you always want to compare one President to another? He can only be himself and not like FTJ, Levy or Rupiah Banda. Let him govern the way best he can and not by pleasing some of you who would never even appreciate the small things he is doing for the Country. Go back to the BIBLE and see how many Kings who were not educated but GOD them to put the World where it is today. Those of you who think you are so highly educated with probably 8 or more Degrees like Akashambatwa Mbiksita, why is it that you have failed to make a mark on your Country, let alone where you live in Diaspora? You are all useless to say the least. Park your bags and go back to Zambia with your Degrees and challenge the President so we can go to polls ans see how many votes you’ll get.
Information has also emerged that Mr. Lubinda has been opposed to sending illiterate PF cadres in the foreign service such as Silvia Masebo and Winter Kabimba’s son as diplomats.
PF is becoming the same as MMD….inhouse problems. No wonder they are diverting our attention to other issues when they are an issue themselves
Sata is an illiterate and incompetent person later alone Presidential material. His nbrain needs examining by psychiatrist.
Sata is full of nepotism and tribalism, he just can’t learn.
Sata was meant to be a leader in the 1960 and 70s not now, he talks rubbish and things of the time of Northern Rhodesia and Zambians who voted him have no idea about who and what Northern Rhodesia was nor is.
What a waste of time to have such a mental person in State House.
Zambians should realize that after Kabimba barking as a rabid dog of Sata at every person seem to be a threat to Sata, he later said when he barks/speaks he barks what Sata tells to bark.
This should tell Zambians that is a person of insecurity who is causing all the infighting in PF for him to survive
People like sadaka???I really wonder what they use to think.One thing I know is that he’s not using his brain.in case he is, his brain must be microscopic to make any meaningful sense.President Michael Sata’s record is the worst kind of any president ever served Zambia. Mealie meal prices are going up everyday.i understand he wants 2 bring back the price control commission like in the KK days instead of leaving that 2 mkt forces. Sata wants no opposition just like KK..the list goes on.
Sata is an illiterate and incompetent person let alone Presidential material. His brain needs examining by psychiatrist.
Sata is full of nepotism and tribalism, he just can’t learn.
Sata was meant to be a leader in the 1960 and 70s not now, he talks rubbish and things of the time of Northern Rhodesia and Zambians who voted him have no idea about who and what Northern Rhodesia was nor is.
What a waste of time to have such a mental person in State House.
Zambians should realize that after Kabimba barking as a rabid dog of Sata at every person seem to be a threat to Sata, he later said when he barks/speaks he barks what Sata tells to bark.
This should tell Zambians that is a person of insecurity who is causing all the infighting in PF for him to survive
It is too long, I can’t read it. what more ba Sata?
i wonder what happemed to mushota…
Utter rubbish! Christian zealots are trying to invade our politics and it should not be tolerated. Retreat or whatever you want to call it, has no place for politics! A president taking a retreat in country full of corrupt civil servants inherited from a corrupt government will be asking for disaster. the author should appreciate the importance of separation of church and government. What happens in church should remain in church!. Nevers Mumba went for a retreat, I wonder if it had done him any good. A retreat is for losers or people recovering from an addiction. Only people with problems or recovering from something are found in rehabs centres which are sometimes called retreats.
It is well thought and written article.