True Leaders… Are God’s Representative on Earth for Good Works

By Dennis Ufot Ph. D

Leaders lead people, administer and manage resources to their benefits but are not to lord over them. Men are ordained to lead their families from creation. Leaders are responsible and accountable as God’s representatives for good works in families, organizations and nations.

Dr. Ufot examines the qualities of true leaders. He explains that circumstantial dynamics in leadership requires adaptability in type, style, and form for sustainability. This implies that true leaders must go through a process of making, apprenticeship, and training to qualify to lead. This is how they learn to fight, solve problems and succeed.

True leaders are predestined, called, ordained, equipped, and empowered to lead and fulfill their calling. Leading, however, is not a time to experiment but to execute a God-given vision.

God’s grace is sufficient in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to apply leadership tools in all situations. All you have to do is look to the Bible and study leaders that succeeded or failed, and why.

This book reveals the why, who, and how of true leadership—and the skills to make leaders to triumph. It is a must read to those seeking to allow God to lead through them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Feb 17, 2022
• ISBN: 9781664253308

Dennis Ufot Ph. D

Dennis Ufot, Ph.D., an engineering economist, is a corporate member, fellow and chartered manager of the Chartered Management Institute, United Kingdom; fellow, Institute of Management consultant, Nigeria; and a corporate member with the Institute of Engineering Technology, London; the Society of Petroleum Engineers, American Productivity and Quality Center, and the Association of Non-Executive Directors, United Kingdom. He has over twenty-five years of experience in the energy industry. He earned a Ph.D. in economics from Atlantic International University, U.S.A.; a Master of Science in engineering management from Brunel University, United Kingdom; and a higher national diploma in mechanical engineering from the College of Technology, Calabar, Nigeria.

Book preview

34686.png

The Essence of Leadership

T here are leaders everywhere. Few are good and purposeful; but most are mere self-proclaimed, visionless and clueless persons that have nothing to offer or have no business leading. In fact, bad leadership or the lack of it at all would jeopardize the collective destiny of the people. Why then do we need true leaders? In Job 14:1, Job acknowledges here that every man born of a woman is full of troubles and have challenges. The trouble being that it is not as easy as it is desired to access good and easy life, but doing so comes at a cost. You must labor. And the urgency with which individuals want to get it using their physical power and intellects is fraught with disorderliness, infighting, lawlessness, and covetousness. If this is allowed, it will be a matter of time that man will become man’s own worst enemy and the society will never be able to cope with the disorderliness which this animalistic behavior would present.

A quick look at some societies around us with this periwinkle lifestyle can reveal this concern. In the periwinkle kingdom there are no kings as everyone live in its own house, wear its own crown and has liberty to move about to do what it pleases to do. Check this out. And the devastation, hunger, under development, occasioned by the infighting and war that would ensue will be unprecedented. And only the powerful will always have the day.

A good society is made up of the people, the system (Administration) and procedures (Management). So, leaders from amongst the people are required and very importantly to lead and direct the solving of man’s troubles through administration and resource management. If you are a leader, you are to solve people’s problems, enhancing equitability, orderliness, peace, progression, profitability and sustainability of your domain. And the more troubles you resolve as a leader, the more newer problems keep evolving in various other dimensions and stages requiring even more sophistication in thinking and leading driven by unending increases in knowledge that also has no end. We can blame it on the insatiable appetite of man; but this is true and it is in our nature even as things get the more sophisticated and new ones are discovered that keep appealing to us. Our insatiable appetite for things around us coupled with our dominant character and desire to always get the best as humans introduces conflicts that makes it difficult for most persons to know when to draw the line. This is why we need true leaders to steer our ship. And when this is done, everyone in the network is expected to be catered for. The not so true leaders however also capitalize on this weak point of the people to promise them the unthinkable and thus cajoling them into supporting their appointment to lead. What happens thereafter is story. And till the end of time, leadership will not cease to exist because there will always be leadership challenges to resolve in our societies.

Leading is very important and necessary so that everything linked to it can move in the direction expected in order to bring success. Success at this instance depicts the progressive emancipation of the people to follow prescribed Divine pattern of living, behaviors, character, the profitability of the leadership parameters and indices that are also attestable by the people, for the people and to the people. Without leadership in any nation, families, communities, organization and businesses there will be chaotic, uncoordinated and purposeless people reminiscence of the periwinkles community where everyone lives in its own shell and are identical in nature without clear direction. The real essence of Leadership is to give direction, facilitate coordination and followership so that the people live in dominion and fulfill their collective destinies. The leadership direction comes by revelation, dreams and visions. The doing is in strategic thinking, planning, setting of goals, execution and coordination to achieve results. Moses’s example of leading the children of Israel is a good example that I have to remind you about leadership. The challenges, miseries, disobedience, anger, hunger, murmurings, and disappointment that goes with it are unquantifiable. Yet as a leader, you must be fully equipped with the leader’s tools to resolve the conflicts in truth and lead the people to their destiny. Now, where businesses, organizations, nations, families or a body of persons are assembled for a purpose and have no strategic thinking and proper coordination, it will not last. The strategic thinker leader visualizes the needs of the future compared to where his organization, business, nation, or family is and set incremental targets of performance that will see him advance positively in the short, medium and long term. It does not stop here. He will strategically set the milestones to measure progress of achievement at intervals and then coordinate the various resources and the people towards achieving the set goals. The strategic plan varies by individual, nations, organizations, communities, families and so on driven by set priorities and the environmental aspects. Amongst some strategic thoughts of great leaders are for instance a country like India, who plan to land man on the moon soonest. North Korea is interested as part of her strategic thinking and plan to be one of the super powers in military might in due date. China’s strategic thinking and plan is to be the world’s economic super power at a future date including plan to build cities even on water. Most of these plans are looking at fifty, hundred and one hundred and fifty years from now. As a leader of your family, business, organization, or nation what is your strategic thought for the short, medium and long term? How do you plan to achieve it? What machineries and structures have you put in place to support the process that would enable you to achieve these goals? This are the essence of leadership.

Quite unfortunate that people assume leadership positions in families, communities, organizations and even nations without knowing the essence. And because they have no idea of what the essence of their leadership is, they take it for a joke and care less for the people. They destroy the people and the structures that supports leadership for things that have no bearing with God’s purpose for the people. Although every leader has his own area(s) of calling, whatever it is for that leader must fulfill one or more of the fundamentals of leadership. If the leader understands what the whole essence of life is for his people, then he would know what are basically required to achieve these objectives and will then work it out. Anything that negates dignified living for humans is not worth venturing into by any leader. Leadership means that someday, accountability shall be demanded by our creator for the people being led. It is not just about enjoying the fame, not just about the paraphernalia of office, and not just about answering the name. But it is all about rendering service as a chief servant of the people. Be it in business, nation, family, small teams or community it is not different.

The whole essence of leadership in business is to make profit whereas people leadership show duty of care, foster a sense of belonging, unity, protection and give direction so that there will be visible all-round advancement in the people’s quality of lives and welfare. This therefore translates into unified communal energy that enhances longevity by way of socio-economic, political, technological and infrastructural advancement, justice for all, equity and fairness to the people. Achieving this objective is not without sacrifice. In fact, a huge one both to the leaders as well as the followers. It is the price that a true leader will pay in order to win a crown as one of the greats in the leadership history book. In this class belongs the Ex-Prime minister of Singapore Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who in his thirty-one years reign as the leader in that country turn things around and moving that island country from a third world to a developed one. Like every true leader, he had a vision not to benefit himself but his people with his leadership through effective control and direction on how the scarce resources should be managed. At some point his people who had no understanding of his vision criticized him though for being too highhanded. He may have devised highhandedness, or ‘’tight hand’’ as a strategy to restraint wastages through resource management for the benefit of all people. This would surely not go down well with some who would otherwise had seen him as a barrier to acquire their individual wealth at the expense of others and hence the criticism. When expenditures exceed budget at any time, the economist will tell you that you are at a deficit. This is what kills some individuals, businesses and even nations. This leader was not just highhanded to his people but to himself as well. When other third world countries presidents were attending world congresses with their private jets and showcasing their affluent lifestyle to the world, this prime minister rather chose to utilized commercial airline for cost saving and convenience. His counterparts with private jets had to pack their private aircrafts in the lots for weeks, paid all associated packing fees and staff cost. These are poor countries showing up at such a world event and there after claiming poverty to attract sympathy to get aids and loan to continue in their life style. The Singaporean leader exemplified himself maintaining focus to move his country away from poverty. It was an exemplary demonstration of patriotism, courage and self-sacrifice. The indices remain there to prove it. His prudence, wisdom and determination helped to lift his country away from poverty.

Today’s world is seeing the issue of climate change as something that must be urgently addressed. But guess what? Every leader that went for the climate change conference flew his private jet to the venue. Can you imagine their individual contributions to carbon dioxide emissions by this singular act? This is a key contributor to greenhouse gas that result in global warming. This is why I admire the British. Their leaders have developed the British Airways to the standard that every government official is proud to identify himself with their product and use it. There is benefit in pool resource utilization and management. Indeed, for every country, until the minister of transport begins to use his own public transport that he himself oversees, the minister of education enrolls his wards in the education institution that he oversees and other ministers utilizes the services provided by his ministry that element of patriotism will be lost. And this is worst in the developing third world countries where the officials glaringly patronize foreign goods instead of made in their countries thus losing that competitive advantage. Are you still wondering why they are given aids and huge loans? It is because those that give them are the beneficiaries otherwise it cannot happen. They give the loans and also make sure that you use the loan to purchase your needs from them. You are never compelled to do so. It is your choice. By doing this, you sustain their economy, enslave your own people with the capital received and associated interest rate. And as far as this continues with your growing appetite for foreign goods, you can never be self-sufficient.

In essence, the leader must surrender something of value to himself including fame in order to get something most desired for his people. This is selflessness in service. A life of self-denial in all things especially those that appeals to you. Paul the apostle said ‘whatsoever I desired I count it as loss for the sake of Christ’. The turning point in Christian leadership is the gospel that ‘The good shepherd surrendered His life for His sheep. And Christ went on to say that whoever that wants to follow Him must first deny himself and then pick up his cross and follow Him (Matthew 16:24). The sacrifice that a true leader needs to pay is to deny himself the pleasures of office, forfeiting what appeals to him including his personal time just for the benefit of others.

A leader, irrespective of his preparation and qualification must have a learner’s mindset with added effort and time to study to show himself approved for the job. The African Ibibio native parable say ‘’you can only see the hair style on another person’s head before you chose to barb yours the same way’. Being teachable means that you are able to keep a mindset that is receptive to what good things, ideas and innovation that the changing world brings. Studying will avail you the leader of priceless information, enhanced skills, understanding, and knowledge that will empower you the more in your leadership. No right-thinking leader will underestimate the value of information from those that called him to lead and those who had led successfully before him. In true leadership, most of the information that you would ever need is in the word of God. This is why in Joshua 1:8 Joshua in addition to being advised to be courageous was instructed that ‘’this ‘word of the Lord’ must not depart from thy mouth’’. To make the word effective, meditate upon it day and night and by so doing it shall abide with you in your heart and shall be a lamp unto thy feet to give you direction. It is nothing more than the word of God. Study it. Understand it. Meditate on it daily. Reference it because in it are the secret things of life that once uncovered and abided with, makes one an outstanding leader. Every resounding success ever recorded by man is traced to the valuable information discovered from the hidden word of God. It is the Lord that own all secrets but it is to His glory when Kings discover it. So, search for information and knowledge in the word of God and use it. Enquire of Him in your situation and He will be found. His certainty of response when called upon in any situation is sure. He assured prophet Jerimiah that when called upon, He will surely answer and even reveal great and mighty things that he knew not – Jerimiah 33:3. It further reveals that there is no ending to revelations.

A leader must be disciplined in all ramifications to remain relevant, focused, respected and then successful. Discipline is never convenient for anyone because it pains and is meant to restrain; but it is a good choice that you must make in order to be successful. It implies that you must strive to set hard boundaries, be shaped by your predetermined godly values, obey laws and keep to the rules to be exemplary. Every true leader does this well when it comes from his heart. Daniel purposed in his heart (Daniel 1:8) what he wanted to do in the physical. The heart is the engine room of every thought generation and this explains why God searches the heart of man. Why? Because the heart of man is desperately wicked above all. Outward appearance is decorative and can be deceptive. The outward cleanliness of a cup is not a guarantee of inward cleanliness. The gentiles were such people that care less about the inward purity but the outward only. Individuals invest so much in their outward looks but very little or nothing in their inwards. Yet it is what comes out of a man that defiles him. When God is looking for a man to use, He searches the heart to uncover the hidden threat and intent, and can know who you are and what you will be if entrusted with the opportunity and privileges of higher calling. The heart of true leaders are the ones in the hand of God which He alone can tweak as desired.

Every thought leader’s focus is always on the prospect of his vision for the people; how to inspire them to do exploit and lead knowing that as a man thinketh, so is he. Every success achieved by a true leader is related to and can be traced to his prior thoughts backed with works. This is why every success is a product of premeditated thoughts and continuous good thinking (Philippians 4:8) and (Mark 9:23). The advancement in the all-encompassing thought process means that you think through your desires end to end, including the diligence in quality execution of your thoughts translated to actions, and the assurance that it meets with the needs of the people, guarantees sustainable and continuous successes in line with not only the leader’s vision but also in the expectations of the people.

There will always be the poor in our midst although not desired. This does not mean that we should be defined by poverty. But you can never be wrong saying that the state of poverty is in the mind of the poor. What then is the essence of leadership if we cannot look out for those in dire need and unpleasant conditions of living? They did not create themselves but they have found themselves where they are by virtue of ignorance concerning how to lead their lives, their peculiar life’s circumstances, inherent lifestyles and insufficient or lack of knowledge about the things of life. True leadership after God’s heart should rather bridge this poverty gap by creating enablers that make compelling opportunities available and accessible to all. If not, the determination to succeed by the less unfortunate persons in our society would create undesirable imbalances in our social, economic and political sphere and could inadvertently result in society nuisance affecting leadership and governance. Technically, we always say that a chain is as strong as its weakest link. How strong, great, peaceful and prosperous a society is, is a function of how the down trodden are well managed, given equal opportunity and chance to express themselves and be integrated into the larger society to give them a true sense of belonging and inclusiveness. Consider an ideal world where everyone is educated, live above the poverty line, is well accommodated, fed and cared for. At this point anyone that get involved in cynical ventures does so willingly and the full wrath of power in leadership can be meted upon him as punishment and as a deterrent to others with justification. Unfortunately, we can hardly attain this level of education for all because everyone is endowed differently. Some in sports, socials, academics and some nothing at all.

God has graciously made enough resources available in the world by geographical locations, countries and continents to cater for the needs of everyone. A great number of natural resources that we are yet to see their needs are still yet to be discovered but soonest they will. If truly our leaders understand this, are hungered to lead well, have the interest of the people at heart and not just for their own selfish interest then would we see a near perfect society where everyone would rejoice. It is more blessing to give than to receive, so let us give unconditionally as much as we can to the less privilege within us to make their lives meaningful and by so doing, we would lay up treasures for ourselves in the sight of the Almighty who has by privilege called us into His leadership role as servants after Him.

What Does it Mean to Have Vision?

Vision is seeing beyond now. It could be by having insights, revelations or dreams about the future as to falling into trance to see Divinely what the future arrangement of things are. And it sums up to one’s ability to foresee either the opportunities or the dangers lying ahead and harnessing to either take advantage, protect or avoiding them. Prophets are reputed for seeing visions. They receive Divine revelations and instructions in the present about what the future holds for individuals, tribes and or nations. It is a gift from God. Anyone favored can receive it because it is not exclusive of prophets alone despite the scriptures specifically alluding it to young men. The Pilots whether air or marine, understand the need to see further into the future of their journeys than what ordinary eyes can see in order to be better prepared to face the dangers or avoid it. And so, they rely on instrument like the radar to aid and verify what weather conditions that lies ahead of their journey. This, to a greater extent informs the pilot of the picture of what lies ahead. If it is a storm, depending on the category, they will maneuver about it with the sole objective to avoid the danger and stay safe. So is someone privileged to have a vision.

Leaders who do not have visions can hardly prosper because they will not have the capability to see what lies ahead of them and be able to maneuver their way out on time to succeed. People perish for the lack of vision. Informed decision and preparation begats success. The dangers you do not know and do not prepare to mitigate can always sweep you off your feet. It does not end though with having the vision. Leaders must have the ability to think critically, understand the context, be proactive to plan and respond aptly with great imaginations, intelligence, courage, having contingencies and be focused to succeed. A man with a vision to truly lead can only get that revelation from God. And that is if he has the capability to hear Him or better trust in the revelations through God’s prophets. Do you want to know leaders who had visions from God? Notable men in the scriptures who come to mind outrightly include Joseph, Moses, Isaiah, Josiah, Joel, and Abraham and many more. These men had transforming revelations that were fulfilled over time.

There were other kings who either saw visions, or dreamt dreams about future events that they did not understand like Nebuchadnezzar, and Pharaoh. These relied on other prophets like Joseph, Daniel and others like them who were blessed with the gift of interpretations of dreams to their understanding.

The good thing is that these leaders saw a vision about the future as revealed by God to them directly. They worked it and it came to pass. You can be that leader today that can get a vision or Divine insight and direction on how to lead the people. And if you work hard at it, it will surely come to pass. So, stop overshadowing yourself behind other people’s ideology and influence, and begin to embrace your calling.

Good leadership starts from having a clear and realistic vision. It means that there are some leaders who have no vision but find themselves leading. I see child Kings who were leaders in the scriptures. Those who come from the lineage of kings had the mantle of leadership fell upon them way too early in life. And of course, this is what obtains in my very own family and other renown tribes too. These child-kings had no capability to lead themselves nor were able to lead any group of persons on their own. How do I know this? Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:11 ‘when I was a child I speak, understand, and think as a child. Most often, in their stead, someone is appointed as a ‘’stand-in’’ until they grow up to adult suffrage age to understand the dimension and magnitude of the responsibilities and authority vested on them as men. It is only when he grew up that he put away those childish behaviors. This transition comes with the renewing of the mind from childhood, youthfulness to adulthood by which time so many things will unfold to you and your understanding is enhanced.

I had the privilege of experiencing first hand a child king in one of the kingdoms in Nigeria, The Bonny Kingdom. The appointed and ordained king was a youth appointed to lead the kingdom in the late nineties. As a youth he would leave his palace to join the other youth to play football. This is where he belonged and understood. Most times when his attention was required, the king makers would look for him everywhere to remind him that he is a king and should remain in the palace to receive visiting dignitaries to the kingdom for important leadership engagements and issues resolution. He was a child in attitude and behavior his position notwithstanding. He never stayed in his domain because he never understood his role and did not pretend that he does. But over time, he transitioned and grew over childhood. He began to speak, understand, and think differently as an adult. Then he began to see things from a different perspective and sooner became the king that he is expected to be. Now he is ruling his kingdom peaceably as expected maintaining law and order, managing people issues and getting developmental project thriving in his domain. The kingship blood flows in him. And at the appointed time, the king will be king.

Vision implies seeing things at present of how they look in the future. It is about having foresight, discernment and insight into the future of things to come. It is by revelation that the mystery beclouding the future is made known through grace that is Divinely provided. Diviners, astrologers and magicians understand why vision is important and they try to foretell people into believing that they have what it takes to tell of their future. This is nothing more than predictions or a calculated manipulation of the future based on known historical facts about events. Sometimes it could turn out to be true and sometimes not. But the true vision is the one Divinely revealed and which must come to pass irrespective of the time it