Leadership

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LEADERSHIP: YOUR INFLUENCE



The Bible says in the book of Genesis “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping things that creeps on the earth, (Gen. 1:26). The word dominion here in another translation reads “let them have rule” and if I may put it in my own words, it would read “Let them exercise influence.



God has given us tremendous capacity to influence. Come to look at it, leadership is nothing but influence. Whether in the business, government or church ministry, you can only successfully lead, as you are able to influence people. The truth is, at any given time in life, you are either following or leading, you are a product of influence or you are influencing somebody.



I find in the book of Nehemiah, a perfect example of motivational and influential leadership. Nehemiah was in exile, separated from his home (I shared the same experience with him between 1996-1999), family and all that was precious to him. He had a longing for his homeland. Then people brought news from home. In his own words, “they said to me, those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have burned with fire” when I heard these things, I sat down and wept, for some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. (Neh. 1:3-4).



The people were totally cut off: they did not have the guts to rise up to the situation. Now here is Nehemiah’s response, when he traveled to meet them in the province. “Then said I unto them, you see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and the gates burned with fire; come and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. (Neh. 2:17) Nehemiah was a realistic leader. He communicated the vision by revealing his own intention to act. A motivation leader will seize the opportunity of dissatisfaction to produce a good result. That was precisely what Nehemiah did. Leaders who motivate actually give their followers a sense of value, and no man who knows that he is valuable in a project will take it lightly. The walls of Jerusalem were built. The gates were erected. As a matter of fact, that walls are still standing today as monument to his efforts and leadership.



Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln, Christopher Colombus and Martin Luther king Jr, just to mention a few, these were men whose leadership influence lingers on today, long after they have passed on. Two of them, Churchill and Lincoln, achieved through political platform. One of them, Martin Luther king Jr, achieved as a preacher and human rights advocate, while Colombus left his foot print on the sands of time as a sailor.



Regardless of your vocation, regardless of your position today you are a product of influence and you are also influencing somebody. Any successful leader knows this truth. People must buy into you before they buy into your dreams.



High morale in an organization comes from having faith in the person at the top. Apostle Paul recognized this in his ministry to the Corinthians, “I am influenced by Christ and I have a burden to influence you. Now that I have influenced you, the world will read Christ in you” remember the best plan for the future is proper influence today. Don’t forget that God created you and gave you dominion.





© 2004 – Aduwo Samson Olufemi

Lagos Nigeria

[email protected]

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