The Making of Leaders

Dear Leader,

Are leaders born or made?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions with conflicting responses.

Some materials reference educated people who have demonstrated exceptional leadership capabilities and then conclude that leaders are made.

Other materials reference uneducated people who have also demonstrated exceptional leadership capabilities and then conclude that leaders are born.

What do you think?

In the research for my book, The Mystique of Leadership, I examined the lives of some of the iconic leaders of our time. I discovered that while some were born into affluence and influence, and therefore, were highly educated, experienced and exposed, others were born into abject poverty with no chance of survival.

I even wrote about people like Rosa Parks, whose access to education was not only limited but systematically stifled. I elaborated on the leadership traits that were common in billionaires like Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and Michael Bloomberg, and I outlined commonalities in icons like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.

My conclusion, which is now a widely accepted definition of leadership, is that “Leadership is a spirit that can only be ignited by purpose, sustained by passion and guided by principles”.

This means that the very first step in the making of leaders is the discovery of your purpose in life, whether you hold a position of authority or not.

This was what Rosa Parks did on the fateful day she decided to not give up her seat on the bus for another person of a different skin colour. Her action was illegal at that time but now globally acclaimed as an act of leadership.

She had no position of authority but became the first woman and second non–government official to lie in honour in the Capitol Rotunda, a place reserved for ceremonial events of honoured people in the U.S.

• Have you discovered the purpose that can ignite the spirit of leadership in you?
• Have you sharpened your talents enough to confront the status quo for the betterment of mankind?
• Have you found a cause worthy enough for you to die for?

Until you do, not even the highest position of authority can make you a leader.

In my book, The Mystique of Leadership, I wrote: “Leadership can only be ignited by a burning desire to do what is just, right, fair and honourable. It is a moral compass that measures the depth of your vision for humanity, the measurement of how far you are willing to go for your purpose in life.”

This is the very first step in the making of leaders, what will empower you to rise above the naïve pursuit of position, popularity, prosperity, and power. The world is in disarray today because positions of authority are offered to people who may have the qualifications, but have not ignited their spirit of leadership.

For decades, we have inspired thousands of people all over the world to ignite their leadership spirit, whether they hold positions of authority or not. We have helped governments, corporations, schools, and churches to enhance their corporate culture by transforming those in positions of authority into exceptional leaders.

If you would like to rate yourself on the characteristics we identified in exceptional leaders, we developed The Leadership Status Assessment.

It is a series of thought-provoking questions that will help you to identify your level in the global leadership scale, your strengths and the areas that may require coaching.

One of the greatest abilities of exceptional leaders is their willingness to constantly assess their personality and performances for the sake of improvement. This is why humility is the greatest leadership trait.

Therefore, if you would like a free professional report on your leadership status, click on The Leadership Status Assessment.

To receive a free coaching session, click here.

To have this topic presented in your organization, click here.

To gain free access to previous newsletters, click here.

To receive the brochure of our Leadership Certification Program, click here.

I look forward to your feedback and wish you nothing but the best in your leadership.

Yours truly,

Alex Ihama

www.alexihama.com

Alex Ihama is a global leadership and management consultant with over two decades of experience in enabling governments, corporations, churches, communities, and schools to develop the capacity and abilities they require to achieve stringent goals and objectives. 

An executive coach to politicians, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, professional athletes and a host of elite clients, Ihama travels the world extensively each year to inspire thousands with his messages of greatness, hope, organizational success, leadership and personal accountability.

For more information, www.alexihama.com or email alex@alexihama.com.