If You Want to Lead, Focus on Building Pillars not Platforms

Millenials & GenZs are so used to all the Is, from Iphones to selfies, where the focus has been so much into highlighting the self. But if leaders focus on the self, they could never be a great leader. So the process of being a great leader is forged when we focus on building pillars & becoming pillars instead of on finding platforms.

Why do I say so? It’s because

• Platforms comes and go; pillars last the test of time and endure seasons

Having seen the cycle of instant rise to fame that leads to almost as quick downfall, I never envy those who became famous overnight. There is almost no instant success that is sustainablee. Instead of chasing popularity by doing silly stuffs or following others, choose to build your pillars that add value to others that builds over time; it will create platforms of credibility and wisdom. You know when you are valuable, you are not easily replaceable.

• Pillars have built their own strength, platforms rely on the strength of others

Leaders who chase after platforms, rely to boss those around them to maintain that platform and spotlight on them. Sooner or later, followers will leave. But when you become pillars through your service to others, you are that pillars for others — — and when others look for someone to rise through the ranks, they would have already seen how you’ve been their strength. You could never lose that strength because you’ve focused on honing your crafts and building loyalty.

And when we have focused on becoming pillars, we start to work differently once we’ve been called upwards with more responsibility & visibility.

• Pillars are comfortable with silence, platforms must say something

“Don’t you hear all these charges they are bringing against you?” Pilate demanded. But Jesus made no response to any of the charges, much to the governor’s surprise. When others slander you (the higher you go, the more people will try to bring you down), you no longer need to justify yourselves. You are secure simply because you know your worth and what you are all about. You are comfortable that you were just simply doing your best, excelled & your work speaks for itself.

• Pillars are committed to what they are becoming; platforms focus on what they are saying.

More and more that you are given time to speak, when your roots are strong, you do not need to worry what you say for your lives already speak volumes to what your conviction is about. “The best of what I say always comes out of who I am”. Platform-focused people always curate what they have to say — -ending up inauthentic and inconsistent.

Our main motivation to be pillars come from Mattew 20:28, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.”

If Jesus comes to serve, so should we. Regardless whether the world rewards us with platforms or not, when we serve, we will always have people around us that we can lead alongside.

Sincerely,

Tamara Gondo