THE LEADER WE NEED IS NOT THE ONE WE CHOOSE

 I’ve been thinking a lot lately about leadership: what it is, what it should be, and why, so often, we settle for so little. From personal experiences in the workplace to national frustrations with Kenya’s political class, the recurring theme is that we have made leadership about power and not purpose and we are now paying the price.

It appears there is a serious leadership crisis not just in the top echelons of our country, but also in our workplaces, families, places of worship, and communities. Every conversation I’ve had recently with friends and acquaintances has led me to believe that most people are caught in the reality of dealing with leaders whose manners and character are questionable!

But this isn’t about bashing leaders or pointing an accusing finger but about raising our consciousness to this issue. I’d like us to reflect and to ask ourselves deeper questions about the kind of leadership we have come to accept and the kind that we truly deserve.

Years ago, I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Myles Munroe a man whose teachings shaped me long before I met him. In person, he didn’t just speak. He saw me. Our interaction was very brief but I’ve never forgotten how it made me feel: seen, important, validated. That moment taught me something profound: great leaders don’t just command, they connect.

I think one of the greatest qualities of a leader is their ability to be able to connect with those that they lead. When leaders take their time to understand their challenges, struggles, hopes and aspirations, they build trust and cultivate a sense of purpose. When that connection is established, People will automatically feel seen, supported and empowered. That’s when true leadership begins.

In Kenya, we have witnessed a persistent failure by many of our leaders to truly see and hear the people they serve. There is a sense that our leaders are operating in a bubble, burying their heads in the sand while the ground beneath them grows restless. Unfortunately, this disconnection is not just confined to Parliament or politics.

 For example, many of us have experienced bad leadership at work. If you’ve ever been ignored, silenced, micromanaged, or sidelined by your boss who should have supported you then you know what I mean. And woe unto you if you are more competent than them, even in the slightest way! There is nothing more toxic than an insecure leader. Their fear becomes fuel for toxic power plays and they weaponize their authority to dim your light and clip your wings. This is not leadership; this is fear wearing a title. And when multiplied across an organization, this kind of leadership kills creativity, morale and purpose.

Now magnify that workplace experience to a national scale. Kenya is in crisis not just economically or politically but morally. We’ve elected leaders who govern with arrogance, opacity and greed! We lament corruption, injustice, youth unemployment and rising hopelessness but we must face this uncomfortable truth: we chose these leaders. And in many cases, we continue to. These leaders don’t appear from thin air; they emerge from among us.  And so if our leaders reflect our choices, what does it say about the values we elevate?

 SELAH!

We can’t afford to keep lowering the bar. Not in our workplaces, communities, and government. Each time we enter new seasons of election cycles or career transitions, we must remember we are not just victims of bad leadership we are often its enablers.

Let’s stop settling. Let’s stop cheering charisma while ignoring character. And let’s start inculcating and nurturing good leadership traits within our societies.

If one brief encounter with a true leader could leave a lasting imprint on my soul, imagine what could happen if we chose such leaders in our workplaces, communities, and country.

 

PS: Please feel free to share with me your leadership experience or lessons in the comment section.