The Prime Leader is Accountable

“For by wise guidance thou shalt make thy war; And in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” – Proverbs 24:6

Where there is responsibility there needs to be accountability. Without accountability, there is no transparency. Without transparency there is no trust. Without trust there is no productive relationship. Leaders particularly need to be accountable at various levels in order for them to stay on top of events. Many individuals are intimidated by the idea of being accountable because they have several things they would like to keep in the closet and are not prepared to get rid of. They have this tendency that in the long run will lead to their downfall but they would rather take the risk. Such tendencies feed on the momentum of practice and grow with each indulgence until the leader is no longer in control. Alcoholism, fraud, and other moral breaches need to be cut off as soon as yesterday with the aid of accountability partners. Lack of accountability is the cocktail for sex scandals and other embarrassing situations that quickly uproot leaders from office.

The leader needs to have accountability at two levels (the third level is often natural). The first level is the upward accountability. This is when the leader is accountable to a mentor who is guiding and directing them in the direction of their intended success. This is often someone that the leader has great respect towards and has achieved similar success (which validates his/her advice). This is very important because the mentor is able to confront issues with authority that peers at the same level will not have. He has an awareness of small looking tendencies and habits that lead to destruction that other people might view as petty and harmless. For men, three questions often asked are 1) How is your thought life? 2) How is your sex life? And 3) Did you lie to me about the first two? Other useful questions to ask are: Have you done anything that you would be ashamed of if Jesus walked into the room? Have you been thinking of things you would be ashamed of if Jesus was watching your thoughts? Of course the truth is that He already knows everything you do and think. This relationship is as the one Timothy had with Paul.

The second level of accountability is where the leader is accountable to someone at their peer level. This is a person who is at about the same stage of life or spirituality. This is important because the leader is able to relate with that person easily as they have a generally similar understanding of issues affecting them. They become a pair that can strengthen each other. This kind of relationship is as the one between Paul and Barnabas who was referred to as the son of encouragement. You can picture two friends that start to go to the gym together. When the one is about to give up before completing his set of reps, the friend encourages him to keep pushing, and the friend’s ability to complete the sets inspires his friend. I have found it a lot more effective than when I was working out alone at home where I just stop when I feel tired and there is no one to tip me.

The third kind of accountability is the one Paul had with Timothy (that is when the leader is the senior and is keeping a younger person accountable). In this relationship, the leader has a role to play as a mentor. He reaches deep into his resource to bring the best out of the younger person. This does not have to be a literally younger person in terms of age, but with respect to the desired area. Younger people may be more spiritually mature than older people. The role of teaching helps the leader see how much his convictions and values can shape another’s life and thus convinces himself of the importance of such practices. It also enforces the need to lead by example when you confront someone else about certain issues. You can not be confronting someone on fidelity issues when you lack integrity in that area. This kind of relationship makes you grow as does responsibility a lot of times.

In summary, every leader needs a Paul to look up to and be led by, a Barnabas to strengthen him and a Timothy to lead. I served in a ministry where our policy was to teach to teach to teach. Everyone was taught so that they could teach someone to teach. That makes learning a lot more important and enforces the need to understand what is taught. The leader thus should endeavour to understand the concepts of leadership so that they can pass them down to at least two generations. Accountability is a major part of this process.

Affirmation: I am accountable for my goings and comings. My life is as an open book.

The Prime Leader Is a Master Communicator

“And it came about, when Jesus had come to the end of these words, that the people were surprised at his teaching, for he was teaching as one having authority, and not as their scribes.” – Matthew 7:28, 29.

All great leaders in history were masters of communication. They were able to reach a mixed population with their philosophy and get them moved deeply enough to be devoted to their cause. Many times I have listened to Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech and I am amazed at how the man used the power of words so efficiently. The multitude that listened to that speech identified with the dream that he had. Even today, people listen to that speech and are able to connect to the man’s passion. How about the new president of the United States? I can understand why he is the president. The man has great appeal in his speech that convinces you that he absolutely believes what he is saying and not just saying it. I listened to a speech he gave in 2004 campaigning for someone else. It was such a powerful speech delivered in about twelve minutes. That is the power of the Prime Leader; the power to utilise words like no average person.

In communication, one needs to understand that people respond to specific points of communication. There are those that are primarily visually oriented. These people will be moved when the words used paint pictures in their minds. The Prime leader will use statements like, “Let me paint this picture for you”, or “Picture this.” They will literally paint pictures with their words. When these people begin to see that picture in their minds, they will be in a more receptive state. Such people often in their speech also use such phrases like, “It really paints a weird picture. It doesn’t look like.., it looks to me like…” These people will also be affected by the presentation of the one delivering the speech, that is, their appearance. That is why the Prime Leader needs to look presentable, dressed in a dignified way. How serious do you think you look in a pair of blue jeans? Because of this, you will notice that the majority of great leaders that were liked most by people were even handsome or beautiful. A lot of people fall into this category.

The next group of people are primarily auditory. This means that they respond a lot more to communication that has to do with hearing. The Prime leader will use phrases like, “Does it ring a bell when…, Do you hear my….” These people are those that also use the same statements in their regular speech. When such statements are used, they are put in a receptive state where they are more likely to connect with the speaker. Poetic language and melodic speech will go a long way in reaching these people because they really pay a lot of attention to words. They will appreciate the speaker who has a smooth flow of words and connects his ideas systematically. There are many people also who fall into this category. I happen to be one of these and maybe that is why I love the part whey Martin Luther King started describing his dream in a somewhat poetic manner, repeating “I have a dream….”

The third group of people are those who primarily access information via the kinesthetic route. This are those who like to feel things. Once they feel something, they are more receptive to take in or learn the particular thing. The Prime Leader will use statements like, “I feel like…, can you feel my..?” These people will often use statements like, “It feels like.., I feel like…” The route of feeling is the key to these peoples emotions and their understanding. These people will appreciate the coherent demonstration of emotion consistent with the issue being discussed. They are also sensitive to incongruence, where the speaker is saying one thing but his gestures are not in agreement with those things. It is like saying “Yes”, while your head is shaking. This shows that the speaker is not believing what he is saying.

All these groups of people are found in the same audience. The Prime Leader deliberately addresses each one of them in their particular way in the same speech. He will address emotional issues, paint powerful vibrant pictures and use the kind of words that flow and are accompanied by the relevant gestures. When this is done, the audience connect at a personal level with the speaker and buy into his message. Jesus often used parables where he painted pictures that were relevant to the people’s current situation. He used simple words that every man could understand, yet his message was always powerful. He literally addressed the emotions of people by giving them hope and healing the sick. Paul the apostle used words that were truly amazing. Passages of his letters like Ephesians 1 and 4 are power packed chapters that demonstrate the use of words.

Choose today to train yourself in your speaking skill. Your influence is directly affected by your ability to communicate effectively. If you are unable of communicate what you see, feel, taste, hear and smell inside of yourself to other people, then they will not be as motivated as you are, which means they will not be sold out to your vision as you are. Even the most terrible leaders like Hitler were able to motivate their followers by the power of their communication. You too can be the Prime Leader. You are the Prime Leader in the making. You have it all in you, you just need to work at it.

Affirmation: I am an effective communicator. I control the words that I speak and I use them to reach all people effectively.

The Prime Leader Replicates Himself

“But beholding the boldness of Peter and John, and having perceived that they are untaught and uneducated men, they marvelled. And they recognized them, that they were with Jesus” – Acts 4:18

It probably is more common to find leaders who want to remain the cream of society, separated from the average man and intent on keeping things that way. These leaders make the effort to make sure they remain on top of the” food chain” in their organizations with a wide gap existing between them and the rest of the people. Common as it is, it remains an ineffective way of leading people. Until you make leaders, you are not yet a leader. Leaders make leaders, their philosophy rubs on to those around them and they intentionally ensure that. This takes an attitude of security in the leader, knowing that his identity is not threatened by those around him becoming more like him and more able to do the things that he does. He knows that “A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above his lord. It is enough for the disciple to become as his teacher, and the slave as his lord.” – Matthew 10:24,25a.

Jesus said to his disciples in John 15:15, “I no longer call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his lord does. But I called you friends, because all things which I heard from My Father I made known to you.” This is the attitude of a leader. He showed them all things that the Father showed him. Wow! No wonder he was confident to leave them in charge; eleven men with whom he had walked for three years. In that period Jesus had imparted all that was necessary for them to take the reigns and establish God’s Kingdom in the whole world. The only missing ingredient was the Holy Spirit whom Jesus promised them would come to empower them. No wonder Acts 4:18 reads, “But beholding the boldness of Peter and John, and having perceived that they are untaught and uneducated men, they marvelled. And they recognized them, that they were with Jesus”

Consider David’s mighty men. They were a bunch of men who had nothing much to look forward to in life. I believe they never imagined they would be recorded as mighty men whom people would continue to read about until today (2 Samuel 23:8-39). “And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada from Kabzeel, a son of a mighty man, great in deeds; he killed two lionlike men of Moab. And he went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit in a day of snow.” – 2 Samuel 23:20. Does this not sound like David who affirming himself in God said, ” Your servant has struck both the lion and the bear, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, for he has reproached the armies of the living God.” David the giant slayer raised mighty men who also became giant slayers.

Success without a successor is not success at all. This is not only in reference to a biological heir, but every vision should be large enough that there are people who have been raised to run with it just as well or better than the original visionary. Those who had vision that were not of God were made examples by Gamaliel the Pharisee when he said, “For before this there was Theudas, who said he was someone important, to whom about four hundred men gave their support: he was put to death, and his band was broken up and came to nothing. After this man, there was Judas of Galilee, at the time of the numbering, and some of the people went after him: he was put to death, and all his supporters were put to flight.” This is what happens when there is no anointing or empowerment given to disciples. When the vision is not God given, not effectively imparted and not birthed in love.

The sign of life is replication. Multiplication is the mark of progress. In Genesis 1:28a we read, “And God blessed them; and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply.” In John 15:2 Jesus said, “Every branch in Me not bearing fruit, He takes it away; and each one bearing fruit, He prunes, so that it may bear more fruit.” Every tree produces fruit after its kind. The tree that does not produce fruit is not fulfilling its purpose. “And seeing afar off a fig tree having leaves, He went toward it, if perhaps He would find anything on it. And coming on it, He found nothing except leaves, for it was not the season of figs. And answering, Jesus said to it, Let no one eat fruit of you any more to the age. And His disciples heard. And passing along early, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. And remembering, Peter said to Him, Rabbi, behold, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.” Mark 11:13-14, 20,21. God is interested in fruitfulness. Leaders ought to produce leaders.

Affirmation: I allow others to learn from me. I know that their competence does not affect my security, significance or self worth.

The Prime Leader Is a Servant Leader

“But let the greatest among you be your servant.” – Matthew 23:11
 
Often times the leader finds himself in the power position with a whole company of subordinates that are waiting to be “commanded to go and they will go; come and they will come.” The ownership of power becomes a drug that begins to feed the animal inside the leader and metamorphoses him into an infamous control freak manipulating and overbearing the people around him. This is the opposite of the kind of leader that we are taught to be by the Ultimate Prime leader: Jesus. Jesus said “But let the greatest among you be your servant.” The Prime leader knows that he has a role to serve the people. Leadership is a role of service rather than a role of being the served one.
 
Leading people involves taking them to higher places in terms of their value. This means that the organization that is led by a prime leader is continually learning. Everyone in that organization is appreciating in value as they are constantly being upgraded. They are encouraged to attend training programs that are in line with their role in the organization. They are also continually making presentations of new developments and refreshing on other issues pertaining to their trade. The leader who has not learnt the principles of the prime leader is prohibited from doing these things by a fear of over empowering his employees that they will leave his organization. That is a present risk that you will have to take with the knowledge that for as long as they are with you, they are your greatest assets. The more knowledgeable your staff is, the better the quality of your product or service.
 
Those leaders that stifle the growth of their staff are stagnant in terms of development. The rate of growth of their product or service is way below its potential. When recruiting the twelve disciples, Jesus said, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” – Matthew 4:19. “For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you.” – Leviticus 26:10. God is in the business of making his followers into something big. He is not just trying to be the big boss. He wants you to be the best you that you can ever be. He wants you to be fruitful and multiply! Leaders that try to make themselves into something have their whole philosophy up-side-down. It’s not about making oneself the big boss, but making others so great that they naturally honour and respect you.
 
“Jesus, being conscious that the Father had put everything into his hands, and that he came from God and was going to God, Got up from table, put off his robe and took a cloth and put it round him. Then he put water into a basin and was washing the feet of the disciples and drying them with the cloth which was round him. Then, after washing their feet and putting on his robe again, he took his seat and said to them, Do you see what I have done to you? You give me the name of Master and Lord: and you are right; that is what I am. If then I, the Lord and the Master, have made your feet clean, it is right for you to make one another’s feet clean. I have given you an example, so that you may do what I have done to you. Truly I say to you, A servant is not greater than his lord; and he who is sent is not greater than the one who sent him. If these things are clear to you, happy are you if you do them.” – John 13:3-5, 12-17.
 
I like this passage because it starts by letting us know that Jesus was conscious that the Father had put everything into his hands. I don’t know of any other power that can be compared to that. What he then did (knowing the magnitude of his power) is quite staggering. Can you imagine Bill Gates washing your feet? Barak Obama? Jacob Zuma? Jesus did not have limited power but ALL POWER!
 
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” – Philippians 2:5-8.
 
Humility is the mark of the servant leader. Humility is not the same as weakness; it takes strength to be humble. The egotistical person is often insecure trying to cover up for his insecurities by puffing up his image to conceal the weak character underneath. Character is the foundation upon which a person’s life is built, not personality. When personality wears off (as it often does with age), only the character remains. The true character of the person determines the results that he gets out of relationships around him.
 
Determine today to serve your team, to facilitate for synergy and lubricated consensus. People listen when they know you care, not necessarily because you are the boss. The one who cares for people and genuinely wants the best for them naturally gets respected and honoured. It is not about enforcing loyalty and respect. Those things can not be enforced; they are rather fruits of deposits you make into the people’s emotional bank accounts. Serve them and they will follow you.
 
Affirmation: I add value to those that I lead. I am their leader so that I can serve their needs in order for them to exert their best and become their best.