How to become a leader

                    By Bayo Ogunmupe

    Whether a country is a democracy, populist or a monarchy, she still needs leaders. Leaders determine the fate of nations either for prosperity or safety. The demand for good leaders has never been greater than now. Which is why you should learn what it takes to become a leader. Imagine your life in two levels. First as a follower, then as a leader. Following is the natural order of human behavior. It is other people, your community or  country that confer leadership upon you. 

    However, leadership can seem as though you must be born with it as the wings of an angel. It can seem out of reach, difficult and not worth pursuing. That was how I used to think until higher education thrusted me forward and people started thinking I should put myself forward for elective office. Then, in a moment, I saw the truth: leadership is obtainable. You dont have to have experience like Emmanuel Macron became President of France with only three years experience in politics. Also, you don't have to be young or be born with a god like sense of likability like octogenarian President Donald Trump of the USA.

    I have always been a follower in my community and in my career as teacher and journalist. Then, level two dawned on me unexpectedly.  An aging legal luminary I admire told me how they became a leader. They became a leader by first understanding this core principle that unlocks everything else about leadership. That principle is: leadership is serving others before yourself. This principle sounds revolutionary to a kid born in the Tropics of Africa. The practice of serving others before self is alien to us as a people reared in colonial domination.

    My journey of leadership started from here. Now via selfless service, I lead peope as service to humanity and as a replacement to adherence to a religious priesthood whose stocking in trade is seed planting. I also do the same online as a blogger (https://ogunmupe.blogspot.com) which has helped me navigate what the basics of leadership are for those who haven't done it before. If you haven't been a leader before, the following is what you need to know. 

    Role model: whoever came up with the word 'leader' made a mistake. They should have translated the meaning of leadership as 'role model.' A leader is a role model. Your job is to model the role of well behaved people. You imitate the way the illustrious talks, the way he makes decisions; most of all how he treats other people- especially strangers. Your treatment of strangers demonstrates what you stand for. Never show anger in front of anybody. The great leader never gets pissed off at anytime. Leaders know they should never get angry or say something you will regret in public. They are never angry in public.

    Inspiration is the hallmark of a leader. The leader's job is to inspire and get the job done. The way a leader does this is by positioning a goal in an inspiring manner. You inspire people by linking what they do to what matters to them. Inspiration is a pair of glasses you wear; they see and discuss the good in every thing rather than the opposite. Leaders look the people in the eye. The power of looking someone in the eye is very great. It is where all the stories you tell as a leader are communicated from. Looking someone in the eye is the place in which trust is built. Eye contact is honesty, it tells all the stories.