According to Wikipedia, a leader is one who influences or leads others. A leader is a person who directs a group of people towards the achievement of a goal. A leader as a person leads a group of people for a certain purpose. As a leader which every one of us is in our own different ways, our major aims most be to attain a certain purpose or height in our leadership.
Is leadership a position of office or authority? Or, is leadership an ability in the sense that he is a leader because he leads? We all may know or hear of people who are in positions of leadership but who are not providing leadership. A position of office is no guarantee of leadership but it helps in the sense that a leadership position usually commands a listening ear from its people and that is a good starting point for anyone who desires to be a leader.
A leader by its meaning is one who goes first and leads by example, so that others are motivated to follow him. This is a basic requirement. To be a leader, a person must have a deep-rooted commitment to the goal that he will strive to achieve it even if nobody follows him. Our commitment to any stated goal most be up-most among the group or people we lead by displaying good examples.
Joshua was such a man. He was publicly appointed to succeed Moses (Num 27:12-23). The goal was to lead the Hebrews cross over the Jordan and take the land (Josh 1:1-2) ... and that was exactly what he did. In his old age, there remained much land to be possessed. In Josh 24:15, Joshua summoned all Israel to gather at Shechem and challenged them to serve the Lord, putting before them his commitment. He out rightly challenged them to choose between God or Idol who they will serve and he said as for him and his household they will serve the Lord. That was some level of commitment, setting a standard and standing by what he believes.
In becoming a can-do leader, we most have a positive attitude and mindset toward issues. We most always believe all things are possible and work hard towards achieving every project. We must always have the attitude of trying out new things as regard execution of any project as there is always nothing to lose, rather a lot to gain in the process. Our attitude should be continuous learning, relearning and unlearning new things as regard our project. It is not too late to learn something new, let us make the change now. It is not too late to start, let us start now. Let us work until it is finished and not go home till we have accomplished our goals and purpose. Never give up on your goals and do not give time to the opposition. The opposition will always be there, do not expect every one to sing your song or praise you on your achievements, some will come with a lot of negativity and try to run you down with their words. Always expect this and let it be a stepping stone for your upliftment. Negativity are stepping stone to greater height when you analysed and worked on them. Do not allow negative people to influence you, but rather influence them and do not be intimidated by the enemies.
A can do leader does not mind being in the minority. He is not easily coarse into doing things below the standard he has set for himself and the team. He follows what he believe and run with it. He most time have an independent opinion about what to do and pursue after it. Example of A CAN-DO LEADER is Caleb in the Bible. “Numbers 13:30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses and said Let us go at once and possess it for we are well able to overcome it.” He was not moved by the negative report of the other leaders, rather he had a firm believe that with God they are able to conquer the city. That is an attitude of a can do leader. He sees good and positive things and always aim to achieve it.
Moreover, a can do leader is not slothful or lazy. He goes into action immediately a target is set for the team, because every project can and should start immediately if it is to succeed. Many a times why some things go wrong or happen the way they do is because we do not handle it with the promptness it deserve. Slothfulness is the key to failure in leadership. So kill that act of slothfulness and procrastination now!
Another great attitude of a can do leader is that he is ready to fight, die and take calculated risk for a course. If you are not ready to take risk then you may not achieve much. Risk takers are great achievers. Many of the great leaders and achievers around us were great risk takers. One thing we most know is that every project we are embarking on involve some level of risk and we most be ready to take them. In addition, we most have the spirit of adventure and discovery which leads to development. How often do we read? Know that readers are leaders. The number of books you have read determines the level of your knowledge in leadership. So ensure you read at least a book in a month.
In all, we most love God and put Him first in everything we do. We most have faith in God and daily aspire to work according to His principles and standards. This will give us boldness to attain any height we so much desire to get to in life. Again I say be a can do leader!
