Over the years, there have been people who always though they had what it take to be on top. Some of those were not saying so for they possessed relevant leadership qualities, but because they were put under the wings by powerful leaders. For one to lead, they must first know how to follow. People must know how it feels to be lead. They also must understand what it feels to be a subject and what is expected of those who hold power and authority. It has never worked for one to just climb the leader and claim to be a good leader. One needs to understand what people want, and also know that even great leaders can be taken on. Employees should always free to speak their minds, not breaking any codes or ranks in the process. There is no place which has prospered where employees are reduced to "yes men and women" or tea makers. Even junior staff members are colleagues to their manager or bosses, not younger bothers, sons or lap dogs to be shouted around.
There are factors that determine a great leader. The person must make sure he can take the blame if he is in the wrong or at fault. This will go a long way in setting a good precedent for all his staff members. A leader must take the concerns of his workers to heart and fair treatment should always be the order of the day. Leaders should also remember that they are part of the team, not demi gods. Issues of some stuff members being favoured compared to others raise eyebrows in terms of the professionalism and the back bone of the leader.
Leaders are not chosen by blood, but by hard work, dedication and professionalism. Showing someone who is boss will result with the company having a staff which lacks in confidence and motivation. The staff will be relegated to being support staff rather than colleagues that as a leader you can depend and rely on. Preferential treatment has always created divisions in the work place and is the major cause of an unhappy staff. An unhappy employee is as good as a liability to a company, rather than an asset that he was roped in to be.
One should be able to put themselves in their employees' positions to see if their style or way of governance is indeed making people happy. Who wants to lead employees who are afraid of him? What’s the use of having a staff that can never make a mistake of correcting their boss when he has missed a point? People should learn that for someone to lead, they first have to follow, convince everyone that they have what it takes to be in front of people when it gets tough. An iron fist will always alienate an employer from his employees.
Mmasekepe O Matsebane
