The Tribune

By BISHOP V G CLARKE IT is not so much what a leader thinks he is trying to do, but what the leader is thinking. To achieve a high quality of performance, certain ingredients must be present in a leader. The army sergeant who says "do what I say, not what I do" is never respected; his leadership is rejected by his men. Esprit de corps (morale of a group) is manifested only where a leader's example is evident. Confidence, honesty and integrity go far toward providing the best example. If a leader does not believe in himself then others will not. Confidence must permeate the group, and it has to proceed first from the leader. At every stage there must be a steady build-up of assurance, a conviction of competence based on training and gradual accumulation of experience and skill. Furthermore, if a person doesn't feel confident that he can handle the next job higher up, he will never be able to sell others on his ability to handle it. Such confidence is gained only by study, application and putting forth the best effort day in and day out. Integrity - As a person moves up in an organisation, the trail he leaves behind - both inside and outside the firm or ministry - is the critical factor in his chances for greater success. Two qualities - virtually one - which people look for in leadership (imperative in Christian leadership) are honesty and integrity. For people to be led, they must have a basic trust in their leader. They must feel they are secure in his hands because he is utterly reliable and trustworthy. Emphasise the future Another major guideline for excellence is the need for a leader to look to the future. One of his greatest responsibilities is to develop and train men. Excellence requires that he make men responsible by giving them tasks and providing motivation so they can achieve them in the future. To accomplish these goals the leader must do the following: * He must get to know people. * He must involve them in the planning of the organisation so that their goals become the church's/company's goals. * He must learn and realise that in regards to motivation, each person is motivated in a different degree for a different purpose. * He must guide his people to greater self-development. * He must remove all obstacles that stand in the way of his people from achieving their goal. * He must lead all of his people to achieving experiences and improve their work capacity and production on a sustained basis. * The leader today must be armed with every means at his disposal to facilitate the interpersonal growth of an organisation. Finally, we do well to remember Christ's words: "Whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them". (Matthew 7:12 RSV) Always ask yourself, "how would I like to be treated in this".