A PARADIGM SHIFT FROM AUTOCRATIC RULE TO DEMOCRATIC RULE.

Observing the people who were in positions of power around me while growing up, I perceived leadership to be one that is autocratic. The leaders instilled fear in the followers and decided what happened to them without a care of their opinion on the matter. I experienced this leadership first-hand as I was a follower in many cases and lobbied for my opinions to be considered on many occasions.

Only when I was given a position of power as the assistant head girl did my perspective on leadership change. No one can be forced to do what they don’t want to do. As the wise saying goes, “People don’t care what you know until they know how much you care.” My experience of leadership taught me to motivate my followers to follow me without feeling forced to do so.

Leadership is the expression of love and sacrifice not strong will and selfishness. So many times I had to fight for a cause that did not directly affect me just because it affected them. In so doing, I made friends with many of my followers and are still in contact with many today. My opinion is of great importance to many and some still come for advice but when it is time to enforce a rule I had the privilege of doing this without stress.

Not many people in Nigeria can give the testimony of a secondary school prefect who cared about their opinion in any matter whatsoever and my followers can give this testimony of a democratic rule free and fair for the people. This is my single story.

From my single story I had earlier concluded that leadership had to be autocratic and that one had to be strict in leading his followers without considering their opinions so that they would respect the leader at any point in time. It was not until when I assumed the position of leadership that my view on leadership changed. Instead of being rigid and bridged the gap between my followers and I. In the process, I was able to draw people to myself and carry everyone along.

Relating my single story to leadership development, I discovered leadership to be an expression of love and sacrifice. Each and every one of us need each other to achieve our set goals. It was a definite paradigm shift.

By: Aranonu C.A