THE LEADERSHIP LESSONS WE CAN LEARN FROM THE CHILDREN OF AFRICA

I watched this video I think for the 2nd time and I saw more than I did the first time I watched it. The first person to post it saw happiness in the children and therefore put that caption, but I saw leadership. Leadership is not based on democracy as we have been made to believe because those in leadership are not necessarily popular. And those others who are not in leadership are not where they are because they are not popular. Popularity is not leadership.

The boy in this video demonstrates that leadership is a God given responsibility for all those who step out and respond to God's call. It also shows that :

1. Leaders do not front themselves to take advantage of opportunities that avail themselves. The boy could have just danced himself in front of the camera but instead he lets others take the opportunity to show what they have. Our political leaders in Kenya first acquire property for themselves and their children, take their children to exclusive schools,and when they are sick, they go to Nairobi hospital when you and I fill the hard benches of the public hospitals that have no medicine, no beds, no water, and after we get better, we go on to the streets of the major towns demonstrating and fighting each other.

2. Leadership means urging those who may be shy, timid or weak to step up and do their jig. Everyone of us has potential to be a leader, democracy cannot allow those of us who are financially weak or those who are not outgoing to take up leadership. I am not sure where this video was shot but I bet the children come from different ethnic communities and they all jump in the line to take a chance.

3. Leadership demands genuine "followership". In this, I mean followers who are genuinely in the mission and understand the vision. The other children follow the prompting of the leader and jump into the front to dance and each of them has a unique style.

4. Leadership requires building the interaction of elements that when combined produces a total effect that is greater than the sum of the individual elements-synergy. The diverse family backgrounds of the children could be equated to the diverse cultures, beliefs,traditions, ethnic communities, status, race, and religions. We need each other to build a strong loving community not only abroad but also in Kenya.