HUMILITY; A FRAME WORK FOR SUCCESSFUL LEADERSHIP By Akor Eneojo

I remember when once my shirt was as good as an apron, or let me say the gown worn in ancient Egypt. I was baffled every day at the cry of other children like me. I was neither at the place I wanted, nor did the things I desired. She was always there getting my attention, singing and making gestures. Soon, I became acquainted with the tune and hummed with her whenever she sang. Every other person knew the same song I realized and we would sing it together every morning as I memorized the words “Parents listen to your children, we are the leaders of tomorrow, try and pay our school fees and give us the best education.”

Today, young Nigerian graduates undergo the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Scheme which was established in 1973 with policies that would promote post-conflict peace, reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction. The NYSC programme was established with a view to build proper encouragement and development of communities (Nation building) through the youths of Nigeria and the promotion of national unity.  These, she seeks to achieve by inculcating in youths the quality of service and of humility. Making, brushing, pruning, and perfecting youths for “true” leadership.

A simple definition of leadership is the art of motivating a group of people to act toward achieving a common goal. Leadership is the act and practice of service in all humility.

While Service is the act of helping or doing work for someone, an organization, a community or nation, humility is the feeling or attitude- that you have no special importance that makes you better than others. Some people simply say that it is the lack of pride. Humility is an underrated quality and for a moment, it is seen first as a negative quality, a sign of weakness rather than a virtue and a mark of strength. Religious texts calls this quality; a virtue but it seems a little old fashioned even though it’s a quality that is wholly necessary in this day and age.

The irony is that Our culture (in this age)  places so much value on external accomplishments, appearance, and self-aggrandizement—all things that are ephemeral at best—that even a small display of this quiet virtue can make one feel betrayed. Scientist has begun to uncover the importance of this quality in humans and their well-being. These discoveries correlate with why it is deeply revered by all spiritual traditions that many consider it to be the mother of all virtues.

Humility grounds one’s worth in our intrinsic value as human beings rather than ephemeral things such as six-figure salaries or the glory in controlling people or climbing the corporate ladder or the number of friends on Facebook or number of followers on instagram and twitter. Instead, humble people place high value on more meaningful things that benefit others, such as noble qualities. A humble person subconsciously nurture’s the growth mindset because humility is an asset for self-improvement. Humble persons perceive life as a school, recognizing that while they are good enough, no one (including themselves) is perfect. They know too well that we can, without negatively impacting our self-esteem, work on our limitations by being open to new ideas, advice, criticism, and development. Hence they live daily not only as experts but students as well. When one lacks the ability to see his or her own weaknesses, such will never be able to reach their full potential, because life is a never-ending journey of growth and learning. Pride robs a person of their ability to achieve great feats.

This ability alone cultivates an awe-inspiring inner strength, the most powerful example of which Gandhi, famously said, “I claim to be a simple individual liable to err like any other fellow mortal. I own, however, that I have humility enough to confess my errors and to retrace my steps.” If Gandhi is an example of what a humble leader can accomplish, then society serves to benefit from this kind of leadership. The benefits of humility extend from leadership to relationship and the individual. As such, a neighbour, friend, colleague, associate will also benefit from a humble relationship. This is because humble people are less likely to act aggressively, manipulate others, express dishonesty, think only of themselves and destroy resources. Instead, they take responsibility for and correct their mistakes, handle stress more effectively, listen to ideas from others, report higher levels of physical and mental well-being and keep their abilities in humble perspective. 

Our world today is ravaged by the quest for fame, wealth, influence and power as many has confused these for the hall mark of success. Indeed, these and more form the platform for which one gains relevance in our present day society. However, it is the bed rock for which a person can come in contact with leadership of whatever category or kind. This is to say any one with a certain degree of relevance to whatever socio class has become a leader. You know, I was only three years old when that teacher began to give me the impression that I was born to be a leader. Anytime I heard an authority in school call us leaders, they always said it with enthusiasm and passion like they spoke of destiny. As we climbed the ladder of elementary school, some became our leaders as class captains (monitors), group leaders  for some assignments and others were priviledged to lead not just the class but the school as school prefects. Wow! Leadership had begun one way or the other. The question is “For this long, have I been a leader? Do I understand leadership?”

The bitter truth is almost everyone occupies the position of leadership irrespective of the age, class and status. There are many leaders particularly of families, peer groups, class rooms, chat rooms, communities, and so on who do not know that they are leaders. Some however know it but do not conform to it because their sphere of leadership is not worth seen so. There are still a few who are in the highly esteemed leadership positions but cannot be great and successful leaders just yet. While leadership is a gradual process that ought to be learnt, life affords us the opportunity to lead a few times before we learn the art of leadership and become successful leaders. For this reason, I will say it is no fault if in time past one had failed first as a person and second as a leader. However, in the words of the revolutionary leader, Nelson Mandela “As I have said, the first thing is to be honest with yourself. You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself…Great peacemakers are all people of integrity, of honesty, and humility”. No matter what form of leadership, there only can be profitability when such leadership is in servant hood (service) and humility. This is exactly what the scheme (NYSC) seeks to achieve in every youth.

I will conclude by encouraging that you  put on humilty in the discharge of duty for it is profiting to you and the people around you. As the scottist writer  Alison, L. Kennedy puts it, “Have more humility. Remember you don't know the limits of your own abilities. Successful or not, if you keep pushing beyond yourself, you will enrich your own life--and maybe even please a few strangers.”

ABOUT THE WRITER 

NAME: Akor Eneojo M.

STATE CODE: OS/19B/3878

Graduate of microbiology from Kogi State University.