Christian Business Leaders – Page 4

Leadership, Management Dilemma (II)

Posted on March 6, 2014March 6, 2014 by Josh

By Okello Okello

” You have touched on some good concepts here. Leaders must not just wield power,but place the bulk of the responsibility on themselves. While we need to share responsibility with our teams, the leader must shoulder the responsibility to ensure teams are provided with the information, tools, and guidance necessary to be successful. Individuals should be shown that their contributions are valued and learning from failure should be encouraged “ (Lizstincellis’s comment on my blog post).

Entrepreneurs are people who understand that there is a little difference between obstacles and opportunities and are able to turn both to their advantage. This needs strong leadership skills. “The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him” (Niccolo Machiavelli). As a leader, you always want your name to be clean at all times and at all costs. Guarding your reputation builds your credibility and trust therefore remember that you are not only protecting your name but your brand as well. As a leader you should;

1. Build Alliances

Leadership and management of all kinds has got bits of politics in it. Politics as much as it has been defined as a dirty game, game of numbers or power struggle. To digress from these definitions, let us focus on business politics as a strategic move to form undefeated alliances. Successful leaders talk to great people, men of wisdom, the experienced and people they look into as mentors. In my last posts, I have mentioned the importance of having mentors and these are some of the simple actions that can propel you and your team to higher levels.

No politicians does it a lone and they will always merge into parties or bring parties together to form strong coalitions to defeat their rivals. As a leader, you gain a lot forming coalitions with experienced people. It is all about learning, copying and advancing what other people have done. Yes you might be having great ideas but you cannot stand a lone. You need people and therefore, take your time and listen to the lowest person holding the lowest rank in your organization. They are also part of the alliance and they might bring valuable information to you.

2. Be Ready to Serve.

Kyle is one of my best friend who has served in the army and it has become part of him that as a leader, he serves those under him first. He puts them ahead of everything including when it come’s to simple things like serving meals. Since this has been part of him for so long, he is nowadays extending it involuntarily to everybody everywhere he is. This is one major discipline in the forces and if something that leaders and managers should imitate from our boys in uniform, then it should be the heart of servant-hood.

To those of us who are Christians, the bible says “Each one of us should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms,” (1 Peter 4:10). It logically follows then that if you are gifted in leadership, then you should use it to serve others. In a deductive argument, I would put it this way;

Leadership is a gift from God.
Leadership is one way of ministering God’s grace to people
Serving others is a way of using our gifts for Gods glory
therefore leaders can use their positions to glorify God through stewardship.

The world needs servant leaders therefore try and be one.

3. Risks

Entrepreneurs and leaders are known for their risk taking capabilities. This is actually one of the most important characteristics of all business people. The ability to expose their valuables to danger, harm and or loss. Since entrepreneurship is all about increasing your NPV (Net Present Value) and always keeping it positive, it is worth doing your calculations right before you try out a new idea. Plan every step and act with a lot of boldness. What this means is that you should eliminate unnecessary risks in your business life.

4. Mind the two extremes.

As a leader, you should be both a manager and a friend. Never cross the boundaries and never offend the wrong person. You do not want to appear too bossy because then you will be scaring people away. As a manager, you want to build a harmonized team that brews the best chemistry at work.

As a leader, you should also be a friend of many, your employees or people under your leadership should be in a position to see you as a man of wisdom whom they can freely walk into and ask for help. Design a way that works for you and always let your people know that you are the leader. Remember to be a servant leader. You definitely need respect from your team therefore be willing to show respect to them too. Respect and attention are two of the virtues that can be afforded by any body, pay attention and attention will pay you back.

By this time, you probably understand that leadership challenges come in pairs and the decision you take is not important. What is important is living with the standards that come with the decision you make. What comes after the decision is what is important. For more of this check our leadership and management Dilemma series posts.

Please if you find this blog informative, share it on your social media, comment, follow, favorite and let other people learn from it too. That is the spirit of entrepreneurship. We are here to support each other. No one knows everything that is why we share, exchange and learn from one another. God bless you.

Leadership, Management Dilemma (I)

Posted on March 5, 2014March 6, 2014 by Josh

By Okello Okello.

Should a manager lead? or should a leader manage? I am generally speaking about management, not specifics such as micro or macro management. Leadership is one of the tightest ropes to walk in life and the balance it needs is more than you can imagine. Most CEO’s in organizations always get mixed up by the myriads of roles that come simultaneously under their titles. This post is going to extract and display some of the greatest dilemma that most leaders go through knowingly and or unknowingly.

1. Power and Responsibility

Of cause leadership automatically puts you in power and most leaders always find it a challenge to differentiate power and responsibility. This is also where leaders start to use their responsibilities despotically and the result is always a devastated team. Leaders should know that they are in a delicate position and everything they do and say is keenly being monitored by those under him or her.

As a leader, first you should learn your responsibilities. Once again, learn your responsibilities before you exercise power over anybody. Know your limits, understand your people and know how much pressure you have to mount on your team otherwise you are bringing more harm to your team and to the organization.

2. Give Incentives

Every Good Worker Deserves Favour! Always reward your best performers and remember to discipline your non performers but remember to do it with love. Give them second chances and be polite especially when dealing with failures. It is not a must that the incentives must be in currency form but even thanking your team can mean much to them and can be a source of motivation to a lot of people.

Take your team out for lunch, order pizza online and celebrate victory, give your team a half a day break to show them that you are concerned and appreciate the quality of work they do.

3. Dealing with Failures

You are having angry customers who are unsatisfied by the work your team has done. You have called your team in a board room and they can read tension on your face. Their heart is racing and their faces can read that “At the end of this meeting, one person must be fired!” Dealing with failures is more like giving incentives only that instead of giving tangible rewards, you are going to educate your team instead.

Please remember that we are not equal. Some are more gifted than others and for them to make it to your company, they have shown some wisdom or strengths that you wanted to tap into. Therefore, avoid calling names and do not shout. Self control is more than important in this case. If someone fails, always remember to give them a second chance. Nothing inspires people like telling a failure that they can do it. Be ready to show them the way, that is why you are a leader and not just an employee.

You are dealing and handling someone else future, therefore take a lot of caution on what you say. Encourage them and never set your hands flying in disgust. Show love, motivate and encourage non performers in your company and if the same problem continues then shuffle your staff, maybe they are the right people in the wrong seats. Always remind them of their calling and educate them to be great performers.

4. Change Top-Down

It starts with you! Yes as a leader, you should be a role model to people not a scare-craw. Mind your language and treat people with respect. It does not cost a penny to pay respect yet it rewards more than the revenues you can earn. Simple rule, “The Golden Rule.” In “Our Lords Prayer,” there is a line that says “forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespasses against us,” This should be a leaders prayer at all times. Learn to forgive, and change your self before the team you are leading change for the better. And always remember that “True transformation only comes from God” (Unknown).

Entrepreneur Taxonomy

Posted on March 4, 2014March 6, 2014 by Josh

By Okello Okello

Taxonomy is the science of elucidating groups of biological organisms on the basis of shared facets and rendering nomenclature to those groups. In this post, I am going to classify entrepreneurs as a special group of species homo-sapiens-sapiens. This is not to say that entrepreneurs are of different species from any other human being but they hold distinctive characteristics that set them apart from all else.

Some have called them weirdo’s, they are always in their own world, they like to cause chaos, they can be authoritative, and never give up. Entrepreneurs like to go against the currents and are great risk takers. They have faith in their efforts but plan before they leap. Strategy is always their main tool, they slip but never fall even if they fail in a particular area, they understand that failure is part of success, but some of the unusual traits that most entrepreneurs share in common include;

1. Status Quo

Entrepreneurs delete these two words in their dictionary. They always go against currents and nothing can stop them from going for their vision. Once they set up their minds in achieving something, they will go for it even if there are tough barriers of entry. The ability to start a business is by itself against so many statistical facts. It is also good to point out that entrepreneurs who are value driven tend to perform better than the profit driven. Since there are no definitive features to qualify these people as specie of their own, this qualifies everybody to be a potential entrepreneur only that some differ at the degree of resilience and persistence.

2. Tenacity

This is the ability to grip something firmly for so long before you let go. Entrepreneurs can hold an idea for so long before they let it slip off their hands. Mostly they are never worried of time it takes before they see their dreams come true. Tenacity drives them in tough economic times and since they understand the sinusoidal market behavior, they can predict light at the end of the tunnel.

3. Self-Belief.

As the name suggest, to be an entrepreneur you must have self confidence and believe in your self before anybody else believes in you. “Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve” (unknown). Most entrepreneurs believe in themselves and their potentials. After all, it is never wrong to try, if you are trying the right thing. “It is only when you hitch yourself to something greater than you that you realize your true potentials” (Barack Obama).

4. Duo-Contemplation

Duo-contemplation is a word that I coined after being in strategic management for over two years. It is the ability to match two contrasting ideas in preparation to any unforeseen occurrences. Most entrepreneurs do not have this mentality and the single line of thought makes it very hard for organizations to bounce back in the market in case of any contradicting happenings. Successful entrepreneurs never take one side of thought and ride with it, they look at all facades and calculate a tentative solution for both. This elevates their management skills at all times.

4. Design a Master Piece.

Leonardo daVinci is crowned for his master piece Monalisa, Michelangelo contender for the title of the archetypal Renaissance man, also rival of Italian Leonardo da Vinci is known for his master piece Pieta. In recent years, Martin Luther King junior was known for his phrase “I have a Dream,” Barack Obama was propelled to presidency of the United States of America by a simple phrase “Yes We Can.” These are master pieces that were crafted by the artists themselves. Successful entrepreneurs develop master pieces, things that make them standout and unique. These are also ideas that later down in history are considered to have revolutionized an age. As an entrepreneur develop your own master piece.

Entrepreneurs are few in numbers, though through technological advancements and a paradigm shift that has happened in the work force globally, there has been a rise in the number of people who start their own businesses. Question to you; Are you falling under the classification of entrepreneurs? Yes You Can!

Why be King if you can be god?

Posted on February 24, 2014February 24, 2014 by Josh

By Okello Okello

This is probably one of my most controversial writings I have ever done but before you judge this post by reading the headline, I would like to make it clear that I am a theist, who fully believes in Jesus Christ, I am a pro-life and an apologist. Then what prompted me to talk of being a king if you can be god? The point I am putting across is that there is always a space for improvement and as an entrepreneur it is even better to go for nothing less. Dream big!

Over the years, most kings were worshiped, adored and held higher ranks in the community. Some kings also pledged allegiance to gods of their time and in my view this makes gods above all else. Let me repeat again that when I talk about gods I do not mean the God of heaven and earth the maker of the universe and all that is in it. I am talking symbolically about holding higher ranks in a business community. Is there anything that entrepreneurs can learn from this?

One of the greatest rappers of our time, “Eminem” released a song referring himself as a “rap god“. Yes I think he is right to call himself “rap god” as long as he does not mean that he is holding a position of equal ranks to God of heaven. Now for the rest of this article when I talk about being a god, take it as a way of being ahead of your competitors and nothing spiritual. At the end of the song, Eminem asks, “Why be a king if you can be god?”

As an entrepreneur, there is always a room to start feeling like an “entrepreneur god“. You are more than you can imagine. Entrepreneurs are creative people who dream big and as I always say, “go big or go bigger.” The same applies, switching from a king to a god in the market place is the best way of flexing your entrepreneurial muscles over all your competitors.

As much as I do not believe in competition with business rivals, go for what you do best and expand it to more elevated grounds. For a successful transition from a king to a god, an entrepreneur should have a grand plan or a blue print of his/her projects. Do your calculations and reach a solution before you implement them.

Most entrepreneurs start by drawing their goals then walking their way backwards to where the grand plan starts. Having a strategic plan will will help you develop a systematic approach of reaching your targets. Planning ahead of time takes away the idea of improvising along the way as it can distract away from the master plan. Always cause ripples but never waste your time stopping unnecessary waves. What I mean is, come up with a step by step plan that covers all the challenges along the way and be ready to tackle them within the shortest period of time possible.

Bob Gernon, a friend of mine, a professor and a successful business consultant on his strategic plan talks of Goals, Objectives, Strategies and Tactics (GOST). To be a god you must have a GOST. Goals are the immeasurable achievements that you want to attain in your organization, Objectives are the measurable end products of why you are planning, strategies are what needs to be done to get your objectives right and lastly tactics are what you have to do to get the results you want.

You are in business because you want to be a god, so stop thinking like a king and act like a god for you to be treated as one. You are the only one who is standing on your way to success so stop being a king and act like a god. After all, why be a king if you can be a god?

Please if you found this blog helpful, share it on your social media, follow, favorite and let other people learn from it too. That is the spirit of entrepreneurship. We are here to support each other. No one knows everything that is why we share, exchange and learn from one another. God bless you.

Leadership & Investment

Posted on February 14, 2014February 14, 2014 by Josh

By Okello Okello

Some of the factors that determine our financial planning include; age, personality, education, experience, health and family status. But what exactly does it take to build a financial empire? The simple answer to investment success is strategic planning and discipline.

1. When planning, one needs to think of realistic goals.

Financial planning must have short term, intermediate and long term goals. This is where you ask yourself why you want to be financially stable and once that question is answered, you can build a pyramid of reasons of what to do with the invested money. It is always good to plan to spend otherwise use money to get money will be rendered a dysfunctional statement.

2. Reward comes at a greater risk.

All entrepreneurs know and believe that success is not for the faint heart but for the bold who are willing to take the bull by its horns. Business is about how well you can handle shock in the market and how you can cope with failures. People always think of financial risks at first but risks covered here extends to even individuals reputation. To paraphrase from Nicolo Machiaveli, “reputation must be guarded at all costs.” Risk in business according to my definition will be any attempt that leads to the kind of disgrace that could precipitate a fall from power.

3. Go for Value not quantity.

This is a great challenge to almost all consumers; often times we tend to skew our emotions and satisfaction towards abundance and forget about the value we get. Let me give an example with a daily stock trader who makes decision out of greedy and self centered-ness. His goal is to gain all at the end of the day but real investors go for value. Always remember never to trade stocks but to invest in companies.

4. Investment is a philosophy, study it.

Investment Philosophy is the critical study of the basic principles and concepts of appreciation in value and market knowledge, especially with a view to improving or reconstituting them. Investment therefore needs a thorough research, study and plan. To start-up businesses this process is covered in the business plan or in the marketing plans either knowingly or unknowingly.

5. God first.

Psalms 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. It is easy to do our financial plans and work hard towards achieving our dream and forget about God in the equation. For a moral and ethical business, God plays a greater role in giving direction, a day of rest away from the busy work we do every week. Put God first, and start your financial plan today.

Leadership Challenges & their Solutions

Posted on February 14, 2014February 14, 2014 by Josh

By Okello Okello

Welcome to Silicon Valley! This is where entrepreneurs, start-ups, and stable businesses show their abilities to go against all the market odds to be on top. I presume that you are on this page, reading this blog because either; a). You are a start-up business man or an entrepreneur or b). You are running a stable business and would like to know more about business leadership. If the former, then you are in the right direction to make it to Silicon Valley, if the latter, then you are on the right page that will show you how to boost your revenues, net margins and efficiency.

As a founder and Executive Director of a registered International Not-for-Profit organization for over 5 years now, I have met the normal business hurdles that every entrepreneur meet especially as a start up and this is also the stage where most entrepreneurs fold their tents, throw in the towel, give up or any other phrase you can think of that applies. Patience they say is a virtue, but you do not want to be over patient when it comes to business. Stir up the waters, cause ripples, get to know your competitors, and always be a head of them but always never be the first person to launch a new idea. As an entrepreneur, you have either met these challenges or you are yet to meet them and I hope this blog will help you navigate the ordinary challenges every business person meets out there.

1. Stay on the Acceleration Line. Have you ever asked yourself why the acceleration line joining a highway is long enough to get you to a maximum speed of over 90km/hr? The reason is, they want to reduce the number of accidents and inconveniences that come with people joining a highway at a low speed. The same applies when you are starting a business, give your self enough time to hit the maximum required speed. Most entrepreneurs think that they are going to make their first million immediately they launch their business. I am not saying it is impossible, but it is always very hard to get to that level.

Therefore, make sure you have enough funds and resources to pull you through your first months if not years you are starting. Give yourself a minimum of 6 months without any income when you are a start-up since nobody is going to buy your product or service the very first time you launch it. Never be discouraged. Keep holding firmly until you start seeing the revenues then hold even tighter.

2. Network. If you’ve been keen on my posts, you will realize that I talk a lot about networking. In business world, you need people! Can you remember one of the 5Ps in your marketing mix? Yes People! You need them. One of the oldest puns put it this way, “birds of the same feathers flock together”. Network with like-minded people, listen carefully to advises they give you, involve them in your strategies, have a business mentor, ask questions and act on everything they say that you think can benefit your business.

Networking is not all about passing your business cards to people in a conference, if it is a one day conference, my advice is, never talk to more than 4 people. Get to know the two or three you are talking to very well, build a connection or a bond. Let them know how your business can help them improve, show interest in their businesses and at the end of your conversation, give them your business cards and then email them in less than 24 hours and let them know how pleased and happy you are to have met them.

3. Be Part of Your Community. Did you know that there is a homeless program in your city? How about that youth rehabilitation center? That church you walk by, that school your nephews go to, check out for volunteer opportunities and you never know who you will meet there. It is also an easy way of connecting with your people. As much as you want to get external support, always work at being accepted at home.

4. Big Heart. Business is about helping people. Use what God has blessed you with to support people who are in need. There are upcoming entrepreneurs who also want to make it in life. Support them. What goes around comes right back around. Be a mentor to young investors or those who aspire to be like you. Share with them ideas including this blog 🙂

5. Prepare for Competition. My principle is, If you cant beat them, then plan to get them beaten. That might sound too ruthless but this is what I mean: Competition should not make you quit the game. Form partnerships, merge with your competitors, follow their foot steps and do what you do best.

6. Social Media. Do you have Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn? If you do not have any of that, know that your potential customers are there and again watch what you say on social media. Do not market there, engage people with your product or service. Be sensitive on what you post, never insult anybody even if they attack you. Remember what Niccolo Machiavelli said? “So much depend on reputation, guard it with your life.” Whatever you post on social media reflects who you are inside. Be nice to your followers and keep them engaged.

8. Speak in Events. Sign up for speaking events and practice your speaking skills. Not all entrepreneurs are good speakers so do not stress if you are not a speaker. All you need to do is to train your brain muscle that you can do it. Take it as a challenge, find at least a place to speak and share your ideas at least once a month. Once you are competent in it, speaking can become your strongest and free marketing tool. Some people earn a living from speaking, you can do it too.

9. Write. Nobody is born a writer, but you have been writing from kindergarten. You really do not have an excuse to say you cannot write. You really do not have to write the wisest blogs or books. Just write! You never know what will be helpful to your readers. I did not think deeply about this blog. Just practice until you nail it.

10. Never Give Up. They say go big or go home. But I say “go big or go bigger.” Never lose hope when it comes to entrepreneurship, be creative and try new things. An idea might not work but if you keep trying, hopefully you will find the one that takes you to another level. It is just a matter of time.

Socratic Leadership

Posted on February 11, 2014February 11, 2014 by Josh

By Okello Okello

Is there anything business leaders can learn from Socrates? If anything then let us first start by getting to know who this man is. Socrates was a classical Greek philosopher who is credited as one of the founders of Western Philosophy. He came to fame through later classical writers most of them his immediate students namely Plato, Aristotle and Xenophon. He (Socrates) is widely known for his contribution in the field of ethics through arguments and self defense that puzzled most of his antagonists.

As an entrepreneur and apologist, I know that business leaders can learn a lot from this great philosopher, from ethics, bargaining, intelligence to reasoning.

1. Piety

Socrates was so pious that he did nothing without the counsel of the gods, so just that he never did an injury to any man. This dependence on God is what most entrepreneurs lack, let me call it Socratic proslogion for now. The ability to have faith in God that all well thought-of ideas can work is a trait that can propel any business to higher levels. A lot of entrepreneurs lose hope so easily and shred their blue prints at early stages when they meet challenges. My advice is, seek counsel from almighty God and he will bless you with faith to believe that you can do it.

2. Temperate

Socrates never preferred pleasure to right. The ability to show moderation and self-restraint is very important when it comes to business. Successful entrepreneurs never do it for money but to change life standards of other people or to solve a need. When you are starting a business, my advice is; never put money first, always think of your customers and the value you are offering them. This is a concept that is very easily forgotten in business today. Accordingly, Socrates practiced temperance and self-denial to a degree which some thought ostentatious and affected

3. Intelligence

Socrates was so intelligent that he could not fault making judgement between what was good and what was evil. As a business leader, the ability to make right judgement is more than important especially in strategic management of any kind. One very successful investor once told me, that it is never wrong to make mistakes but learn from them. His second advice to me was that it is okay to take risks, as long as they are critically thought of and well calculated.

4. Logical

Originating from the Greek word “Logike”, logic has got more than one meaning. a). It describes the use of valid reasoning, b). It is the study of reasoning. Socrates was a logician, who could reason out his thoughts in debates and arguments and that is how he won most of the accusations against him. A business leader should be a person who can reason well, logically and should tell when to quit if statistics do not tally. Business is about value both to the customer and to the entrepreneur and if any side is not gaining then it is time to apply logike.

5. Virtuous

Socrates lived a life full of high moral standards. This could also be the reason why they teach business ethics in schools today. If something is not worth doing then do not it. My principle is; if something is against my moral and ethical standards then however good it is, I will not do it. Above all go to point one and know where the source of all morality comes from. Be pious.

Don’t Block Your Way to Success! (Business Kings)

Posted on January 27, 2014January 27, 2014 by Josh

By Okello Okello

Friday 24^th January 2014 at 9:00am after our Christian Leadership Impact group meeting, I am sitting with Keith Brink in one of the best interviews I have ever done. Keith is a a gold medal business graduate and an entrepreneur from Tyndale University and Seminary College and has an office in Toronto, Downtown dealing with labour outsourcing to entrepreneurs in North America. Keith is also the youngest board member of Succeed Africa Relief Organization, a Not for Profit organization that I founded and recently got approved by Canada Ministry of Government Service. This is how our interview went.

1. As a fellow classmate and business man, we have started so many businesses and most of them have failed terribly, what do you think about our history as entrepreneurs?

Those were the best times and to be precise, I am glad we failed because I learned a lot and I hope you did too. They say experience is the best teacher but if you can learn without experience then go for it but never be the proverbial ostrich that sinks his head in the sand thinking that his body is safe outside. So if you fail, pick up yourself, try and find out why you failed and act on it. Never let your failures block your way to success.

2. We wrote a business proposal to student life of starting a healthy, cheap, and convenient fruit juice business in school, full with delivery in dormitories and staff offices on our second year and it got shut down before we even defended it. Do you think it is fair for entrepreneurs and innovators to be turned down?

It is through some ideas that are considered “crazy,” that the world has changed. I am sure the inventor of light bulb was turned down, laughed at but today, it is the best thing we are having. Most people will turn you down if they see you as a threat of if they think that you have not researched a lot in whatever you are starting. On our case, it is from that disappointment that I learned to do my part well before I share it.

3. You recently hired two managers One Information technology and the other one is charge of operations and I am very proud of you taking that bold step at infant stages of our businesses. What is your main worry with your team as at now?

I am always worried when getting back the reports from them. Did they do the right thing? Did they finish the tasks in time, are our clients happy. Those are some of the things I worry about but generally I am having amazing team who are enthusiastic to learning and growing with the organization.

4. As an entrepreneur, I connect a lot with the points you have mentioned but how do you solve this problem?

The only way to deal with worries is to share your vision with your team. Let them know why you started the business and when hiring, always hire people who are in line with the vision not people who just want to work and get money in return.

Let me split this to you in fractions, 5% of my job is to model the vision. 95% is sharing that vision with people whom it can change. Another thing you need to know or any entrepreneur out there is that people don’t connect with big visions. Keep it simple and actually very simple.

5. So how do you bring people on board with your vision?

Entrepreneurship involves creativity; you do not have to be very formal when you can simply share your vision in a dramatic way. The point is, you want people to think like you do, you want to connect with your customers and team in achieving all the realistic goals you have set, use diagrams, visual gestures and always remember to show it on your face that it can be done. Be jovial and confident about it.

6. As entrepreneurs, we don’t understand everything, so what is your main fear?

There is always more to be done than time you have. Be aware of what you need to do today. Prioritize. Remember; planning is the most important thing yet less practiced by entrepreneurs and it can only result to failure.

7. Parting shot!

It is yourself who gets on your way to success. Always make commitments you cannot break and learn from the masters. I admire a lot Steve Holmes who is also a board member of Tyndale University and Seminary and the CEO of Spring Free Trampoline. He prays to 5 people every day on his way to work. Calls them and leaves them a prayer message on their phones. We cannot do it alone. We need God at all times.

Confrontational Leadership

Posted on January 26, 2014January 26, 2014 by Josh

By Okello Okello

This is not to be confused with arrogance. What I simply mean by confrontational is the ability to oppose or challenge directly the action or authority of someone. I also should make it clear to you that personality contributes a lot when it comes to being a confrontational leader.

Even though most entrepreneurs shy away from this type of leadership, it can mostly benefit the organization if handled with care because there is a very fine line separating it from arrogance. While arrogance holds the intent of superiority and recklessness, confrontation has an intent to question the credibility of an action and how it is benefiting the entire organization.

In my daily life, I do not like confrontations of any kind but one of my business friends, a fellow school mate and an entrepreneur once taught me that it is never wrong to question what is wrong. The only way to bring change is when you highlight what is wrong. This is really difficult and can get messy if you are in partnership or dealing with colleagues who are older, of higher ranks, authoritative and intimidating.

Going by moral ethics and expected office etiquette, no wrong doing should be left unquestioned or else the person seeing it happen also lands himself in the same problem as the doer. However, if you are confronting please make sure that you do it with;

1.Love

Your intention should be to correct the wrongs and be at the same understanding with the wrong doer on the does and don’ts of an organization. Before you speak you should remember these bible verse Proverbs 15:1-2, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. ²The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.”

2. Respect.

It does not cost any penny to pay respect however poor you can be. To be in a work environment, know that you are dealing with a fellow human being and do not put them on the spot where they can feel intimidated. Show respect and it will be shown back to you. It is a two blade sword or just remember that what goes around comes right back around.

3. Considerate.

Once a leader is marked with regards of feelings and needs of others, they can address any issue in the organization with a lot of care and no big problem can go unsolved. Human beings are social animals and just like any other animals, both domesticated and undomesticated, if cornered and can sense danger, all animals react the same and that is to be on the defense. Before they give in to power, they will always try to repel the attacks through anyway possible and this can cause injury and damage to an organization. A considerate leader is a good leader.

4. Wisdom.

I am talking about wisdom not knowledge or skills or any other forms of learned experiences. Wisdom can only come from God and a good leader is one who is anointed to serve with the help from above. Simple things as calling a person a side when you want to address a critical issue in a work environment is way better than shaming them in front of all their juniors or seniors. Seek Wisdom from above and so I say.

Not all leaders need to be confrontational, but just moderate what works for you and nurture it to serve you well. If you are going the confrontational way, then always remember not to cross the line between confrontation and arrogance.