Inspirational Leadership with Sam Adeyemi




Yesterday, I was at EVOLE 2019 where Nigeria’s foremost ‘Leadership Apostle,’ Dr. Sam Adeyemi, shared some amazing truths about leadership, especially as it relates to self-transformation and national development, using three striking illustrations.

First, he illustrated leadership by a man standing in front of another. Then he goes on to note that if they both remain at the same spot for a long time, it would be wrong to say that the man at the front was leading the one at the back. The leadership of the man in front would only be validated if he had walked a distance forward, leading the man at the back to take some steps forward too. From that illustration, Dr Adeyemi established that the essence of leadership is the management of the change process.

Next, he recalled a humorous story told by the renowned Ghanaian preacher, Dr Mensah Otabil. Years ago, while driving in Accra, Dr Otabil got stuck in a terrible traffic. Overwhelmed by the appalling situation, he decided to follow a taxi driver who was taking another lane, perhaps, even a wrong one, with the belief that ‘taxi drivers know the shortcuts.’ However, some minutes later, the taxi driver packed his car in front of his house and Dr. Otabil became stranded. The driver was just doing his thing, not knowing that someone was following him.

From this story, Dr Adeyemi drew a note of caution to leaders: be careful what you do; you don’t know who is watching. “There is no leadership without inspiration,” he stated further, “Someone has to look at your life and learn what is impossible. This spark of inspiration comes by how you respond to your circumstances.”

Then he buttressed that statement with how David handled his tough circumstances on his way to enthronement. Although David had two perfect opportunities to kill Saul who was after his life for selfish reasons, he refused to take advantage of any. Had David killed Saul that day, he would have established a pattern that would permit his soldiers to kill him in the future, believing that that was the right way to take power and establish leadership.

Today, tomorrow and always, you must remember that your action, behaviours and attitudes are influencing people, consciously or otherwise. And your example empowers others to release their potentials, positively or negatively. Be wise, use your influence well; lead rightly.

To your greatness

Bright UK
The Chief Scribe

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