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THE THOUGHT DIMENSION OF LEADERSHIP

“Man is not what he thinks he is – but what he thinks, he is.” -Elbert Hubbard

The process of creation of any form of reality begins, first, as a thought. Architects understand this very well that every building begins as a thought. Here is the deal, If you can think it, you can achieve. The same is true in leadership. As a pioneer leader, your constant thoughts will eventually become your reality, which shapes the environment for the entire leadership team to play their games.

Furthermore, the reality of your leadership is contingent upon your consistent thought pattern, which is transferrable to the people you are leading in such a way that if you think anything is possible, they will think so, and if you think otherwise, they will too.

Reading the Ancient Book, I saw a story that best fits this paradigm. The story had it that a king was faced with a giant, and instead of confronting this giant, he rather thought it was impossible for him, and consequently, his entire army succumbed to his thoughts. The account goes thus:

“Goliath stood there and called out to the Israelite troops, "Why bother using your whole army? Am I not Philistine enough for you? And you're all committed to Saul, aren't you? So, pick your best fighter and pit him against me. If he gets the upper hand and kills me, the Philistines will all become your slaves. But if I get the upper hand and kill him, you'll all become our slaves and serve us. I challenge the troops of Israel this day. Give me a man. Let us fight it out together!" When Saul and his troops heard the Philistine's challenge, they were terrified and lost all hope.” -Samuel.

I had said in my previous essays that you are a leader because you know what to do, when to do it, why to do it and how to do it in leading yourself and the people from point A to B within a record time in actualizing the leadership purpose. But here, it appears that the pioneer leader, Saul, thought that it was an impossible act to bring down the giant, and his thoughts affected the entire team players. And for 40 days, they thought they were not able until another pioneer leader who has not been under the thought paradigm of Saul, showed up. David thought differently, and according to the story, thus:

“David was up at the crack of dawn and, having arranged for someone to tend his flock, took the food and was on his way just as Jesse had directed him. He arrived at the camp just as the army was moving into battle formation, shouting the war cry. Israel and the Philistines moved into position, facing each other, battle-ready. David left his bundles of food in the care of a sentry, ran to the troops who were deployed, and greeted his brothers. While they were talking together, the Philistine champion, Goliath of Gath, stepped out from the front lines of the Philistines, and gave his usual challenge. David heard him. The Israelites, to a man, fell back the moment they saw the giant — totally frightened. -Samuel.

Once you think that you are not able, you are not able, and that is why pioneer leaders must take care not to exude thoughts that suggest to the entire leadership team to begin to nurse the ideas that achieving the leadership vision is impossible.

David thought it differently and said to Saul, "Master," don't give up hope. I'm ready to go and fight this Philistine."

If you fail at the level of thought in your leadership administration, you will inadvertently fail in leading the team towards actualizing the leadership vision and purpose. Nothing is impossible unless the pioneer leader thinks it is. However, Napoleon Hill, in his classic, Think and Grow Rich, posited that "thoughts are things" and almost visible to the followers to take a cue from. If you will succeed, and you would, only if you think you are able, no matter the challenge that comes.

There is no project that you and your team cannot handle only if you can think it is possible. You are always a thought away from winning and achieving your leadership dreams.

Elvis C. Umez
Leadership Consultant
IDB Consult

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