African leaders: Have they forgotten their responsibilities as leaders?
BY ERIC ONYEBUCHI
I begin this article by defining democratic leadership as the government of the people by the people participating in the governance of their territory of given areas. (Thus, in my opinion), the democratic leadership style is a very open and collegial style of running a team.
Ideas move freely amongst the group and are discussed openly. Everyone is given a seat at the table, and discussion is relatively free-flowing. The democratic leadership style is essentially a mode of leadership that is found in participative management and human resources theory.
This article will seek to explore the essence of democratic leadership and will, among other things, outline the advantages of democratic leadership, the disadvantages of democratic leadership, and the function of the democratic leadership council and provide democratic leadership.
The definition of democratic leadership from an organizational standpoint involves the redistribution of authority and power between managers and employees to provide employee involvement in the process of decision making.
This style is needed in dynamic and rapidly changing environments where very little can be taken as a constant. In these fast-moving organizations, every option for improvement has to be considered to keep the group from falling out of date in Africa to keep the continent in order.
The democratic leadership style means facilitating the conversation, encouraging people to share their ideas and then synthesizing all the available information into the best possible decision. The democratic leader must also be able to communicate that decision back to the group to bring unity the plan is chosen.
In Africa, this is very vital in order to put the region in first-class government so that people of the region will participate fully in leadership and will enable to checkmate corruption more the leaders of Africa nation.
When situations change frequently, democratic leadership offers a great deal of flexibility to adapt to better ways of doing things. Unfortunately, it is also somewhat slow to make a decision in this structure, so while it may embrace newer and better methods; it might not do so very quickly.
A democratic leadership style can bring the best out of an experienced and professional team. It capitalizes on their skills and talents by letting them share their views, rather than simply expecting them to conform and also it can destroy corruption in Africa leadership.
If a decision is very complex and broad, it is important to
have the different areas of expertise represented and contributing input – this
is where democratic leader shines and will bring wise men to rule Africa not
this milked brain leader that has been used by white corrupt and selfish
colonial masters to steal our natural resources to white men land.
Therefore, if we the African people have good complex and broad leaders in
Africa region this corruption in Africa would have been things of
the past, Africa will be for what God naturally made it for, Africa by
nature is a cultured place where norm and value both respect and sincerity is
our nature in our blood corruption is not part of us.
Good fit for Africa Democratic Leadership:
- Creative groups (advertising, design): ideas need to flow in creative environments to find creative new concepts and designs.
- Consulting: when paid to explore problems and find solutions, your role will be to explore the possibilities in-depth, and that means there has to be a great deal of exploration and open discussion.
- Much of the Service industry: new ideas allow for more flexibility in changing customer demands.
- Education: few places need to be open to different ideas than education, both by educators and their students.
MERIT OF Democratic Leadership:
- Creative groups (advertising, design): ideas need to flow in creative environments to find creative new concepts and designs.
- Consulting: when paid to explore problems and find solutions, your role will be to explore the possibilities in-depth, and that means there has to be a great deal of exploration and open discussion.
- Much of the Service industry: new ideas allow for more flexibility to changing citizens' demands.
- Education: few places need to be open to different ideas than education, both by educators and their students.
How to be effective in this position:
- Keep communication open: If the marketplace of ideas is going to be open for business, everyone needs to feel comfortable enough to put their ideas on the table. The democratic leadership style thrives when all the considerations are laid out for everyone to examine.
- Focus the discussion: It’s hard to keep an unstructured discussion productive. It’s the leader’s job to balance being open to ideas and keeping everything on-topic. If the conversation begins to stray, to remind everybody of the goals on hand and then steer it back. Make sure to take note of off-topic comments and try to return to them when they are pertinent.
- Be ready to commit: In the democratic leadership style, you get presented with so many possibilities and suggestions that it can be overwhelming and difficult to commit. But as the leader, when the time comes, you have to choose and do so with conviction. The team depends on the clear and unambiguous mandates to be committed.
- Respect the ideas: You and your team might not agree with every idea, and that’s ok. It is important, however, that you create a healthy environment where those ideas are entertained and considered --not maligned-- or the flow of ideas will slow to a trickle.
- Explain, but don’t apologize: You want the advocates of the solutions that were not selected to understand that their thoughts were considered and had validity, but that ultimately you had strong reasons to go a different direction. It’s important that the decision is communicated, but you should not apologize for deciding on what you think is the right decision.
DEMERIT OF DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP
Democratic leadership can sometimes come across as being indecisive, in certain situations, especially during a crisis, leaders must be very directive and democratic leaders do not function well in an authoritarian role, in the midst of a crisis, no time is usually available to address everyone concerned.
The problems of Africa leaders
One of the problems I found out in Africa leaders in the region is the selfishness of our leaders in which many of them want to acquire all the wealth of their nation and also cage their citizens in a mess of poverty, this poverty makes the citizens turn their slave which they used anyhow they want.
Even during election whether the citizens' vote or not they will still manipulate themselves to the sit or government power, the case of Nigeria 2002. Many other Africa countries are in the same mess as Togo, South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda and so on.
Most Africa leaders are highly corrupt in all areas both monetary and misuse of power while in office and many government establishments are corrupt, for instance, if you look for employment in the government established industries you will not secure it without bribery.
Sometimes the white leaders team up with corrupt people in Africa to lead Africa nations in order to manipulate Africa resources and invent diseases into Africa. In Nigeria, 2015, ex-president Goodluck Jonathan was a force out office via America cabals, that's the reason Nigeria is in mess now on her economy and other security challenges.
I think African leaders should stop relying on white leaders for the development of the Africa region and use what they have to get any kind of development they want in their nations, it is high time Africa leaders look inward to develop their regions.
Africa is blessed with human and material resources to develop their regions because development started in Africa, Africans think back because there is a saying in my place that said that if you did not know where you are coming from you will not know where you are going, let Africa leaders practice what they preach to their citizens.
Africans arise and say no to corrupt Africa leaders and let us build a united Africa nation and fight against corruption. Africa leaders have to use Africans to develop Africa because our land is really blessed with human power, resources, and intellectuals to handle Africa's developmental problems both in humans and technologies to derive Africa great.
Africans most stop collecting money before you vote for election so that they will bring good leaders that have their citizens at heart and leaders with lion heart to face the white leaders. We need to establish a union or group that will train young Africans that will take over leadership in the region of Africa.
Africans should look for a way to give scholarships to Africa citizens to study the history of Africa and Africa's oldest style of leadership within Africa universities and outside some country of Africa history. Our thinking toward fellow Africans needed to change their negative attitudes toward each other in spite of where we come from or the tribe we belong in order to achieve collective goals and results.
The negative perception of African leaders needs to change to a better life of Africans as citizens and leaders should truly face leadership trends in the region in order to bring out the best in Africa nations. Black is gold. Black is always brother’s keeper right from history.
One of the problems I found out in Africa leaders in the region is the selfishness of our leaders in which many of them want to acquire all the wealth of their nation and also cage their citizens in a mess of poverty, this poverty make the citizens turn to their slave which they used anyhow they want . please read it now, (it was an error of commission)
Biography of the writer Eric Onyebuchi
Eric Onyebuchi was born in Lagos State and after his father falls sick, he relocated to a small village called Effium, in Ebonyi State Nigeria on December 6, 1984. He went to community center school from 1991 to1996, after which he attended Effium high school from 1996/97 till 2002.
In 2004, he received his certificate from the National Examination Council (NECO) at Community Secondary School Mbeekeishieke, for his senior school certificate in Ebonyi State.
Although Eric Onyebuchi is a friendly and happy person he became a 'drop-out' of school because his national certificate in 'Business Administration and Management' was withheld due to unpaid school fees. Due to this incident, he didn't get admission into the Federal Polytechnics Oko Anambra State Nigeria.
Notwithstanding, he urgently wants to be admitted, after collection of his certificate, he would like to obtain his Bachelor's on economics so that he will move into politics. That's Eric's dream when he walks on that small community road in Oko Anambra State.
The road he used to walk on for brainstorming and writing some of his heart warm quotes. Eric is the eldest boy of two boys from hardworking parents who try to deal with every difficult life with one main goal only; 'To educate their children.'
After his father, who was a factory worker in Lagos, fell sick and lost his work because of his illness, Eric moved to his village.
Through the help of his mother who was a farmer in the village, and the love a mother has for her child Eric had a successful education.
Eric started some little jobs to enroll in polytechnic. In fact, life wasn't easy for him but his dream to become a Nigerian leader one day to fight corruption never disappeared. His questions are: “Why are African leaders not ready to develop Africa? Again, “Why corruption became such a criminal part of the politicians' blood?”
Therefore Eric's dream to cope with widespread corruption throughout Africa still stands tall in his heart because of his background. Besides that, can an empty stomach go to war without food?
In 2008, Eric went to work with 'Chinees Facility Company' in Ikorodu Lagos State, before enrolling in federal polytechnics in Oko Anambra State Nigeria.
At this very moment, he is managing a little business in order to get his national degree in 'Business Administration and Management'.
Eric Onyebuchi's belief in 'Oneness Forever' never left him. He is convinced that God is black from the beginning and the ultimate fact that civilization started from Africa strengthens him.
Yes, GOD started His work in Africa, and together with Him, he believes in making Africa great and forever green. His thoughts about the fact that evil white men do not want to see Africa's progress, is at foremost necessary to form a group around African nations in order to work together.
African nations have to find a way to get together because the 'Oneness of African leaders' will be the ultimate weapon that can and will be used to fight this corruptive African mess without the interference of white rulers.
And Eric Onyebuchi wants to be one of those newborn African leaders. The view of these NEO African leaders has to change Africa towards a prospective life of Africans as world citizens. Leaders should truly face leadership trends in the regions in order to bring out the best to Africa nations.
Black is gold and Black, with a capital letter, is always brother’s keeper right from history and it isn't a coincidence that GOD started His work in Africa by creating black from the same ultimate beginning of mankind.
Yes, Eric Onyebuchi from Nigeria West Africa is a great and proud son of that spiritual African soil. His belief in himself and what God will use him to do in the world inspires him. Eric never will surrender no matter how tough roads look like, he will fight on.
It is his goal to make the circle round for the African future of the African youth and bringing the continent to the top of among the continents.
Eric Onyebuchi's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/eric.onyebuchi.5