INTELLIGENT LEADERSHIP FOR MANAGERS

The uniqueness of man is shown in his special nature of intelligence, appetition, knowledge and discernment . Man is also spiritual in nature. Each person has a divine calling / purpose hence man’s dignity is established. In this sense, as managers, we should not view human beings as an animal or asset that will respond in certain ways when certain things are done. Rather, we should respect man’s power of free choice and treat all men as equal. We should also develop the right emotions To develop, we need we need to instil the following (four) main virtues;

• Prudence: practical wisdom to make the right decision.
• Justice: fair treatment and respect of all for what they deserve.
• Fortitude: Persistence in the face of challenges.
• Temperance: self-control and discipline.

We can acquire these virtues by consistently choosing to act the right way by making the right choices. As managers, we should also realize that the most important management development happens on the job – by the choices we make. We should therefore exercise all four virtues and also avoid biases in decision making. As a leader we should select persons who share similar values and preferences and proceed to lead by empathy and understanding Leadership goes beyond merely being the head of a particular group or nation. A leader is that person who has the ability to positively influence the lives of people. In this regard, the Five (5) Cs of leadership are:

• Chance: Creating and finding the opportunity to leave an impact.
• Clarity: Having a clear picture of what you seek to achieve.
• Craze: Relates to being passionate about reaching your end-goal above.
• Courage: to keep going even when the realities seem to negate our dream / purpose.
• Considerate: to ensure that the pursuit of our vision (no matter how positive it may seem) does not negatively affect other stakeholders.

A leader is therefore someone who has a dream and vision of the future and drives people towards that positive side. A leader is one who adheres to the Aristotelian view of life that; one has to first know oneself and then strive for greatness. This can be achieved through prudence, magnanimity and self-control. “Virtue” is doing the right thing at the right time whether or not we like it. In shorter terms, we have to do what we have to do. A virtuous person is an excellent human being and a leader has to be virtuous. Notable guides in this regard are:

• Seek the safety and security of your team.
• Earn the trust of your team.
• Lead by example.
• Be fair but firm.
• Delegate tasks where possible.
• Learn from the process and the experience.
• Have a plan / vision and communicate same to your team.
• Be empathetic.
• Be ready to think on your feet.
• Do not be afraid to explore and innovate.

As a leader, our greatest target should be to leave a positive impact on the lives of the people we lead.