Adebayo Lectures KWASU’s Students on Pathways to Quality Leadership, Success
Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, President and Founder of Royal FM, 95.1Mhz Ilorin has harped on the need for students of Kwara State University, (KWASU) Molete to embrace certain leadership traits, opportunities, engage in skill development, and respond to a set of external circumstances in order to succeed in life.
Adebayo gave chronicles of these qualities, among others while speaking on the topic: ‘Education, Youth Development, Skills and Quality Leadership; Building A Pathway for Better Nigeria’ at the 5th Students Union leadership Summit of Kwara State University, Molete.
Giving a brief about himself, Adebayo said:
“I train as a Telecommunications Engineer and I practice telecommunication, I am the Chief Executive Officers of Communication Network Support Services (CNSSL) a leading telecommunications network building and maintenance company in Nigeria, we have build over 50,000kilometers of terrestrial fibre optics cable network cross Nigeria, and currently maintain a large part of that network, We have developed well over 500 mobile telephone call sites across the country, We construct and built telecom mast and towers and we currently maintain terrestrial infrastructure across Nigeria and up to Niger and Niger Republic.
“We have interest on broadcasting and currently own five Radio Stations across Nigeria and the United Kingdom. We own a full television service and are currently in the process of commencing terrestrial broadcasting as we have been awarded a digital television license in Ilorin Kwara State.
“My other areas of interest include Agriculture, Hospitality, Supermarket retailing, food and beverage, Hospitals, Medical and health and Electronic Waste Management and recycling.
(Refer to company Tree).”
- Who is a Leader?
Let me start my address by raising a question on leaders: Are leaders Made or Born?
The questions of weather outstanding leaders are born or made has been debated for many years. There are numerous examples of historical figures that came naturally to leadership by inheritance or assignment, while others developed their leadership skills through tenacity and experience. To understand leadership, both nature (the genetic component) and Nurturing (the environmental influences) need to be considered.
According to R. M. Stogdill’s Handbook of Leadership, “There are almost as many different definitions of leadership as there are persons who have attempted to define the concept.” Meaning leadership can be by the definition of who is defining it.
While there is no standard definition of leader, there are many different kinds of leadership that exist in today’s environment.
Theories suggest that leadership traits are intrinsic, meaning that great leaders are born and will emerge when confronted with the appropriate situation. Such natural leaders possess certain qualities and talents, such as:
- Honesty
- Moral,
- Vision
- Compassion and care that make them well suited for leadership.
We as entrepreneurs invest time and money to help employees develop leadership skills based on the assumption that leaders can be trained. This suggests that leadership itself is a skill that may be learned (i.e., extrinsically fostered).
The big Question: are the foundations of outstanding leadership intrinsic (i.e., leaders are born) or extrinsic (i.e., leaders are made)?
Warren Bennis, author of the book On Becoming a Leader, identifies several characteristics that leaders share: such as: a guiding vision, passion that provides hope and inspires others, integrity (which encompasses condor, maturity and self-knowledge), curiosity, and the willingness to take risks.
These are not traits that individuals are born with and cannot change, but rather traits that are developed as a result of life experiences.
Leaders embrace opportunities, engage in skill development, and respond to a set of external circumstances.
Innate traits are needed in order to develop into an outstanding leader when life experiences and circumstances present themselves. Studies have concluded that training, hard work, and experiences result in the development of outstanding leaders.
Whether an evidence-based endeavour or a financial opportunity, the leadership industry exceeds $14 billion annually and is purportedly committed to making leaders.
In this regard, I would say, leaders most likely arise from a combination of genetic predisposition as well as training and development.
- Principles of Leadership
2.1 Guiding Vision,
You need to have a vision and your vision is your most important dream or mental picture. It can also be a set of dreams and long-term goals. A vision defines the optimal desired future state; it tells of what you would like to achieve over a longer time.
2.2 Integrity
Integrity is an important part of leadership;
Integrity is aligning your conduct with what you know to be right and just in your own personal assessment in relations to your principles.
A person of integrity displays a principled and dedication to values and beliefs. They always seek to reflect ethical standards and do the right thing regardless of the circumstances.
2.2.1 Attributes of Integrity
The convictions of a person of integrity determine what they will say and do at any given time. They intentionally direct their conduct according to their understanding of what is right and wrong. Authenticity marks the heart of integrity. Their internal character remains consistent regardless of external conditions.
Integrity includes the quality of being honest, but honesty does not always demonstrate integrity. The difference is the inner commitment to being trustworthy and communicating the truth without deception. A person of integrity lives without duplicity and hypocrisy.
A person of integrity does not claim to be perfect. Instead, they are quick to acknowledge their own mistakes and faults. Their sincerity comes from a pure motivation to do what is right even when it might be inconvenient. Times of crisis particularly test a person’s integrity. What would it take for you to compromise your resolve to do what you believe is right?
2.2.2 Why Is Integrity Important in leadership?
Acting with integrity gives you peace of mind in knowing you did the right thing regardless of the outcome.
By committing to live based on excellent principles, you provide an example for others to follow. You also have a basis for open communication with others because they trust you. Your relationships can prosper based on honesty and forthrightness.
Personal integrity gives you peace of mind in knowing you did the right thing regardless of the outcome.
2.3. Accountability
Accountability means that you are responsible for your choices and actions and are the first and last line of defence for your integrity. Self-discipline is your primary method for improving yourself, desirous and pursuing good things.
As an accountable person seeking to change, you start with yourself since you can only change yourself. When you desire to see a change, you do not wait for others to change, but you first consider what you must change about yourself. You examine your thinking to see how your thoughts hold you back from moving forward. When faced with a decision, you do not need others to tell you what to do—you know what you ought to do, and you will do it.
Holding yourself accountable means that you don’t see yourself as a victim of circumstances arising as consequences of your decisions.
You have a sense of ownership for yourself and the consequences of your actions. You do not let others do what you must do yourself, and you commit to daily work to accomplish your own goals.
You can grow in personal accountability if you set your mind to it and find encouragement to change your life for the better!
Accountable to Others
No one can live entirely disconnected from other people. You have various relationships with others like parents, lecturers, coach, teammates, and so on. So, in addition to self-accountability, being accountable also means you are willing and able to give an honest account of your conduct to those who deserve to know.
Consider that there are at least four levels of accountability that you could implement to promote your success:
- Be observed.
- Report your status.
- Be evaluated.
- Explain yourself.
Sometimes it is hard to be objective about your conduct, especially if there is something in your life that you do not recognize. Perhaps you have a pattern of behaviour or mode of thinking that negatively affects others.
Being accountable to others can help you become aware of your blind spots and challenge you to get out of your old routine. Identify and overcome undesirable habits by reviewing your conduct with an accountability partner.
Being accountable to others does not mean you demean yourself or think you are a failure.
Many of the same things you do to promote your personal accountability can empower your responsibility to others. Share your goal and action plan so that your accountability partner knows what you have committed to do.
Report your success and setbacks along the way to help you focus on solutions to keep you moving forward. Provide valid explanations for the choices and actions you have made and ask for their perspective and advice when you are not sure what to do next.
Toxic thinking can affect you more than you know. Negative thoughts rob you of joy and leave you hopeless for any positive outcome.
What can you do to address toxic thoughts?
Your pattern of thought influences the quality of your life. Your actions flow from inward and what you think about and value. So, replacing negative thoughts with positive thoughts can help you increase your happiness, build hope, do sports, exercise regularly, join the fitness club, do not take drugs, do not engage in alcoholism, improve your health, focus on your faith, develop relationships, and you will succeed in life.
How Toxic Is Your Thinking?
You declare your thoughts through words—sometimes in conversation with others and other times silently to yourself only. Whatever it may be, pay attention and listen to yourself. Do you find yourself saying these things to yourself or others?
- “I don’t have what it takes. I am not good enough.”
- “I am afraid that _____.”
- “I didn’t do it perfectly, so I’m a failure.”
- “What if I can’t finish in time?”
- “But I might fail.”
- “My behaviour is not hurting anybody.”
- “Sure, I did that, but it was because [someone else did or didn’t do something].”
- “Why is this happening to me? I deserve better than this.”
- “It’s too late to ____. I cannot change now.”
- “I’m just too busy. I’ll do it later.”
- “Nobody cares about my success.”
- “Everything I do fails.”
- “What do other people think about me?”
- “They have it so much better than I do.”
- “If I could only _____, then I would be happy.”
