JAMUHURI SPECIAL

Leaders aren’t born, they’re made. Whether it’s coaching, taking professional development courses or made through experiences, leaders should take plenty of opportunities to strengthen their skills. Leaders need to continue on a path of growth as individuals and professionals. One of the most effective ways to become a stronger leader is by reading management and leadership blogs from the people who have the experience and knowledge to become influential teachers and practitioners.

Today I’d like to suggest that building extraordinary teams of ordinary people is a better move than creating ordinary teams of extraordinary people. Makes sense, right? Can we start with something I know we can all agree with? No matter what team you assemble, they’re never going to be the absolute best. I mean, maybe you can snag an incredible person here or there, but the world conspires to keep all the amazing people from joining a single organization – just look at the NBA.

Meet Mr Billian Ojiwa, is best known for the Ficha UchiInitiative, a programme he founded that gives school uniforms to needy children. He is also the chairman of the youth congress of the Kenya African National Union (Kanu). Growing up in the slums of Mathare, losing both parents at a very young age, getting kicked out of school because of lack of school fees, waiting tables during the day and selling cigarettes at night to make ends meet, he has been through it all. Very common story someone will say, Biian Ojiwa is a fearless influencer of society, because not only did he break the chains of impossible, he went back o the slums that gave him not only headaches but heartaches. Assisting children in going to school with full school attire. He is also helping by donation of stuff like sanitary pads. https://tinaobiero7.wixsite.com/website/post/the-menses-drama. Check out my blog on how women and young girls are being affected due to lack of sanitary pads this, if you haven't.

My phone wallpaper is a picture that says, “Leadership is the art of creating greatness in other people.” I love the image. But if I were to make one change it would be from “creating greatness” to “releasing greatness.”

I can describe Billian as a releaser of greatness, as a leader he bring the greatness and then help create the space for others to shine. If only the people we worked with wore tags on their shirts that declared what they were great at, right? It would be so easy if they could just tell you, “here’s what I’m great at.” But the truth is that most of us (and them) don’t know what we’re great at and even if we had an inkling, it’s not like we’d declare it because of all the insecurity we carry around with us.

What can we learn from Bilian Ojiwa, So what can you do to help identify the greatness that is in others?

One of the things I look for is what they volunteer to do. When someone is volunteering to pick up an assignment, they’re expressing interest. That interest may not fall in their normal assignments, but it’s a way for them to showcase what they’re good at and what they enjoy. Pay attention when hands are raised!

Another way to identify the seeds of greatness is to watch who people go to for different issues. Just because you haven’t noticed someone’s greatness doesn’t mean that others haven’t. So watch when others start going to the same person for help. They’re telling you, this is the go-to person for these kinds of tasks.

The third way to identify what someone is gifted at is to watch how fast things get done. Many people can create a PowerPoint deck, an Excel spreadsheet, or whatever work your team is doing at work. But not everyone does things quickly. Or more importantly, quickly and still amazing! People who can do what no one else does, and do it faster than everyone else, are normally showcasing (even if they don’t know it) a gift.

Mr Bilian Ojiwa posses all these 3 since his main gaol is to create greatness in others, and mostly important he is a fearless influencer of society. We salute you Mweshimiwa Bilian and we wish you nothing but the best. May you be among the Josiahs' that Kenya is praying for.

"It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership." By Nelson Mandela