Good leadership: The way, the truth, and a changed life

Good leadership must be characterised by showing followers the way, telling the truth at all times, and bringing about a defining change in the quality of life. Indeed, perfect leaders are characterised by these three key factors, and most of all, the connection between them.

My inspiration and strong conviction draws, as my custom is, from the statement made by the greatest leader who ever lived, Jesus Christ, in John 14:6. Accordingly, consider the quote below and meditate on it for some time.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. - John 14:6 NLT

Factors that define the leader's assignment

Three notable factors are mentioned in the quote above and it is my view that they define the leader's assignment. They are especially compelling, coming from a leader of the highest calibre. They are, the way, the truth, and the life.

Those who want to do leadership right must pay attention to these three factors. They must identify the way, the truth, and the life. They must also understand the relationship that exists between them. Put differently, it is important to understand why the three factors are mentioned together, and perhaps in the particular sequence. I believe that there is a lot of significance in what they stand for individually just as there is in the sequence that introduces them to us.

Let us examine each of them.

The Leader and the 'Way'

A very basic point to note about leadership, even if literal, is that it suggests someone heading toward a particular destination. A leader also implies that at least one person is following. Furthermore, it is also reasonable to maintain that the follower is relying on the leader's knowledge of the route that gets to the desired destination. In essence, therefore, the leader shows "the way."

Good leaders show the way to a destination that will benefit their follower(s). They also, project themselves as the one who is competent to lead followers to a choice destination. They ought to make a bold statement in this regard just as Jesus made in the above statement.

Such a declaration today would be regarded as mere boasting and/or perhaps an act of pride. That's one of the reasons that leaders have not been very effective in my view. They are not bold enough to hold themselves out as the credible option, 'the way' that their followers need to get them to their appointed destination.

The implication of this is that followers are not able to appreciate who their leader is and what he/she has to offer them. They do not also know what they should expect as a benefit from their leader. You know, the whole issue of what's-in-it-for-me!

The leader is also thought to be unwilling to commit himself or herself to specific deliverables to the follower. One of the key implications of making the kind of declaration that Jesus made above is that it also represents a commitment to deliver on the listed counts. He held Himself out to His followers, indicating that they should hold Him accountable to deliver on specific counts. That most certainly will sound credible to any follower.

In essence, therefore, while it is the case that leaders often set targets for followers, this way they can also set targets for themselves, such that the followers can hold them accountable. They need to be able to make a bold, clear and unambiguous statement just like Jesus did.

So you need to ask yourself some questions as a leader. What do you stand for? What is your promise to your followers? What should they expect from you? What should they hold you accountable for?

Good leaders hold themselves out as "the way" to followers, one who knows where he/she is going, knows where followers should be going, knows how to get both himself and the followers to their respective destinations, and is willing to take followers along.

The Leader and the 'Truth'

Truth can be expressed as possession of the knowledge of how things actually work. It refers to a deep understanding of the principles for getting certain desirable results in a specific area of endeavour.

Good leaders also must possess and demonstrate the knowledge of the principles required to achieve their objectives. In relation to the foregoing discussion of 'the way,' truth will mean that the leader possesses knowledge of 'how' to get self and followers to the promised destination.

It is one thing to know the way but another thing to know how to navigate the route to get anyone there. This is the second thing that leaders must hold themselves out to followers as possessing. This way, followers are encouraged to follow.

Knowledge is the powerful instrument that leaders engage to take followers from where they meet them down to their destination. It is the truth about how to develop into leaders themselves. It is what reinforces the conviction of followers in the leader's journey and promises they make to them.

This declaration of possession of truth, just like 'the way,' also holds the leader out as a credible option in the followers' search for the way to become leaders. It is a responsibility that every leader must take upon himself or herself. It is something that each leader must possess in order to be able to affect the lives of followers. Without such knowledge, effective leadership is impossible.

The labour of a foolish person will ultimately result in weariness. Strength will be expended, time and resources will be wasted, and destination will not be reached. What a waste! That is what any leader risks when they do not know how to make followers into leaders. This happens when the leader is not in possession of the truth, the knowledge of 'how to' navigate the 'way' that he or she ought or claims to know.

So how knowledgeable are you about what it takes for your followers to be transformed into leaders? How knowledgeable are you about how to achieve excellence in that specific area of productive engagement? If you want to lead, you must be prepared to demonstrate the requisite 'truth.'

It is not enough to know the way, and hold out yourself to followers as one who does, it is also crucial that you possess the truth and hold yourself out as one who does.

It is not enough to know the way, and hold out yourself to followers as one who does, it is also crucial that you possess the truth and hold yourself out as one who does.

The Leader and the 'Life'

The 'life' actually defines the destination of the leader and the follower. This is the ultimate promise that the leader holds out to the follower. It is some sort of guarantee that says this is the kind of 'life' you should expect to live if you follow me.

Implied in the declaration that "I am .... the life" is the fact that a transformation or change is at the core of the leader-follower relationship. The leader holds out a lifestyle or quality of life as the promised end of the leader-follower relationship. The leader invariably says to the follower, 'this is the kind of life that you will experience or come into, if you follow me.'

What leaders do is to transform the lives of their followers. My conviction is that leaders help followers to evolve into leader themselves, and the greater part of that is a transformation in the follower's personality.

Again, by declaring that "I am ... the life," the leader is also saying that I embody the kind of life that you will want to live, the same one that I am taking you to. Leaders must project the same promise that they make to followers. They cannot be one thing and hold themselves out as being another. That is fraudulent, unacceptable, and will ultimate undermine their leadership as they suffer erosion in credibility.

What kind of 'life' is on offer for your followers? What kind of life do you showcase? Is it one that anyone, especially your followers, will desire or find beneficial? Isn't that the only kind of life you can usher your followers into? Do you project your life as the promise of the desired destination to your followers? You must know as a leader that you do not have the power to take your followers to a destination (a life) different from the same one you live.

You may succeed to pretend that you live a truly exemplary life but it is certain that you will be found out at some point on the journey.

Effective leadership must be rooted in the same lifestyle or quality of life that is lived by the leader. Nothing else will cut it.

The Leader as a worthy example

I love the above kind of declaration and would encourage every leader to be bold enough to make them. It is a great way to make yourself accountable to your followers without being prompted or coerced. It is a great way to ensure discipline on your part and that you stay on the right course. Furthermore, it is a wonderful way to prevent you from taking the followers to a different destination.

The great thing about making such declarations is that it makes leaders to focus on what is at the core of the leadership, challenges each one to keep developing themselves along the same lines, and that way, makes them to be true and worthy examples of what they hold themselves out to be.

Connecting the dots for effective leadership

By declaring that "I am the way, the truth, and the life," our attention is being drawn to what leadership entails and how to do effectively. We learn that leadership is about showing the way to followers, and by engaging true knowledge of relevant principles that helps them to arrive at the destination.

By implication, the leader will only be effective, if he/she knows where to take the followers, and possesses the knowhow to navigate the journey (of transformation) that is guaranteed to get them to the destination.

For avoidance of doubt, the destination is not some set of quantitative targets but some sort of lifestyle. Put differently, the destination defines some kind of personality, a way to live life going forward. Leaders don't just get results, they transform their followers into personalities that get results.

Good leaders are not focused on the results. Their primary result is shown in the change of personality of their followers. Turning followers into the right personalities in turn generates the right results.

Hold yourself out and be accountable too!

Leadership is perhaps the most important responsibility on earth. That is the one that requires that lives under our watch are transformed through our actions. Those lives depend on our inputs to find their place in the journey of life. No one should toy with them.

As a leader, you are expected to be the way, be and provide the truth, and show the lifestyle that your followers should look forward to. This still remains a huge but worthy responsibility. It is not to be treated with levity. The bolder you are in your declaration of these factors, through word and example, the bigger will be your credibility, and the greater your chance of succeeding.

The bolder you are in your declaration of these factors, through word and example, the bigger will be your credibility, and the greater your chance of succeeding.

You must hold yourself out as 'the way' that you are supposed to be, be in possession of 'the truth' that is required to help your team navigate the journey, and hold out the promise of 'the life' that followers should look forward to.

Where do you stand in this regard?

Olatunji Sobodu