LEADERSHIP IS NOT IN TITLES

I got my first physical leadership award in Lagos in 2022.

The award was given by the YALI RLC Alumni Nigeria.

It read: "In recognition of your selfless service rendered to promote youth activities in Nigeria for the year 2022."

I was not informed, never expecting it. I don't have a thing for nominating myself for leadership awards. It's not bad to do so but I just don't do it.

How it happened…

I was trained as a leader by the United States Government through the YALI RLC West Africa Emerging Leaders Training Programme, West Africa (Accra, Ghana) in 2020.

In 2021, I was accepted into the Nigeria chapter of the alumni association. Within months of my membership, almost every serious and committed member of the association felt my involvement and impact in the association as an alum.

It was about time for the alumni election to usher in new executives to run its affairs and I contested for a national office and lost (with 2 votes difference) to an opponent who's been an old member of the body. I was never unhappy that I didn't win the election because I could see the level of support I got through members' votes even as one whose membership was just a matter of about a year.

Of course, I congratulated the winner of the position I contested as well as other winners, and pledged my support to the executive.

I gave them my support even as a non-executive member. I played several roles in support of the YALI RLC Alumni Association, Nigeria. One of the areas I served was in the planning of the maiden edition of the Alumni National Conference in Lagos State, Nigeria.

Everything I've ever done and I am doing as an impact leader was never ill-intended. It was never self-centred.

After I lost the election in 2021, I had a better chance of winning in 2022 for the 2023 leadership year if I had wanted to contest. Why? I've got more people on my side by that time. A lot more people knew me in 2022. I'm one of those talkers (not an unnecessary noise maker) on the alumni platform. When I got to Lagos for the conference in November (that was the election period too), conference delegates and alums were asking to know the position I was contesting for. Argh!

When I told them I was not contesting in the election, it was a shock to them. Why?

They felt I was active with the intention that I wanted to win their votes in my ambition to contest for office. Far from that! I disappointed them!

Some of them pleaded that I contest but I told them I wasn't interested in it at the time and even now. I told them I was fine leading and supporting the alumni even as a non-executive member. As always, I pledged my support to the 2023 executives in ways I can.

That is already happening. It's about 5 months since the new executives assumed office and I can say I have contributed my time, and talent, maybe not money yet (but of course, my money go don go in some ways na. Directly or indirectly.

Here is the thing…

Not being in position must never be a reason not to lead and lead selflessly. Personally, I believe the best time to show true leadership is when you're not in a position. At that time, you're not responsible to anyone but to yourself and your conscience. That is when you also know how influential you are as a leader as whatever influence you command would not be tied to your position but who you are as an individual.

John C. Maxwell clearly said:

Leadership is influence.

John Best UCHE | The Social Voice

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?May 19, 2023