How AYLF Prepares Student Leaders For Service.

A few weeks ago, an article titled “Are student leaders a reflection of our politicians?” captured the views of University students with respect to leadership in general. Majority of whom expressed their reservation when it came to both student leaders and national leaders. Rightfully so, the feeling across the Country has for a long time been that of despair. That the transformational leadership, the selfless servant leadership of the good old days, seem to be behind us.

That, leadership today is all about capturing power for the sole purpose of serving an individuals selfish interests. And that student leaders only focus on how they will impress politicians for handouts and other ‘goodies’ that might be in the offing. This is not far from the truth.

But this topic has taken me down memory lane. Inside Taifa Hall, one afternoon, where I was seated together with my first year classmates awaiting a lecture. All of a sudden, a group of senior students dressed in sharp suits would enter the hall - straight to the podium. It was campaign time! They would speak one after the other, and the one who was vying for the SONU chairman’s position would speak first. They were a team. And it so happened that this team ended up clinching majority of the elective seats that year. This team was headed by one DMK Kiogora, who then served as the SONU Chair – and is today serving as a Hon. Member in the County Assembly of Meru – representing Abogeta ward.

I never got a chance to interact with DMK during his term at the University, but I was able to interact with him later at a different forum. The AFRICA YOUTH LEADRSHIP FORUM (AYLF). On two occasions in my engagements with the AYLF, I’ve heard DMK narrate a story. Of how when he was at the helm of SONU, at a time when the Country was having the 2013 elections, he got two urgent calls that he considered important. One asking him to join in an ongoing political campaign in the Country that same day– definitely with all the ‘goodies’ that came with it. And the second call, from the Africa Youth Leadership Forum asking him to appear for an engagement. Now, unlike what we would consider to be the ‘norm’ with student leaders – rushing to engage with politicians – for the sake of handouts, goodies, networks, access to tenders among other self centered interests, DMK Kiogora chose to go the other way – and went straight ahead to attend the engagement with AYLF.

I know by now you might be asking yourself, what is this AYLF, that would make a SONU chair, shelve his Political ambitions just to go for an engagement with them!

The Africa Youth Leadership Forum (AYLF).

Anchored on servant leadership, AYLF engages both serving and former student leaders through trainings, mentorships, and building of sustainable friendships and communities. The vision is not only to transform the style of student leadership as it is perceived today, but to also prepare them for the leadership world that awaits them out there.

With programmes such as University Student Leaders Annual gathering – that brings student leaders from across 7 East and Central African Countries today, they get to share experiences, challenges as the AYLF imparts the necessary tools that allows them subscribe to the servant leadership model.

And to further encourage servant leadership in our Universities, the AYLF has the annual University Student Leaders Awards (USLA) – that recognizes and awards student leaders who are demonstrating service to their students. In this awards, students get to nominate a student leader from their University who is more of a servant, than a boss. AYLF would then shortlist a number and take them through trainings, while periodically conducting interviews so as to narrow down to the final winners for the USLA awards.

As a former student leader myself, this year I was privileged to sit in the final panel of judges who selected the best 4 servant student leaders for the USLA awards 2019. And it was encouraging to see how student leaders are today pushing on projects that serve both the students and communities, while AYLF pumping in the needed resources to continue creating the servant leaders in them.

The larger AYLF family today celebrates quite a number of National leaders, who were previously student leaders and passed through the hands of AYLF. From DMK Kiogora who is a Hon. Member of the County Assembly of Meru, to Martine Moshisho Martin who is the Deputy Governor of Kajiado County, and also Hon. John Kaguchia – Speaker of the County Assembly of Nyeri. Leaders who subscribe to service. And not just service, but as demonstrated by Jesus Christ in the Bible when he stated “For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves”

Therefore, as much as there is despair out there about student leaders, and national leaders, there still remains hope.

Written By: Jude Thaddeus,

A former student leader and member of the AYLF family.

Work-Life Balance

https://thenextweb.com/contributors/2017/07/24/how-to-improve-your-work-life-balance/

I believe a healthy work-life balance is key to long-term effectiveness in this life.

Many years back, when I was involved in a Christian Theater group, I experienced a serious burnout. I started feeling like everything was on me, and I didn't have anyone else helping yet there was a team we were working with. I had given so much without taking time to refill. One day, during our evening meetings, I started saying things to people that surprised some of the team members. One of the friends, senior to me who was part of the team, came to me after and told me I was experiencing burn out and I should take time off. He told me not to go to the meetings for two weeks. I felt it was unfair and that things would not function without me. But out of respect for him, I decided to stay away. These two weeks were beneficial. I came to appreciate later what he offered me. When I came back after two weeks, the things that used to irritate me were non-issues now. I realized that it's not always how it seems and that life can still go on even if the things that I consider important sometimes don't get done. This experience taught me a valuable lesson; work is important, but it will always be there. In order to do it well, I need myself healthy and in a sound mind. That way, I can be effective and productive.

These lessons were presented to me very well with clarity when I joined GiANT Worldwide in one of their Sessions called 5 Gears. I now realize that I can work on attaining a healthy work-life balance. I'll briefly explain here what the 5 Gears are. First, it's the analogy of the manual cars. So if you have driven a manual car, here we go. Gear 5 is the Focus Mode, in the Zone, no interruptions. Here you don't want even to hear somebody coming to you to ask for anything. All you want is your attention focused on something important you are doing. Some of us have a healthy 5th Gear. Can shift in and out of it. The 5 Gears, teaches you how to communicate this to everyone around you. It's important to schedule a 5th Gear time in your life. Learn how to shift in and out.

4th Gear is the task mode. Multitasking. You are handling many things and dealing with a number of issues. Some people live in 4th Gear, and this sometimes makes it hard for them to focus on one thing to the end. 4th Gear is good and easy sometimes. But it can be unhealthy if you realize that you don't get your key projects done. People know you as someone who can't focus and always trying to do everything at the same time. If this is your default Gear, you need to question yourself if it's healthy for you or you are always falling behind things.

3rd Gear is about Social time. This is when people are out to party, celebrate, do everything fun other than work. Some people find this as a waste of time and wonder why they even have it. It's important to have this time. Lunchtime, tea break, etc. is very crucial. Some people are very good at this and kind of make this their life. Everything to them is fun and party. This could be healthy or unhealthy, depending on your personality. Don't have a work-related conversation during this time. Don't be a spoiler.

2nd Gear is the Connect mode; this is when you choose to connect with someone. When you go deeper to build some meaningful relationship or conversation of influence. It could happen with a spouse, fiancée, friend, children, etc. To some people, this is a no go zone for them. They struggle with this and hence avoid it. Their relationships are very transactional. They don't want to go beyond the usual pleasantries, as they say, they don't want people issues. The result is, you don't have meaningful relationships. You operate like touch and go. To some people, they love 2nd Gear too much. They quickly go into it, making those around them very uncomfortable.

Gear 1 is the recharge mode. This is when you focus on yourself. You choose to do that which makes you gain your lost energy. To some, it's a good sleep, a walk in the park, a nice movie or book, etc. Some people have no idea what recharges them. They are always on the move and forget to stop and recharge. Some people live here forever. They are always recharging. You will explode. You need to ask yourself how is your 1st Gear.

The last one is Reverse Gear. This is the responsive Gear. Occasionally we wrong people and we have to go and apologize. Others it's easy to say "I'm sorry," while to others, they would rather not say it. Others do things that make you imagine how sorry they are without uttering the words. At the end of the day, saying it and genuinely apologizing is being Responsive. Are you a Responsive or a Resistant person?

For me, I realized that my Gear order is 4th, 5th, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Gear. I can do 3rd Gear, but it easily drains me out, and I quickly retreat to 1st or look for 2nd Gear opportunity. So I have always to remind myself which Gear is needed. This has been significant in helping me develop a Healthy Work-Life balance. Not perfect yet but I'm well aware of my preferred gear and least preferred gear. Where I need to grow and learn how to improve.

What's your Gear order? If you would like to know more about the 5 Gears and how it can help you with your work-life balance, don't hesitate to reach out to me.

If this resonates with you, seek to discover your Gear. Look for a small community of friends who you can learn to do this together with. Being accountable to a few and practicing with a few. It's about building a community of friends to share each other's journey of Work-Life balance. You have to be deeply committed to each other and desire to see each other grow in this journey. You have to create support, encouragement, and accountability platform for each other. The community has to be as small as possible so that there is active engagement by all involved.

Find a community around you and see if these conversations make sense to you.

Image Credits: http://www.businessmalawi.com

By

Gabriel Odhiambo Achayo.

Senior Consultant, GiANT Worldwide (www.giantworldwide.com)

Gabriel.achayo@giantworldwide.com

Leadership and Criticism

https://www.leadingwithhonor.com/dont-get-mad-get-even-keeled-how-to-givereceive-criticism-thatll-help-you-grow-as-a-leader/criticism-in-leadership/

I believe you can’t escape criticism if you choose to lead.

Leadership is about choosing to influence others. It’s about people’s lives. Sometimes to do what others don't prefer. If you advocate a position and advance an agenda, there will be detractors and those who will disagree and disapprove of you. Others will disapprove with you just because it’s you. Others may be because of your faults or mistakes or their perception of either. This might seek to pull you back or hinder progress. But I would like to say this; criticism is part of leadership. Anyone who has worked with those who are different from them or see things differently have at any point experienced any form of disagreement or disapproval; either in their personality, ability, merit, character, etc. 

While I am willing to acknowledge this reality as my learning opportunity, I must confess that criticism is never easy for me. This is both in giving and receiving. I am an ISFP and my F affects me a lot as what I do, and I are all one and the same. My Nurturer tendency that makes me fear conflict makes me equate criticism with conflict. If you criticize my work, it always looks like you are shooting me down. I have come a long way, and I'm learning to accept this, I have to be disagreed with, disapproved and sometimes dismissed. This is the one tendency I am dealing with so that I can be a leader who can take in criticism. Of course, I hope they will be positive and not negative meant to hurt me just for the sake of it. I know these two will be present. But as a leader, I have to learn to deal with them when they come. As I continue to advance ideas, causes, and issues that I believe in, I am very aware that they will put me in the crosshairs of strictest opponents.

https://www.interacademies.org/42395/Leadership-styles-through-the-actions-of-great-conductors

“Leadership” and “Leadership Styles” are often confused. You can lead with a servant’s heart or mindset. Looking for solutions as you build on participation and inclusiveness. People often need to feel they are part of the conversation and to be acknowledged for their contribution. This kind of leadership style can reduce this sting of criticism. We are often criticized less for what we say than for how we say it. A leader needs to pay attention to both sides of the equation; “Leadership” and “Leadership Style.” What you say and how you say it. This might vary from one scenario to another. It’s in striking a balance that will make you a leader worth following.

I could be right and know more than the people I am leading, but if all I load on you is what I know without care on how this affects you as the led, then I might end up walking in the park. The three questions most people ask if you are leading them are:

1.       Do you know what you are talking about?

2.       Do you care about me; the led?

3.       Can you help me get out of my problem?

These three questions speak into “Leadership” and “Leadership Style.” The “What” and the “How.” We may get the “What” right, but until we are clearly on the “How,” we are bound to have a rough ride as a leader. I believe a leader who is consciously aware of the “How,” is likely to have minimum criticism. But the how alone is not enough because you have to be clear on the “What” as a leader.

It’s clear we can’t avoid criticism at all as a leader. But it helps to know you can reduce them to a minimum if you know how to balance “Leadership” and “Leadership Style.” If you know how to calibrate “Challenge and Support.” There is no precise balance here, but it's you to know in your situation when to “Support” and when to “Challenge.” When to “Push” and when to “Pull.”

www.giantworldwide.com

As a leader, do you know when to “Give your opinions and views” Vs. when to “Actively Listen?” When to “State your Needs and Wants” Vs. when to “Draw them from the people you are leading?” Do you have a sense of when to use “Incentives and Pressure” Vs. when to “Build a Common Ground?”

If this resonates with you, how are you "Push/Pull Behaviours." Look for a small community of friends who you can learn to do this together with. Being accountable to a few and practising with a few. It's about building a community of friends to share each other's journey of genuine leaders who want to succeed as leaders.  You have to be deeply committed to each other and desire to see each other grow in this journey. You have to create a support, encouragement, and accountability platform for each other. The community has to be as small as possible so that there is active engagement by all involved.

Find a community around you and see if these conversations make sense to you.

Image Credits: http://www.businessmalawi.com

By Gabriel Achayo

Senior Consultant, GiANT Worldwide www.giantworldwide.com