Most people mistake occupying a position as being synonymous with leadership. They believe erroneously that occupying a position of authority makes them qualified to be called leaders. This notion or way of thinking also makes young people believe that they are not able to lead or make a difference in their respective communities, except when they are able to occupy a position of authority or acquire a formal title. We will examine a scenario and will conclude with lessons from the illustrations.
In this scenario, a nine-year-old boy was going to school in the morning in a public bus through the busy traffic of a typical workday in an Indian city. He noticed that there was a serious traffic jam, such that no car or bus could move. He peeped through the bus and saw the traffic congestion and no vehicle could move. He stepped out of the bus and started walking with his school bag behind him. On getting to the front of the traffic jam he noticed a tree had fallen across the road and had blocked the entire road. Beside the tree was a police officer arguing with another man on the street and a police traffic patrol car with some police officers sleeping in the police vehicle. Behind the tree in the traffic jam with every other car was an entourage with siren cars conveying an elected city official with his escorts. Given the traffic jam caused by the tree on the road, they called another vehicle which came to the other side of the road and the elected city official was transferred from the car in the traffic to the new car on the other side of the road to continue his journey leaving the other people in the traffic jam.
The tree was so large it would take more than 20 strong men or a motorized vehicle to move it off the road. But this nine-year-old did the unthinkable; he dropped his school bag and began to push the tree. Given the size of the tree, his little frame made absolutely no impact on the position of the massive tree across the road. Immediately it started raining but the young boy continued to push even harder. Some street boys playing on the street saw him thinking he was playing joined him to push the tree but they also were about the same age as him and their effort made no difference. Then the other commuters in the traffic saw the boy pushing the tree and they all started coming down from their cars, the commercial bus and their taxis and they joined the boy to push the tree. Now they were more than 25 to 30 adults and with their combined effort they moved the tree out of the road and the vehicles were now able to drive through freely. The crowd, after their success in moving the tree out of the road, were excited and started congratulating each other on their success in finding a solution to the traffic challenge.
Now, if there was a poll on the other side of the traffic behind the tree for leaders, your guess is as good as mine, the first name would be the elected city politician, then maybe some other people occupying positions of authority. The boy will not make the list given his status as a youth and seen as not occupying any position. However, from the actions of the different characters behind the tree, which of them exhibited leadership? The answer is obvious, the young boy.
“Men (and women) make history, and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.”
Harry S. Truman
Young people can lead and should lead. Most young people have settled to the common saying that “young people are leaders of tomorrow”. This trap of “tomorrow” encourages the youth to defer their responsibility of providing leadership when needed in their communities, schools, and even country. As young people recognize that leadership is not about occupying a position of authority. Leadership is an act; it is what you do. Positions or titles do not make the leader but the leader makes the position. Leadership is about possibilities- having a vision, seeing opportunity, and hope, where many believe this does not exist.
Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results, not attributes.”
Peter Ferdinand Drucker
Anyone can lead in different ways in society. Leadership can manifest itself as impacting one person’s life or the entire nation. Effective leadership is about making POSITIVE changes in society and improving the lives of others. Effective leaders earn respect; they do not demand it by wielding power or using force. They admit their failures and mistake and strive to learn from them. Finally, it is important to note as young people that leaders do not do all the work by themselves, but share their vision with others and convince them in the quest for positive change. The truth is young people are leaders of today because your tomorrow starts today and what you do today determines the shape of your tomorrow. So, as young people on this International Youth Day worthily Themed: “Engagement for Global Action”, I urge you to stand up and provide leadership. Be ready to be the change in your family, in your school, in your local community, in your country, and anywhere you find yourself because you are a person of value. Be the change you want to see!
