I’ve always wondered how world renowned icons such as Nelson Mandela, Wangari Mathaii and Koffi Annan came to be the people we regard as GREAT leaders today. After the passing away of one of Africa’s greatest leader Nelson Mandela, I went into deep thought about how he became such a noble man, and above all, how he was able to influence millions of people today. What kind of person do we say is a true leader?

I once read somewhere that a true leader is one with the ability to inspire others, motivated by a passion to ignite VISION WITH PURPOSE. That statement, I believe, is one of the hardest things to carry out as an individual. Thus, all leaders need support. Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years, however from the day he began fighting against the apartheid, to the day he was arrested and sent to prison, he had support from fellow mates who shared the same dream as his. We cannot fight battles single handedly. The lord assures us on 2 Chronicles 20:15, “Fear not for the battle is not yours but God’s.” Even though sometimes we may feel overwhelmed with the different scenarios surrounding us, there is absolutely nothing our father can’t fix. God will never put you through a trial that he knows you can’t overcome.

Leadership comes down to two things: who you are (understanding your purpose and identity) and how you think (understanding the mind set of others). I believe in order to move forward, we have to step out of our comfort zones and learn to embrace the art of risk-taking. Great leaders are risk-takers. We can take Abraham from the Bible, God tells him to go forth from his country, from his relatives and from his father’s house to a land which He shows Him. In other words, Abraham is instructed to go out of his comfort zone and march straight into uncertainty. In return the Lord blessed him abundantly.

Personally, I’ve never been big on risk taking; I can’t stand uncertainty. However, I’ve learned that if I am to be a leader, that I might as well go ahead and embrace it. I’ve realized that taking more risks, means I have more faith on the lord, because I know that He’ll never fail me. If I only take the first step, I know that God will come through no matter the day, the hour or the situation.