Transformational Leadership With Muideen Adebayo Ibrahim
“It’s hard to keep an open mind if you don’t have an open heart.” – Adam Grant
I observed with dismay that most of our leaders do not practice inclusive leadership and there is no way a leader can be a transformational leader if he does not practice inclusive leadership.
That is why you will see some leaders appointing people from their regions or axis or better still developing their regions at the detriment of other regions/axis.
But what exactly is inclusive leadership?
Centre for Creative Leadership, United States asserted that “Inclusive leaders are individuals who are aware of their own biases and actively seek out and consider different perspectives to inform their decision-making and collaborate more effectively with others.”
Inclusive leadership also means that leaders commit to ensuring all team members/people:
Are treated equitably,
Feel a sense of belonging and value, and
Have the resources and support they need to achieve their full potential.
How to Practice Inclusive Leadership
Inclusive Leadership Starts With Compassion.
First and foremost, compassionate leadership is of utmost importance for inclusive leaders.
Compassion is the foundation of our ability to understand what another is going through, connect with them on an emotional level, and take meaningful action to improve their condition. Compassionate leaders move from a private place of empathetic feeling into external, tangible actions. Compassion should catapult you to do
something meaningful — whatever that is for you or for other people — and it should show.
What are the advantages of inclusive leadership?
Firstly, Inclusiveness; it ensures that all the entities or regions are treated as one and there will be even development across board without discrimination, nepotism and favouritism amongst others.
Secondly, Sense of belonging; every part of the state and/or country would be giving a good sense of belonging by the leaders and as a result, everyone would be treated equally or fairly.
Thirdly, Capability to inspire others; an inclusive leader will have the uncommon passion and the necessary wherewithal to inspire others to action and also have the ability to develop others into good leaders as well.
Fourthly, Team Builder; an inclusive leader will be a very good team builder because s/he will want to achieve tremendous results for even growth and development.
Fifthly, Empathy; an inclusive leader usually have uncommon empathy, the ability to understand emotional makeup of people and how to treat people according to their reactions. The importance of empathy cannot be over emphasized and it ensures that leaders perform optimally if they have god empathy.
The import of this write up is to ensure that our leaders embrace inclusive leadership and practice same in its entirety so that there will be even development across board. It is due to that fact that inclusive leaders are lacking in this part of the world that is why people are scrambling for power at all cost in order to serve and take care of their cronies in terms of jobs placement, infrastructural development and what have you. `
The time to embrace inclusive leadership in Nigeria is now!
It is well!!!
Muideen Adebayo Ibrahim (MAI) is an entrepreneur: the Founder, LIBRA CONSULTING; a Management Consultancy Firm founded since 2004 and BAMIB RESOURCES (a Premium Pencil Company) and can be reached via muideenibrahim2004@yahoo.com or 08037221517 (sms) only please!
