Opinions of Tuesday, 2 June 2015

Columnist: Nana Akwah

Nana Addo Calls For Structures To Work In The Party

Great Leaders Understand How To Balance Emotion With Reason And Make Decisions -

Politics is about people and their development, not violating laws/rules and transgressing rights. The NPP Constitution must be given a chance to work. The ongoing discussion on its relevance and application must be encouraged. For such allows the ventilation of diverse views in efforts to seek understanding and establish a political system the members and supporters can be subject to.

As members/supporters we need to accept that constitution and changes are dead at their hearts unless they are activated by the people.

Therefore the call from Nana Addo to allow structures to work in the Party is a call very welcome and must be heeded by all.

Great leaders understand how to balance emotion with reason and make decisions that positively impact themselves, their followers, their sympathizers and stakeholders, and their organizations.

Decision-making lies at the heart of our personal and professional lives. Every day we make decisions. Some are small, domestic and innocuous. Others are more important; decisions that affect peoples’ lives, livelihoods and wellbeing. Without doubt, we make mistakes along the way. We are only human – even when we are at work. Indeed, the daunting reality is that, a great deal of important decisions made by intelligent, responsible people with the best information and intentions sometimes go wrong.

There are other fundamental biases in how people think, that can lead to other big mistakes. One of the most powerful predispositions is personal attachments – to people, to places, and to things. These attachments make the world go round, so none of us would want to do away with them from our lives. But sometimes, when we allow ourselves to give in, these attachments push us into potentially unethical area of interest.

Start your journey to the top and slowly, but steadily and surely pursue it, even if darkness covers the road ahead, and obstacles galore on your path you find. The reality is that, do not be discouraged; do not quit; keep on, and leave nothing undone; until your golden crown is won.

There are others who will wish to make political capital of NPP leadership. Conclusions and decisions based on half information foreshadow quality leadership. All elected officers should realize that they are elected to serve and not to lord it over others. They work as a “Group”. Circumspection is the keyword here.

Ever since the hurly-burly in NPP started the governing NDC Government and its supporters had tried to rope in Nana Addo. From their point of observation Nana Addo has failed to show leadership.

The question we should ask ourselves “What is Leadership”? And who is Great Leader?

To state briefly, “Leaders are people who do the right things”. If you allow yourself to go away with half information and start taking action, you may pay dearly for it. Such action can bring about your downfall.

There is a distinct difference on the other hand, managers are people who do things right.

Leaders do not seize power, authority or control, they build power, authority and control instead. The need to understand that; power, control and authority is “being all you can be” within the bounds of doing what is right for your organization.

To reach this pre-eminence you must first be a leader of good character. You must do everything you are supposed to do and avoiding sense of self.

Organizations, such as political parties will not achieve power, authority and control by figuring out where it wants to go, by just having leaders do whatever they have to in order to get the job done, and then hope their leaders act with good character. This type of thinking is inside out.

Pursuing power, authority, and control which are embodiment of governance should not be confused with accomplishing a job or task. When you do planning, you do it by backwards planning. However you do not achieve political power, authority, and control by inside out planning.

Leadership or to be in the lead starts with leaders of good and strong character who engage in the entire process of leadership. And the first guiding principle is being a person of honorable character.

It is this character trait which could be said, that, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo has developed over time. Many think that much of a person's character is formed early in life. However, we do not know exactly how much or how early character develops. But, it is prudent to claim that character does not change at once.

Nana Addo's observable behavior is an indication of his character. It can be argued that a person's observable behavior is an indication of his character. This behavior can be strong or weak, good or bad.

A person with strong character shows drive, energy, determination, self-discipline, willpower, and nerve. He sees what he wants and goes after it. He attracts followers.

On the other hand, a person with weak character shows none of these traits. He does not know what he wants. His traits are disorganized, he vacillates and is inconsistent. He will attract no followers.

A strong person can be good or bad. A gang leader is an example of a strong person with a bad character, while an outstanding community leader is one with both strong and good characteristics.

The NPP has demonstrated that Political Parties needs leaders with both strong and good characteristics — people who will guide them to the future and show that they can be trusted. Additionally, to be an effective leader, your followers must have trust in you and they need to be sold on your vision.

The hue and cry of many Ghanaians or respondents to the NPP brouhaha says they wanted people who were both ethical and who convey a strong vision of the future hence the call for thoughtfulness from all.

In any organization, a leader's actions set the pace. This behavior wins trust, loyalty, and ensures the organization's continued vitality. One of the ways to build trust is to display a good sense of character composed of beliefs, values, skills, and traits.

To the prudent minds, Nana Addo has display sincerity, integrity, and candor in all his actions. He has pointed out that deceptive behavior will not inspire trust. Asking each elected officer or supporter base his or her actions on reason and moral principles.

He admonished Party members not make decisions based on childlike emotional desires or feelings, but entreating all to set goals and have a vision of the future; a vision that must be owned throughout the party. The vision of securing victory for NPP as a party and grieving Ghanaians who can’t find their way out of the miasma of problems confronting the country.

The press conference Nana Addo held, point to or give direction of how effective leaders envision what they want and how to get it. They habitually pick priorities stemming from their basic values.

Nana Addo has display confidence in all that he has done. By showing endurance in mental, physical, and spiritual stamina, as he continues to inspire others to reach for new heights and take charge when necessary.

Thus far, Nana has shown that he has read, study, and seeks challenging roles. He has shown fair treatment to all people. Prejudice is the enemy of justice. He has display empathy by being sensitive to the feelings, values, interests, and well-being of others and seeking out diversity.

Nana Addo have demonstrated that, he has the perseverance to accomplish a goal, regardless of the seemingly insurmountable obstacles and has display a confident calmness when under stress, using sound judgment to make a good decision at the right time.

Finally, a Leader will make timely and appropriate changes in his thinking, plans, and methods. Show creativity by thinking of new and better goals, ideas, and solutions to problems. All these surfaced in his press conference.

To Nana Addo detractors, there couldn’t have been a better way to calm the storm than the mastery approach and stunning success of the address. One of the ways to build trust is to display a good sense of character composed of beliefs, values, skills, and traits.

The Chairman and General Secretary your actions and inactions will take the edge off the brouhaha

Good job!

Nana Addo

God bless you. God bless NPP. God bless our country.