“There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that`s your own self.” — Aldous Huxley.
In a world overwhelmed by titles but starved of true leadership, Leader, Lead Yourself: Unlocking Your Power with Personal Leadership, a new book by Dr. Michael Koku, is not just a book—it’s a personal leadership revolution.
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During the 1930s, a young boy was utterly obsessed with eating a lot of sugar. His mother was terribly upset about this. But no matter how much she scolded him and tried to break his habit; he continued to satisfy his sweet tooth. Being totally frustrated, she decided to take her son to see Mahatma Gandhi who was the boy’s idol.
She had to walk many miles across the country, for hours under scorching sun to finally reach Gandhi’s ashram. There, she recounted her difficult journey and shared with Gandhi her unpleasant situation:
“Bapu (Father), my son eats too much sugar. It is not good for his health. Would you please advise him to stop eating it?”
Gandhi listened to the woman carefully, thought for a while, and replied: “Please come back after two weeks. I will talk to your son.”
The women looked confused. Then she took the boy by the hand and went home. She made the long journey home and in two weeks’ time made it once again as Gandhi requested. When they arrived, Gandhi looked directly at the boy and said: “Boy, you should stop eating sugar. It is not good for your health.”
The boy nodded and promised he would not continue this habit any longer. The boy’s mother was puzzled. She turned to Gandhi and asked,
“Bapu, why didn’t you tell him that two weeks ago when I brought him here to see you?”
Gandhi smiled and whispered in her ear. “Mother, that time I was not qualified to advise the little one because I too was the same as him, eating a lot of sugar myself two weeks ago.”
Gandhi clearly models what personal leadership is all about which explains one of his quotes: “An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching.” This also aligns with what American educator and author Stephen Covey said, “What you do has far greater impact than what you say.” It is only through personal leadership (the ability of a leader to lead himself first) that he can unlock his power to lead others. Leading yourself first is the foundation for leading others effectively.
Personal leadership, therefore, is the solution to the leadership crisis of our time, and it is not just about personal growth; it also enables you to set an example, build trust, and inspire others, leading to greater professional growth and positive influence. Personal leadership is about taking ownership of your personal and professional development. It is by unlocking your power with personal leadership that you can become the kind of leader that people would follow voluntarily, even if you have no title or position. [To be continued next week].
