HOW EMERGING LEADERS SHOULD PLAN FOR TOMORROW

The leader is the one who climbs the tallest tree, surveys the entire situation, and yells, “Wrong jungle! – Steven R. Covey

Wise people have always known how to study the seasons and make necessary plans either for sowing or harvest. Many have argued that the challenge most African countries face is that of Leadership, without any argument, it has become obvious that the ills we experience are symptoms of leadership challenge. 

To take a cue from leaders who could foresee and plan for their citizens, would give insight into how leaders of today should plan for their future. Ancient history has the story of a king in Egypt – Pharaoh, who had a strange dream, which was eventually interpreted by one Joseph to be seven years of plenty and following is another seven years of famine. Joseph was eventually going to create a plan, not to avert the aforementioned period of draught but to manage and cater for a country whose citizens as at then were acclaimed to be the second of the two great civilizations in existence. 

Geographically, Egypt is mostly desert except for the Nile River. The Nile is the greatest river in the world, and if it didn’t flow through Egypt the country would be just sand. In ancient times only 3% of Egypt was inhabitable, arable land. Question here is how would 3% arable land be harnessed to cater for this nation for 7 years of famine? Here is how Joseph, who eventually became second-in-command in the entire realm, mapped out a strategy to ensure storage of grains for the period of plenty to provide relief when the great famine came. He advised that the fifth part of all the grain harvests stored for the next seven years, so that when the famine struck, Egypt would have food sufficient to sustain itself.

He further suggested that Pharaoh name a single adviser to take charge of these efforts, and to set all policy regarding farming, the storage of grain, and the distribution of grain during the famine. They survived seven years of famine because a leader could look into the future and plan strategically, that was with not much machines or advancement in technology as we have today. 

This story for great thinkers shouldn’t be much of a surprise, Africa has two seasons, and one with an understanding of the season would know that the rainy season is time for sowing, which is preparation for the dry season, when there would be no rain except harvest. In a country where we are experiencing dwindling oil prices, our sowing should have been in the excess crude account and today we should have a relief, not a bailout.

Every skill can be learnt, join over 3000 people at the Emerging Leaders Conference hosted by Guardians of the Nations International (GOTNI) in 2015, to learn this one skill our nation needs to emerge into the top economies.

In this era of boundless opportunities I ask you to LIVE FULL always.

Emmanuel Otori is a Public Speaker, Life Coach and Trainer on Leadership, Business and Management.

Email: emmanuelotori@zoho.com