Dimapur, April 4 (MExN): A person in leadership but possessing no good character is not a leader. The reason is, leaders of Dimapur’s civil society are reminded, true leadership always begins with the inner person, the goodness of character.
The statement was one of the principal contentions behind a motivational programme for leaders of Dimapur’s civil organizations, organized for leaders under the theme “Leaders Arise” at Ana-ki in Dimapur today. Rev. Luoliehu Yimsung of the Angami Baptist Church Council (ABCC) was the chief speaker of the April 4 seminar.
The somewhat thin attendance was a disappointment considering that the motivational programme was meant for leaders of civil organizations in Dimapur – a city where civil organizations number in the hundreds.
Nonetheless, Rev. Luoliehu Yimsung reminded the small gathering that one calling himself a ‘leader’ ought to have good character – the sum value of all virtues and goodness of the person. “Character is very important. Charisma is good – it can make people cry or laugh but without character, a leader is not a leader,’ Rev. Yimsung told the NGO chiefs. Rev. Yimsung is the coordinator of the Global Indigenous Prayer Network, Australia.
The speaker elaborated the various facets of leadership and what define leaders in the first place. The church leader explained the factors defining good leadership. Good character, positive relationships, knowledge, social-consciousness and intuition, experience and the ability to build on past successes.
According to the speaker these components make for good leadership: A good character with knack for building relationships and connecting with people. Nagas are fond of numbers, Rev. Yimsung said. He said enough of the right kinds of leadership must be built not for numbers but for quality – build relationships with the right people, the speaker said.
Likewise, another quality a good leader must posses is knowledge: “Information is vital to a leader. ‘You need to grasp the facts, an understanding of dynamic factors and timing, and vision for the future,” the speaker said.
A number of such seminars would be conducted across the state for the next one month. Rev. Luoliehu Yimsung, also Ambassador At Large for the Overseas Naga Association is the resource person. As important as being knowledgeable, a leader must also be intuitive – the quality to perceive what the people already wants. Intuition is also the ability to act, recognize hunches and act on ideas, the church leader said. Experience and building on past successes were also two other qualities of good that the speaker elaborated.
Today’s programme was hosted by Naga Council of Dimapur in collaboration with the Dimapur Municipal Council, business organizations and other mass-based civil organizations such a tribal ‘hohos’, women ‘hohos’ of Dimapur, Dimapur Naga Students’ Union and Youth Association of Nagaland among others.
Any leader of church, community, clubs, politics, business, bureaucrats or any interested person with an aspiration to be a leader can participate in any of the current seminars.
