Dictionary defines leadership as the art of guiding, inspiring and influencing individuals or groups toward achieving a common goal or vision. It is also the ability of an individual or a group of people to influence and guide followers or members of an organization, society or team.
From the above, it should be noted that leaders are required in almost every aspect of the society because they are seen as people who make sound and sometimes difficult decisions that move the society or group forward.
They articulate clear visions, establish achievable goals and provide followers with the knowledge and tools necessary to achieve those goals.
Therefore, an effective leader most has the following characteristics:
Integrity which is the foundation of trust in leadership. A good leader must possess solid integrity to inspire confidence and maintain credibility. When leaders consistently uphold their values and principles, they set a moral compass for their teams, fostering an environment of honesty and dependability.
The second is Innovation which is vital for staying competitive and driving progress. Good leaders encourage innovation by valuing new ideas and creative problem-solving.
The third is Vision which provides a leader with direction and purpose for his team. As a leader with a clear vision can inspire and align their team’s efforts toward achieving ambitious goals.
Passion is the fourth of the list which fuels dedication and perseverance. Good leaders are passionate about their work and vision, which motivates them and inspires others to give their best.
The next is Communication as effective communication is a cornerstone of leadership. Leaders must articulate their vision, provide guidance and listen actively to their team. Strong communication skills ensure that messages are understood, fostering collaboration and trust.
Self-awareness is also a strong point on the list as self-aware leaders understand their strengths and weaknesses. This awareness enables them to make informed decisions, leverage their strengths and work on areas that need improvement. It also allows them to relate better to their team members.
Empathy, which is the ability to understand and connect with others emotionally, is there too. Good leaders use empathy to build rapport, resolve conflicts and create a supportive and inclusive work environment. It shows team members that their leader cares about their well-being.
The next is Courage which makes the leaders often make tough decisions and face challenges head-on. Courageous leaders are willing to take calculated risks, stand up for their beliefs and confront difficult situations, even when uncomfortable.
Delegation which is the next is a mark of a confident and capable leader. By entrusting tasks to team members based on their strengths and skills, leaders empower their teams to take ownership and develop their abilities. This frees up the leader to focus on strategic aspects of their role.
The next point is learning agility: In a rapidly changing world, leaders must be quick learners. Learning agility allows leaders to adapt to new information and circumstances, continuously improving their decision-making and problem-solving abilities.
For adaptability, the leaders must adapt to evolving situations and challenges. Those who can embrace change and adjust their strategies accordingly are better equipped to lead their teams through uncertainty and ambiguity.
Decision-making, in leadership, decision-making isn’t just a task—it’s an essential skill. Effective leaders don’t make choices on a whim; they thoughtfully align each decision with their broader vision and goals. They seek diverse opinions, carefully weigh the pros and cons and then choose a course of action with conviction.
The next point is accountability which means taking responsibility for one’s actions and decisions. When leaders hold themselves accountable, they set a standard of responsibility for their team, fostering a culture of ownership and reliability.
Respect for all team members, regardless of their role or background is the next and is essential for creating a harmonious and inclusive workplace. Leaders who demonstrate respect foster a culture of collaboration and mutual support, enabling everyone to thrive.
These strengths and skills enable effective leaders to navigate challenges, foster collaboration and drive results. What sets exceptional leaders apart is their ability to lead by example, inspire trust and empower those around them to realize their full potential.
To me, these listed above are the very essential things but sadly, they are lacking in the leaders of the Kano Pillars Football Club, specifically the club’s chairman, which explains why the team is always in the news.
And until these are done in the right ways or in the proper way, I don’t see the needed peace and stability in the team and that means no success in the near future for the team.
As we all know, the hope and aspiration of any football club in the world, Kano Pillars inclusive, is to win matches, medals and trophies and also get regional and continental tickets to represent the country at continental engagement after every soccer season.
Disturbingly, with the way and manner things are done and happening in the team, I don’t see how these can be achievable as the club’s chairman is acting like a soldier or SOLAD as he is acting alone and does not listen to his board members.
As things stand now, there are so many distractions in the team which will not allow any meaningful thing to be achieved as the club chairman is fighting everybody who he is supposed to work with and move the team forward.
We all know how it started from day one when he sidelined his board members and worked with people he has no relationship with at all.
It is sad that the chairman is the main culprit in the team’s leadership crisis since its inception in June, 2023 till 22nd October, 2023 when His Excellency’s Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf directed that the former club Secretary Abbati Sabo Abba to handover the club secretariat to the new incoming secretary Comrade (coach) Sani Ibrahim PhD to assume office immediately.
Unfortunately, recently the distraction continued in the club when we heard of a letter from Kano State Sports Commission posting the same former club secretary Abbati to oversee the club secretariat again. This is a sharp and unpardonable negation of governor Abba Yusuf’s instruction.
What is the Sports Commission trying to achieve by working against the instruction of the Governor as far as the business in Kano Pillars FC is concerned? We all know that the two are separate bodies which have no business with each other. If one is in doubt, he should bring any documentary evidence to prove me wrong.
Moreover, another distraction continues in the club by the suspension of the club Technical Adviser (TA), Abdul Maikaba following his recent outburst during one of the club functions organized by the fans club leadership recently in Kano.
The TA revealed some mismanagement issues of the club leadership styles that resulted in the lack of integrity, cooperation, transparency and confidence amongst the club leadership and its supervising ministry, board members, employees including players and supporters club.
That suspension did not go down well with the fans club’s as they issued an ultimatum to club leadership to revert its decision on TA or otherwise.
But instead of the chairman to see reason and change for the betterment of the club, he suspended the coach and as the news is spreading in the town he has already begun the process of replacing him.
The distraction in Kano Pillars FC continues as recently as there was some misunderstanding between the club chairman and a board member during one of the club’s recent meetings that led to the suspension of the member.
The chairman of the club must allow the club to work together as a team. The leadership and the board are to manage, supervise, and direct the affairs while the Technical Crew to train and select the best team that are to represent the club in all its outings.
The secretariat under comrade (coach) Sani Ibrahim who is a Ph.D. in Sports Management candidate is to be in charge of the administrative affairs of the club and not a Sports Commission candidate.
They should know that Kano Pillars will only succeed only if they are totally at peace with one another.
To most of us, until the club chairman changes his leadership style and embraces peace with those he is fighting, I don’t see how Kano Pillars will win most of its matches and consequently win the league trophy.
The club chairman must cultivate a good leadership trait which is not a destination but an ongoing journey.
The chairman is very lucky that the secretary he is fighting and trying to do away with for his selfish interest is an academics and highly knowledgeable sports administrator.
He is also lucky he has in his management team people like Sabo Cokali, Ali Mai Samba and many others. He should use their expertise and lead the club forward, not fighting them.
But if peace and stability fails to reign in the club, I will have no option than to call for the dissolution of the management board and ask for the reconstitution of another because Kano is blessed with more experienced people who can stop these embarrassments and do better.
Duk dadin lafiya…