The Influence of Leadership

The power of leadership stems from its authority, influence and ability to offer direction to followership. In essence, its capacity to shape the course of events and the destiny of people positively or negatively, is what makes leadership unique. Leadership is much more than leading; it is transference of influence. Because leadership is a platform for propagating influence, when we entrust men with leadership, we put them in a position to influence the people they lead. The greater the position, the greater is a leader’s capacity to influence the led. The influence exerted can be utilized positively or negatively, constructively or destructively depending on the quality of the leader.

One of the principal factors that necessitate careful consideration in appointing men into leadership position is the leader’s capacity to influence people. Bad leaders or bad men in leadership will exert bad influence just as good leaders or good men in leadership will exert good influence. Whatever men are becomes replicated in others once they become leaders. Bad men in leadership are a danger not only to themselves but to their followers as well. Incompetent and corrupt leaders will exert influence that encourages incompetence and corruption in their domain. A positive influence will make people act rightly just as a negative influence will encourage them to act out of order. Owing to the power of influence, the mistakes a leader makes will most likely be replicated in followership such that when a leader does wrong, the likelihood of followers repeating the mistakes is high. As Horace puts it; “Faults are soon copied.”

(An extract from the book: A Life of Impact by Ayo Adebamowo)