MIND-SET LEAD DRIVE

WISE GRANDMA STORIES
The Mind of a leader by Mudogo Shilenje
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Have you ever imagined how leaders emerge amongst us? why do people get convinced that this
person can be a good leader? Is it because of education, money, skills, power or support? Today
I’m going to make you understand that anyone can be a leader. You only need to have a mind of
a leader. For you to understand this I’m going to give a short story that will enable me to
illustrate and make you understand what we mean by being a leader. This story can teach more
than being a leader but mainly I will be focusing on leadership.

In a jungle we are having four animals namely hare, lion, elephant and giraffe. As you know the
lion is the king of jungle so all these three falls under him. When the lion roars or come to a
closer distance to these animals they always run. Why do they have to run? Let me start with
giraffe.

In the mind of giraffe, the lion is always the enemy. The giraffe also knows that if the lion
catches him it will eat him. What becomes the attitude of giraffe? I must run because I will be
eaten. This is actually a negative attitude. The giraffe does not go an extra mile of thinking how
powerful his limbs and neck are more than those of a lion. What if he stood and fought instead of
running? Fear and negative attitude get hold of him and always he will be a subject to the lion
forever.

Secondly in the mind of an elephant the lion is always the enemy. The elephant also knows that
if the lion catches him it will eat him. What becomes the attitude of elephant? I must run because
I will be eaten. This is actually a negative attitude an elephant should not be having. The
elephant does not go an extra mile of thinking how powerful he is him standing in whole jungle.
What if he stood and fought instead of running and claim his leadership? Always fear and
negative attitude get hold of him and always it will a subject to the lion forever.

Thirdly in the mind of a hare the lion is always the enemy. The hare also knows that if the lion
catches him it will eat him. What then becomes the attitude of hare I must run because I will be
eaten. This is actually a negative attitude especially to an animal like hare. The hare does not go
an extra mile of thinking how clever and cunning he is in the whole jungle. What if he tricked the
lion or become a worker as animal trapper for the lion instead of running? Fear and negative
attitude get hold of it and always it will a subject to the lion forever.

Despite all this challenges the Lion faces what makes him prevail over all clever might and
powerful animals in the jungle? Positive attitude. The lion sees all these animals as food.
Whether big or small it's food to lion. The attitude of a lion is to hunt kill and eat. The lion is
brave and does not look at all challenges around. That is why the lion will rule over giraffe, hare,
elephant and other animals forever

From this story we have seen that the lion did not need to be mighty clever or have support for
him to rule. The lion needed only positive attitude and braveness for him to become a leader. If
you want to become a leader you only need positive attitude and braveness.
To be a leader consider the following;
i. Desire being a leader.
ii. Develop postive attitude toward being a leader
iii. Be brave by overcoming all the fear of negative circumstances around you
iv. Behave as a leader
v. Dress like a leader
vi. Speak like a leader
vii. Be a friend to leaders
viii.Learn about leadership.
ix. Remember people choose you as a leader you do not choose yourself.

Let me give you an example of how one of students in a form one class can become a prefect.
What will make this student to emerge from others. First let me become the student. First, I’m
going to make sure I’m the first in class every morning and other times I’m supposed to be in
class. I’m always going to be neat and smart. I will always be reporting any bad thing that
happens in class to the class teacher. I’m going to finish my class work on time. I’m going to try
to calm down the class whenever they are making noise. If any of students gets a problem, I’m
going to be the first one to try to help. If I’m doing all of these do, I need to tell someone to elect
me as a prefect or automatically I stand out being the one to be elected a prefect among other
students? Being a leader is being responsible.

I hope you have enjoyed my session of making you become a great leader. Make yourself one. No one will.