Change brings progress and lack of it promotes and oils the machinery of stagnation. Without change there can never be any meaningful growth that can be a platform for lasting success in any endeavour. To change is to grow; and to grow is to change. When the concept of change is totally embraced – there will be tremendous transformation in and around you and your work. But when change is resisted and often despised, everything will become dull, uninspiring, routine and traditional.

Change, according to Oxford Advance Learners dictionary is “ any act of making something or somebody different with the aim of altering or modifying their shape, meaning, service, nature, concept, focus, appearance, process, style, character, outlook and strategy to achieve better imaging or performance and result.” Now, this is where the problem lies: everybody wants to make progress. But not everybody wants to change to see the progress. And this is the same for many leaders. They want to have stable and successful leadership, but they refused – consciously or unconsciously, to pay attention to what needs to be discarded for peace to reign in the family; and then progress will be visible.

Why People Don’t Embrace Change

1. Fear of failure - Leaders who are always afraid of failing will constantly oppose the need for change. Since such leaders are driven by fear, it will also be difficult for them to see the favour change can bring to them.
2. Lack of foresight - Leaders whose sense of perception is low can never imaging the impossible; and then will not have any passion for options. Option exists only to those who know that where they are now is not the destination yet. This is the bane of our political leaders in Nigeria. Once they win an election, they see it as an end; rather than seeing it as a means to an end. To them, their whole existence rests on the present advantage the have over people. What an hopeless situation, magnified by hopeless people in authority!
3. Satisfaction with average - Average, is described as the best of the worst and the worst of the best. Leaders who always enjoy celebrating the ‘achievements’ of yesterday to the detriment of the expectations of today will never reckon with the need for change. To them the past was the best and the future is unpredictable.
4. Position conscious - Leaders who are carried away by position will not see changes around them easily; neither will they hear the clamour from people under them for change. A lot of people exist under leaders who have bright ideas about what and how to change, but they are listened to because the are not ‘worthy, competent or in the same level’ with them to offer advise.
5. Lack of personal development - To develop yourself is to improve your personal worth, not in term of money, but in terms of value. Leaders who don’t read books of others; attend seminars and training; explore internet; listen to news and mix with his or her peers will find it difficult to consider change. Such leaders are trapped within themselves and until they reach out, they can not see beyond their noses.

Having considered why change is not often pursued by many leaders, there is need to also know what must be changed by us to witness growth and increase of our work. In this new year, to run a good leadership that will impact positively on our work, we must be willing to change the following:

What to Change in Leadership

1. Opinion-
One thing that stands against leaders easily is the issue of opinion. Never hold on too tight to your opinion because you are man, or you are the bread winner. Opinion can change at any time. Most leaders are driven by the opinion of others. So, wrong opinion about your family, as a man or woman - even people you work with on wealth; ideology etc. should change for good. It is only when your opinion conflict with the word of God that you should stand on the immutable word. If not, have a change of mentality. You wife is not a demon as you have been wrongly thought over the years. Neither is your husband a monster. As a counsellor, i can tell you this: EVERY WOMAN IS A TOOL provided you know how to make use of it. And EVERY MAN IS BOOK provided you know how to read it. With this, methinks misunderstanding between spouses, which often affect the children, will be minimise; if not eradicated.
2. Structure-
For you to see progress all you may need is change in you entity, which includes designs; space; furniture etc, , within your work, office or even home. Creative rearrangement can save a lot of hassle and make people perceive and do business with you in a new way. Moving gadget, chairs, table from where they have always been to another place might just make your work more attractive to new people around you.
3. Friends-
I have often said it this way that: friendship is not by force, it is by choice. Your friends will determine your frontiers. Do away with friends who are not helping you to advance in the course of your life or work. Henry Ford, said “my best friend is the one that brings out the best in me.“ Friends who put you under pressure and encourage you to do what you don’t want to do, should be dropped from your family list. Look for new friends who are connecting and have ability to add value to you and your family. Unproductive partners should be done away with. You don't need friends who alwaysinstigate you to disregard the opinions, feeling or reaction of your spouse in crucial matters.
4. Strategy-
Strategy is always better than energy. Think back! How have you done what you did in the last one year that has not worked? If you can answer the question; then solution is near you. Until you know what you ought to know you will keep struggling with what you do. There is a place for prayer; and there is also a place for strategy. Change your pattern of operation. Learn more how others do it better and apply it in your own case. Usually, principles are the same everywhere. But what is different is the application of the principles.
4. Language-
By language I mean your confession. What you confess is what your language becomes and that is what your family - husband, wife and children will always respond to. Loud your change; talk about it; confess it all the time until every one in your house buy into it . You can’t be more than what you believe and confess. Always remember this; what you you say affect your children either positively or negatively. So. make your language good; look away from the lack, misunderstanding etc,

I wish you all the best as you make effort to change what needs to be changed for progress to be visible in your family.
WALE OLAOLUWA www.leadershipgrowthreviews..com

Hmmmm!

O di kwa risky.

interesting.

It is only when your opinion conflict with the word of God that you should stand on the immutable word.

this is good.

Until you know what you ought to know you will keep struggling with what you do. There is a place for prayer; and there is also a place for strategy.

i like this.